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MINNETONKA, Minn.—People enrolled in UnitedHealthcare employer-sponsored and individual vision plans now have network access to GlassesUSA.com, giving more than 19 million Americans online access to order prescription glasses and sunglasses for little or no out-of-pocket costs, according to a UnitedHealthcare announcement Thursday. The relationship marks the first time UnitedHealthcare has established a network agreement with an online-only eyewear retailer, according to the announcement. In January 2018, UnitedHealthcare initiated a relationship with Warby Parker that permitted its members with both employer-sponsored and individual vision plans to access Warby Parker’s eyewear, either online or at any of its brick-and-mortar stores, as VMAIL reported.  

“This is an overall expansion of UnitedHealthcare Vision’s network of relationships,” a UHC spokesman told VMAIL. “People enrolled in UnitedHealthcare employer-sponsored and individual vision plans can access GlassesUSA.com offerings right alongside Warby Parker.”

In the announcement this week, UHC said its eligible vision plan participants can purchase—often for a co-pay of $25 or less—more than 7,000 styles of glasses via the online retailer’s site.

Also, the new network relationship gives UnitedHealthcare vision plan participants access—at no additional cost—to leading lens solutions, including anti-reflective coating (anti-glare), scratch resistant coating and ultraviolet (UV) coating. Plus, eligible plan participants can personalize their eyewear with a wide range of coatings and lenses, including blue light blocking, https://www.glassesusa.com/blue-light-glasses mirrored, polarized, transitions, polycarbonate, digital progressive and thin high-index lenses.

UHC also noted that as “people look for ways to access care remotely due to the COVID-19 emergency, the new relationship enables UHC vision plan participants to order prescription eyewear … from the comfort of their home.”

“People are increasingly looking to access health care resources remotely, so this new network relationship offers UnitedHealthcare plan participants improved convenience and affordability while shopping for eyewear online,” UnitedHealthcare Vision general manager John Ryan said in the announcement. “Through an interactive experience offered by GlassesUSA.com, our members can shop for—and virtually try on—thousands of pairs of house brands and designer eyewear from the comfort of their homes.”

GlassesUSA.com offers one of the largest online collections of eyewear, and its online shopping experience includes a “virtual mirror” (try-on) feature and a Prescription Scanner App https://www.glassesusa.com/scan that enables users to extract their prescription from their current glasses.

“We are proud to work with UnitedHealthcare and help support the eye health of millions of vision plan participants nationwide. This collaboration is an important milestone in furthering our mission to improve the way people purchase eyewear,” GlassesUSA.com co-founder and chief executive officer Daniel Rothman said.

UnitedHealthcare’s vision network includes more than 30,000 health care professionals at more than 106,000 access points, including 48 of the top 50 top retailers. Its vision plan participants can find more information about their benefits at GlassesUHC.com/UHC.