We are currently experiencing technical issues impacting our service operations, including our member and provider portals. Callers may experience longer-than-usual wait times. We apologize for the delay and appreciate your patience while we resolve the issues.
We encourage you to call your eye care professional to confirm their office is open before you seek care. Stay healthy and be well. (Posted October 9, 2020)
Our first concern is always the health and wellbeing of our members and all of the people that make up the vision care ecosystem. During these unprecedented times, we are committed to providing you with the guidance you need to focus on your health.
Since March 16th, the majority of our associates have been working remotely to ensure business continuity while we do our part to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Our leadership team is meeting daily, virtually of course, to ensure that we continue to operate seamlessly in order to serve the 38.6 million members who count on us. We’re here for you, ready to serve.
Individual or family plans are a cost-effective way to provide coverage between jobs. Visit visionplans.com to enroll. Plans are available in 28 states.
We are committed to serving your eye care business as we navigate the many unexpected and fluid circumstances presented by COVID-19. While eye care professional offices may have closed or have been operating with limited hours, many continue to see emergent patients either in offices or remotely. We are working tirelessly to provide you with the information you need to continue to serve your patients. You can find guidance about telemedicine coverage for essential services in the eye care professional portal.
To all of our members,
We want to assure you that we are closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19, adhering to the guidance of The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as state and local governments. We are taking extra precautions to maintain a safe and healthy work environment for our associates while we continue to serve you.
Importantly, we have also coordinated closely with our business partners to continue seamless fulfillment of eyewear orders. At this time, we do not anticipate any disruption to the availability and production of eyewear products that are supplied through Versant Health’s supply chain, or with our ability to fulfill eyewear orders and process claims.
We remain committed to providing uninterrupted service. Our call center operations remain open to provide service and we expect no interruptions to our service as a result of COVID-19 at this time.
We are extremely proud to serve our members, clients, brokers and eye care professionals despite the current threat posed by COVID-19. We will continue to monitor the situation and remain focused on ensuring that you have continued access to care and service.
Stay healthy, and as always, feel free to reach out with any questions.
Maynard McAlpin
Chief Operating Officer
A message from our Chief Medical Officer, Mark C. Ruchman, MD
At Versant Health, our first concern is always the health and wellbeing of our members. During times like these, I find that members are seeking information and turn to trusted organizations like ours for guidance. Here are some answers to common questions related to COVID-19 and eye health.
Do glasses protect against COVID-19?
Wearing glasses will not provide adequate barrier protection, mainly because the sides, tops and bottoms of the area around your eyes are still exposed. For those of you caring for someone who may be infected by the virus, consider wearing safety goggles for more complete protection.
Is it safe to wear contact lenses?
You may continue to wear contact lenses1, although I do encourage you to be extra vigilant about disinfecting your hands. If you find you tend to touch your eyes more often when you wear contact lenses, definitely consider wearing glasses instead. Also, be sure to wash and disinfect your hands before handling your contacts. Strictly follow the instructions for handling and care of your contact lenses as provided by your contact lens supplier.
Are there any eye related symptoms for coronavirus?
The American Academy of Ophthalmology reports that coronavirus can cause conjunctivitis2, also known as pink eye, although it appears to be rare3. If you suspect you have pink eye and are experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, please call your primary care provider
for guidance.
Is it okay to seek routine vision care at this time?
In keeping with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you are encouraged to postpone routine eye exams.
What else can I do to protect my eyes?
The best way to protect your eyes is to follow the guidelines for preventing transmission of COVID-19 set forth by the CDC. You can find detailed instructions at this link.
Sources
1. https://bit.ly/2QOrKc6, 2. https://bit.ly/2QNvESr, 3. https://bit.ly/3aqUXl5
To slow the spread of COVID-19, some retail and small businesses have limited hours of operations or in some cases have temporarily closed.
We encourage you to call your eye care professional to confirm they are open before you seek care.
Stay healthy, and as always, feel free to reach out with any questions.
Davis Vision is a product offering from Versant Health, a company forged from the experience of two leading vision care plans. To proceed with learning about available career opportunities within Versant Health, please click on the button below.
Davis Vision is a product offering from Versant Health, a company forged from the experience of two leading vision care plans. To proceed with learning more about Versant Health, please click on the button below.
