BOSTON— Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) announced on May 13, that it has established a relationship with EyeMed Vision Care in order to offer its new vision care product, Blue 20/20. BCBSMA, headquartered here, is the health plan for more than 31,500 Massachusetts employers and has more than 2.8 million members.

EyeMed, a division of Luxottica, is the second largest vision benefits company in the U.S. with more than 36 million members. “Our members value affordability, flexibility and choice, all things which EyeMed delivers to their customers,” said Timothy O’Brien, senior vice president of sales and marketing at BCBSMA.

Blue 20/20 plans include routine eye exams and savings on frames, lenses, coatings and contact lenses. “Member savings vary depending on materials selected, consistent with other EyeMed plans, ranging from 15 percent savings for contact lenses and up to 50 percent for frames and lenses. Additional member savings may be available depending on the type of plan an employer chooses, generally in the form of allowances and copay savings,” an EyeMed spokesperson told VMail, adding, “This is the first vision offering outside of medical plans in Massachusetts, and employers also have the option to offer it on a voluntary basis at no additional cost to the employee.”

Blue 20/20 provides members with access to more than 60,000 independent providers and national retailers, including LensCrafters, most Pearle Vision locations, Target Optical, Sears Optical and JCPenney Optical. The EyeMed spokesperson explained why members have access to “most” Pearle Vision locations: “A small number of franchisees have opted out of the EyeMed network. It’s not a significant number, but we want to be clear to members that they need to confirm that a Pearle doctor is a participating EyeMed doctor before seeking services.”

Lukas Ruecker, EyeMed Vision Care president, said, “It’s our privilege to be the vision care experts behind this vision product for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, the largest health plan in Massachusetts. We’re confident their clients and members will be delighted with the Blue 20/20 vision plan that offers all the strengths of EyeMed and the Luxottica family that’s behind it.

“We’re especially eager for BCBSMA Blue 20/20 members to have access to the largest and most diverse choice of in-network vision providers, including both independent and true in-network retail locations; industry-leading weekend and evening service hours from our call center and many network provider locations; an amazing selection of the top eyewear and retail location brand names plus access to the latest in lenses through our lab network. These kinds of advantages have made us America’s fastest growing vision benefits company,” he said.