Employee retention and engagement remained major challenges for businesses during 2021 and will continue into the new year. As a broker, you should understand the new challenges your clients face and help them find better optometry benefits in Oklahoma City (OKC).
The link between stress and vision problems
The link between stress and vision problems is too often overlooked. Stress causes a release of a “fight or flight” hormone known as adrenaline. Constant release of adrenaline leads to dilated pupils and therefore light sensitivity. The effect can be a twitching and tightening of eye muscles, which can cause stress-related vision problems and eye discomfort. The latest HR trends take a holistic approach to employee wellbeing. Comprehensive vision plans can fit into this trend by preventing and addressing vision problems, which can be linked to stress or worker productivity.
Comprehensive Eye Exams
As you’re helping your clients, remind them that comprehensive eye exams are an important part of healthcare. Their employees may not understand the need for a yearly complete eye exam because “they can see fine.” However, various eye problems and conditions (for example, glaucoma) don’t show symptoms until they’re advanced. Think “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Eye problems are more easily treated if detected early. A comprehensive eye exam can also find general health problems, including diabetes and high blood pressure. According to a study by Integrated Benefits Institute, poor health cost U.S. employers $575 billion in 2019. A complete and thorough eye exam can prevent further problems that will lead to loss of work time.
Don’t forget generational and environmental factors
According to U.S. Census Bureau population estimates in 2019, Millennials have now passed Baby Boomers as the largest generational group. Approximately 30% of Millennials live with a spouse and child. A plan that offers comprehensive eye exams for dependents will help meet the needs of your Millennial clients.
As the life expectancy rises, we’re seeing more Baby Boomers remain in the workforce. These employees have a higher risk of developing vision problems and need access to optometry in OKC. In addition, more time spent in front of computer screens increases the risks of developing a number of vision problems. This increases the need for an optometrist in OKC.
Help your clients access an optometrist
All vision benefit plans are not created equal. Unity Vision solves the problem of high out-of-pocket costs at the time of service. Many employees with traditional vision plans are shocked at how much they still owe at the eye doctor’s office. They believe that since they have paid every month for a plan that all they will owe are their copays for the exam and lenses. Instead, they are faced with additional charges for glasses, such as anti-reflective, UV protection and scratch coatings on lenses. Unity Vision offers pre-paid vision plans without hidden costs.
Additionally, people no longer want lenses with a single or double line for near and distance vision. They want a progressive no-line lens, which can cost hundreds of dollars out-of-pocket with more traditional plans. With our plan, they can access negotiated savings.
Unity Vision offers brokers a vision plan with a higher rate of commission that doesn’t decrease based on volume nor a decrease on the renewal of groups. We also offer a Broker Partner Program that gives brokers resources to help them build their business, as well as free marketing dollars based on groups they sell and leads for new accounts from our network of optometrists.
