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Pinned by mods · vision-hearing

Vision & Hearing Supplement

Your eyes diagnose. Your ears catch the misfire before the scan tool does. Lose either and the trade gets a lot harder. This supplement covers annual exams, prescription safety glasses, and hearing tests with hearing-aid allowances — the two things almost no major-medical plan touches.

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What's covered

  • Annual eye exam with $0–$25 copay
  • Frames + lenses allowance ($150–$250 every 12–24 months)
  • Prescription safety glasses (ANSI Z87.1 rated)
  • Annual hearing test and audiologist visits
  • Hearing-aid allowance every 3 years on most plans

Who it's for

  • Techs over 35 noticing close-up focus changes
  • Mechanics regularly running impact guns, air hammers, or grinders
  • Body and collision techs around solvents and isocyanates
  • Anyone whose family has a history of hearing loss

Top questions from the thread

Are prescription safety glasses really covered?

Yes — most vision plans cover Z87.1-rated frames at the same allowance as regular frames. We confirm before you enroll.

Does hearing coverage include hearing aids?

Most plans pay a fixed allowance ($500–$1,500) every 3 years per ear. It won't cover top-tier devices, but it cuts the bill in half.

Is this worth it if I rarely go to the eye doctor?

If you don't need glasses, probably not. If you wear contacts or prescription lenses, it pays for itself in one visit.