vsp

Rail workers get new national vision-care plan

The Railroad Employees National Vision Plan, administered by Vision Service Plan (VSP), is now available to most agreement employees and their dependents.

Employees must meet the following requirements in order to be eligible for this benefit:

The railroad and union must have reached an agreement to provide vision benefits, and, The employee must have completed one or more years of service.

The vision benefit applies to both Hospital and Non-Hospital Association employees who meet these requirements. Those eligible do not have to apply for coverage.

VSP will be receiving a list of eligible employees and their dependents twice a month from United HealthCare (UHC). VSP has established a toll-free number for the plan. When you want to use your vision benefits, call the toll-free number (1-888-877-4782) to locate a participating provider.

Detailed information about the benefits was made available in the Railroad Employees' National Vision Plan Summary Plan Description (SPD), which was mailed to all employees last November. If you have not received your SPD by now, please call VSP at the toll-free number above to request one. VSP has an extensive nationwide network of doctors who provide the finest optometric care and materials.

The plan is designed to assist covered employees and dependents in maintaining their vision by providing for regular eye examinations and benefits toward vision care expenses including glasses or contact lenses.

After your have identified a participating provider in your area, make an appointment for yourself or a dependent, identify yourself as a VSP member, and provide your social security number. The VSP-participating doctor will contact VSP to verify eligibility and plan benefits and obtain authorization so that you can receive an eye examination and corrective eyewear, if necessary.

If you are not currently eligible for services, the VSP participating doctor will notify you of this. (If you think you should be eligible, you may contact VSP at the toll-free number for assistance in clarifying your eligibility.) During your eye examination, the VSP-participating doctor will determine if corrective eyewear is necessary. If so, he or she will coordinate your prescription with one of VSP's contract wholesale laboratories and dispense your eyewear.

If you choose to go to a provider who does not participate with VSP, VSP will reimburse you in accordance with the Non-Member Provider Benefit shown in the SPD as long as you obtain services from a licensed optometrist, ophthalmologist or optician.

You will be responsible for paying the provider and submitting itemized receipts to VSP. If you use a non-member provider, it is important to note that the plan reimbursement schedule does not guarantee full payment.