Market research firm rates vision plans

Market research firm J.D. Power & Associates released its second ranking of national vision plans last week, which included the three companies offering new federal employee vision insurance.

Of the eight vision plans studied, VSP -- the Vision Service Plan -- ranked first for customer satisfaction. It received the highest rating of five gold circles, meaning "among the best," in four areas: coverage and communication, cost, eye doctor network and clinical service, and eyewear purchase experience. For the last factor -- customer service support -- VSP was rated "better than most," with four gold circles.

Davis Vision, which operates the federal Blue Cross Blue Shield plan, and Spectera both received two gold circles, placing them in "the rest"-- the lowest score a company can receive.

J.D. Power -- famous for its automobile rankings -- based its results on a survey of 2,011 vision plan members who had an eye exam in the previous 12 months. The group did not conduct a study for dental plans, which also will be available under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program for the first time this year when open season starts Nov. 13.

The Office of Personnel Management provides brochures on its Web site with each of the plans' pricing and coverage details. All offer a standard and a high option, which can be bought for yourself, yourself plus one or yourself and family. The standard option for self and family costs $25.83 a month for the Blue Cross Blue Shield plan, $16.55 for the Spectera plan and $24.85 for the VSP plan. Each offers varying amounts of coverage.

A spokeswoman for Blue Cross Blue Shield said Davis Vision has garnered a series of other commendations, including official recognition by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Spectera did not return requests for comment.

J.D. Power, a subsidiary of the McGraw-Hill Companies, is a for-profit organization that charges companies for using its name to promote their products.