Eye exams, prescription eyeglasses and LASIK are some of the most common supplemental services you’ll see missing from medical insurance policies and Medicare programs.

For some Americans already taking on more of their health care costs, adding a stand-alone vision insurance policy and more monthly premiums can be difficult. As a result, some people will delay their annual eye exams.

Meanwhile, many are finding ways to keep up with their vision appointments and save money on eye care through non-insurance discount vision programs. The facts and statistics below, from the 2017 Discount Health Care Programs Report, provide a glimpse into the need, value and usage of these programs being used by nearly 27 million Americans.

1. The number one reason people say they do not go to the eye doctor more often is because "the cost of services is too high."
2. Both consumers and providers report that more than 65% of discount vision program members save over 40% on services (with median savings of 50 – 60%).
3. More than 30% of vision providers surveyed participate in at least one to two discount vision networks.
4. Vision providers estimate that 16% of their offices' payment method is through patients using a discount vision program.
5. Over 60% of members had no vision insurance prior to joining a discount vision program.
6. Fifty percent of discount vision program members are 56 years of age and older.
7. Forty-eight percent of discount vision program members obtained a membership through their employer.
8. Discount vision programs offer 10% to 60% off the regular cost of eye care procedures and products at participating providers across the country.
9. There are no dollar limits on how much a consumer can use a discount vision program membership.
10. There are no waiting periods before a consumer can use a discount program membership.

For more information and statistics about discount health care programs, including discount vision and dental program, click here to download the 2017 Discount Health Care Programs Report.