Key Takeaways for Employers and Benefits Consultants
- Employees value vision care — and expect more than just a retail discount.
- Traditional plans hide markups, limit access, and underperform on experience.
- XP Health offers a proven alternative with better pricing, broader access, and no claims headaches.
- BeneRe clients can now access XP Health as a preferred partner — no captive participation required.
Rethinking Vision
The maret for modern vision care for employees is overdue for a major correction. More employers are shifting toward modern vision solutions because they recognize that traditional program models no longer meet the needs of today’s workforce.
While 96% of employees say they have access to vision programs, only about 30% actually use them[1]. Why is that? Because traditional options are often confusing, expensive, and frustrating. In fact, more than half of employees report surprise out-of-pocket costs at the time of service[1].
For brokers and employers who aim to provide real value through their benefits strategy, it’s time to take a closer look at how vision care is delivered.
Why Traditional Plans Fall Short of Modern Vision Care for Employees
Traditional plans aren’t keeping up with what modern vision care for employees should offer.
- Distorted Pricing Models: Traditional vision platforms rely on heavy retail markups. In many cases, glasses that cost $26 to make are sold for more than $600[2]. This disconnect between cost and value creates confusion and frustration.
- Lack of Clarity and Low Utilization: Many employees don’t fully understand what’s covered, leading to underuse or no use at all — leaving employers paying for programs that go unused[1].
- Retail-Focused Design: These plans prioritize selling eyewear rather than improving access to care. They often lack virtual services and flexible provider options.
XP Health: A Better Approach to Modern Vision Care for Employees
XP Health redefines modern vision care for employees by focusing on convenience, transparency, and value.
At BeneRe, we believe every health and wellness offering should deliver real value, transparency, and a positive employee experience. That’s why we’ve partnered with XP Health, a digital-first platform that solves many of the issues found in traditional vision care.
XP Health doesn’t operate like typical vision care solutions. Instead, they offer a smarter, more modern solution designed for today’s workforce. The platform combines virtual convenience with transparent pricing and better access.
What Makes XP Health Different
- Clear, Upfront Pricing: XP Health works directly with eyewear manufacturers. By doing so, they eliminate retail markups and pass savings to employees. A pair of glasses that might cost over $400 through a traditional plan can be purchased for just $42[3].
- All-Inclusive Lenses: Blue light protection, UV coating, anti-glare, and scratch resistance are included. These features are often upsold by traditional providers[3].
- Convenient Access: Employees can choose from over 99,000 providers and complete online prescription renewals[2]. This makes it easier to access care, regardless of location.
- Wider Usage: Even employees with perfect vision can benefit by purchasing readers, sunglasses, or blue light glasses[3].
- High Satisfaction: XP Health consistently earns an NPS of +60[2]. For comparison, traditional vision plans average around -8.
Why This Partnership Works for BeneRe Members
BeneRe is built on the belief that voluntary benefit offerings should offer more than just a check-the-box solution. Through our group captive model, we’ve helped employers reclaim value in supplemental health and legal coverage by increasing transparency and eliminating unnecessary costs.
Although vision doesn’t require a captive model, it suffers from many of the same problems we address across supplemental health: inflated costs, lack of transparency, low utilization, and misalignment between what employers pay and what employees receive. XP Health solves these issues through a smarter, simpler model — making it a natural extension of our approach. This partnership gives our clients an easy, low-lift way to offer better vision care without replacing internal systems or dealing with legacy carriers.
Learn More
When you’re ready to make a change to increase the value of the supplemental benefits you offer employees, contact the team at BeneRe. If you are an employer looking for a way to offer your employees a better vision care experience, learn more about XP Health’s modern solution.
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👉 Explore modern vision care with XP Health