UVA Vision Coverage

UVA offers two options to save on eyecare: 

1. Aetna Vision Discount Program - You are automatically enrolled as a UVA Health Plan participant in the Aetna Vision Discount Program, with no premium beyond the Health Plan.
2. Davis Vision offers additional benefits and provider options. These vision plan options cannot be combined, so compare benefits below to help you choose.

Frequency: Once per year, beginning January 1

• Exam
• Lenses & Lense upgrades
• Frame
• Contacts, evaluation & fitting

Eye Exam copay: $0

Contacts evaluation, fitting & follow-up for conventional lens and specialty lens: Covered in Full when ordering contacts on the same date of service from the same provider. 

Contacts in lieu of glasses: 

• Allowances: $150 (+additional 15% off any overage) or
• The Exclusive Collection of Contact Lenses: covered in full

Lens copay: $0

Frame Allowance: 

• Visionworks: $180 (+ additional 20% off any overage)
• Other locations: $150 (+ additional 20% off any overage) or
• The Exclusive Collection:
  • Fashion and Designer lines: covered in full
  • Premier line: $25
• A Guide to Lens Types

Free breakage warranty: your glasses are covered with the Davis Vision free one-year breakage warranty. Some limitations apply. 

The Exclusive Collection: This collection provides you with entirely free frames within the Fashion and Designer line, and only $25 for the Premier line. The collection is available at nearly 9,000 locations across the US. 

See specifics for copays on options and upgrades

Aetna Vision Discount Program includes:

Prescription and nonprescription savings - You get discounts on:

• Eye exams
• Prescription eyewear
• LASIK laser eye surgery
• Non-disposable contact lenses
• Designer frame options

You can even save on things that don’t need a prescription, like sunglasses, eyeglass chains, lens cases and cleaners.

Plenty of locations: You can visit many doctors in private practice, plus national chains like JCPenney Optical, LensCrafters, Target Optical, Sears Optical and Pearle Vision. To find a location, go to Aetna Vision Provider Directory.

Great rates on eye exams: You’ll get discounts on routine eye exams. And they aren’t just for clear vision. 

Contact lenses — delivered to your door. If your prescription is up to date, you can get them mailed right to your home.

LASIK for less: You get one low package price for laser eye surgery screening, surgery and follow-up care. And the first consultation is free — even if you decide not to have the surgery.

To be eligible for Davis Vision, you must be a full- or part-time UVA employee, regularly scheduled to work at least 20 hour/week. You must be one of the following employee types:

• Faculty
• Classified Staff
• Housestaff
• Medical Center Team Member
• Postdoctoral Research Associate
• Senior Professional Research Staff
• University Staff

To be added to your Davis Vision, your spouse must be legally recognized as a spouse in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

To be added to your Davis Vision, children must be your biological, step, adopted, or foster child, or any child declared a dependent on your federal tax return for whom you are the legal guardian with permanent custody. Children are eligible to the end of the birth month in which they turn 26.

If children are incapable of self-support (due to mental or physical disability), they can remain on your Davis Vision beyond age 26 as long as the following requirements are met:

• Required documentation is approved in advance by the benefits claims administrator before the dependent's 26th birthday.
• They are unmarried.
• They live with you 100% of the time.
• They are declared a dependent on your federal tax return.

Davis Vision premiums (listed below) are monthly and are the same for eligible full-time and part-time UVA employees. Family coverage includes the employee, spouse, and children. Rates will decrease in 2026.

Housestaff receive Davis Vision at no cost. 

Dependent enrollment is not automatic, and must be done through Workday upon hire, with a qualified life event, or during the Open Enrollment period.

The table below shows that Housestaff get Davis Vision coverage at no cost per month.

Davis Vision is available for purchase by active, benefits-eligible employees whose status is listed above. If Davis Vision is not an option for you, visit UVA Health Plan for details about vision discount benefits.

COBRA premiums for Davis Vision are listed below (rate includes 2%). The 2026 monthly rates below remain unchanged from 2025.

To help you get the most out of your money for vision, medical, pharmacy, dental, and dependent-care expenses, the University offers benefits-related savings and spending accounts. These accounts allow you to put aside money for eligible expenses, by payroll deduction, before taxes.

• Visit the Health Savings Account (HSA) webpage to learn more about the HSA for vision and other allowable expenses.
• Visit the Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) webpage to learn more about FSAs.  

Detailed information about eligibility for the UVA Health, Dental, and Vision options an be found on the Eligibility 2026 webpage. In a nutshell, the Plans are open to:

• UVA Academic and Health System salaried employees, full-time or part-time working at least 20 hours/week, except J visa holders, who are eligible for the UVA J Visa Health Plan
• Spouses of eligible UVA employees (some exception noted on the Eligibility 2026 webpage)
• Children of eligible UVA employees - children (as defined on the Eligibility 2026 webpage) are eligible through their birthday at age 26, or longer if documented to have mental or physical disabilities (see the Eligibility 2026 webpage for more details)

The Basic Health option has some additional requirements; please visit the Eligibility 2026 webpage for those details.