RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif.—Managed vision care company, VSP Vision Care has been added as a strategic partner of benefits advisory organization, United Benefits Advisors (UBA). “Part of this includes working with UBA on its private exchange,” Pat McClelland, VSP’s vice president of U.S. commercial accounts told VMail. “VSP and UBA have worked together for years on a day-to-day basis, and VSP has 600-plus accounts with them. However, this is the first time we’ve done an official broader partnership. UBA sought input from its advisors on who to partner with for a vision offering before reaching out to VSP. ”

The “strategic partner” designation is the highest level of collaboration a service provider can have with UBA and indicates that VSP Vision Care offers “exceptional products and makes a special commitment to the success of UBA and its partnership,” according to a statement from UBA. “The benefits are twofold: the strategic partner garners exposure and an expanded book of business through UBA partners, while the UBA partnership and its clientele gain access to high-quality products.”

“We’re excited to partner with UBA to increase access to quality vision benefits,” said McClelland. “UBA recognizes the value and importance of vision care for its clients, which has proven to be a key preventive mechanism to keep employees healthy and engaged while lowering long-term health care costs.”

With more than 200 offices throughout the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom, UBA is an independent employee benefits advisory organization in a network of information-sharing that allows them to tap into the experiences of more than 2,000 benefit professionals.

“VSP is a terrific addition to a UBA portfolio that already includes other great ancillary products,” said Paul Zumbrook, UBA senior vice president of partner relations. “VSP is a specialized, well-known brand in the optical industry whose partnership with UBA only serves to enhance the experience for our UBA partner firms and their clients, alike.”