Davis Vision picked to provide NYS vision benefits

The state has conditionally awarded the contract for the NYS Vision Plan to Davis Vision.  Once approved by the appropriate state agencies, the five-year contract with Davis Vision will take effect January 1, 2012.

Members should be quite familiar with Davis Vision.  Prior to the state awarding the contract to the current vendor, EyeMed Vision Care, Davis Vision had administered the NYS Vision Plan for 23 years. Davis Vision is a U.S. company, based in New York State, and has been operating in the state since 1964.  The Davis Vision customer service call center is located in Latham, New York.

While there will be no change to the level of benefits members receive, they will notice some differences when Davis Vision begins administering the vision plan.  Examples of these differences include:

·         A different network of participating vision care providers – the Davis network is different from EyeMed’s and will include more participating (par) vision care provider locations than it did when Davis Vision previously administered the plan.

·         A different selection of eyeglass frames – at the vast majority of par vision care provider locations, members will have two options when choosing frames:

o   Members will once again be able to receive a paid-in-full benefit by choosing frames from the Davis “Tower Collection”; or, if they prefer,

o   Members will now be able to choose any available frame and receive an allowance of up to $130, paying any remaining balance out-of-pocket.

In other words, members will have what they currently have with EyeMed (an allowance of up to $130) plus what they previously had when Davis Vision administered the vision care plan (the “Tower Collection”).

·         All Davis Vision eyeglasses are covered by a one-year breakage warranty.

Davis Vision will provide benefits for all covered services performed and eyewear dispensed on or after January 1, 2012.  This applies even if you had your exam prior to January 1, 2012. Therefore, to receive the in-network level of benefits, you must use a Davis Vision network vision care provider.   

More specific information regarding the changes members can expect will be distributed prior to January 1, 2012.