Vision care plans available to 23 percent of private industry workers in March 2017

October 15 is White Cane Safety Day, a day that celebrates the achievements and independence of people who are blind or visually impaired. The day also highlights the importance of data on vision care benefits. Vision care plans were available to 23 percent of private industry workers in March 2017. Access to other types of healthcare benefits was higher: medical care—67 percent; outpatient prescription drug coverage—66 percent; and dental care—42 percent.

Having access means the benefit is available from employers, regardless of whether employees choose to participate. The take-up rate shows how many workers with access to a plan participate in the plan. The take-up rate for vision care benefits was 79 percent in March 2017.

Workers with higher average wages had greater access to vision care plans than those with lower wages. Access was 6 percent for workers with an average wage in the lowest 10 percent and 41 percent for workers with an average wage in the highest 10 percent. The take-up rate was 65 percent for workers in the lowest 10 percent and 81 percent for workers in the highest 10 percent.

Similarly, workers in larger establishments had greater access to vision care plans than workers in smaller establishments. For establishments with 1 to 49 workers, vision care plans were available to 14 percent of workers. For establishments with 500 workers or more, 39 percent of workers had access.

These estimates are from the National Compensation Survey — Benefits program. For more information, see National Compensation Survey: Employee Benefits in the United States, March 2017.