Vision Insurance Coverage
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign provides vision insurance for graduate students holding waiver-generating appointments, at no additional cost. Consult the Graduate College Handbook to see if your appointment qualifies. Students in this group will be automatically enrolled in the plan upon the completion of their appointment papers. For students beginning in the fall term vision coverage begins on September 1 or the first day of a student's appointment, whichever is later, but not earlier than September 1. For students beginning in the spring term, coverage begins February 1 or the first day of a student's appointment, whichever is later, but not earlier than February 1. Please take this into consideration when scheduling appointments.
All other graduate students can voluntarily enroll in the same vision insurance plan by paying the annual premium. Graduate students may also voluntarily enroll dependents for coverage. Students, wishing to voluntarily enroll or wishing to enroll dependents, must enroll during the Enrollment/Change Period listed below.
To voluntarily enroll or to enroll dependents for vision insurance, you need to fill out and submit the Vision Care Enrollment Form (PDF) during the Enrollment/Change Period.
The Vision Service Plan (VSP) provides one annual comprehensive eye exam by a participating doctor at no additional cost to plan members. Members also receive substantial discounts on glasses and contact lenses, and partial reimbursements for services by non-VSP providers.
For plan details for graduate assistants and fellows, see the plan brochure (PDF).
For plan details for graduate students who are not assistants and fellows, see the plan brochure (PDF).
To see a list of local participating providers go to https://www.eyemedvisioncare.com/memweb/ProviderLocator. For the 2008-2009 academic year, the Enrollment/Change Period will be as follows for both dental and vision insurance coverage:
For fall, the enrollment period is September 1 through September 30, 2009
For spring, the enrollment period is February 1 through February 28, 2010