Family-owned since 1982, based in Santee. CBIS sets up group health, dental, vision, life, disability and Section 125 plans for California employers, from the owner plus 1 employee to groups of about 250, with a named CBIS contact for each account.
Vision coverage helps your employees pay for routine eye exams, glasses and contact lenses. CBIS compares group vision plans across carriers and helps you add one to your benefits, on its own or next to the dental and medical plans you already offer.
We work with employers across San Diego County from our office in Santee, and we help employers elsewhere in California by phone or video. Vision is one piece of a full group employee benefits package for San Diego employers.
What group vision plans usually cover
- Eye exams: routine exams with an in-network eye doctor
- Glasses: help paying for frames and lenses
- Contact lenses: help paying for contacts on many plans
Every plan sets its own copays, allowances, network and how often employees can use each benefit. An agent walks you through each of those before you decide.
Vision on its own or with dental
Some carriers sell group vision as its own plan. Others offer vision as an add-on to a group dental plan. Many employers shop the two at the same time so employees see one set of choices at enrollment. We lay out both ways side by side so you can see what each one costs and covers.
Decisions you’ll make as the employer
- Who pays: You can cover all of the premium or part of it, or you can offer the plan and have employees pay their own share.
- Network: Each plan uses its own network of eye doctors and eyewear locations. We check the networks against the eye doctors your team uses now.
- Participation: A carrier may require a minimum number of employees to enroll, or a minimum employer contribution. The carrier sets those minimums.
- Pre-tax pay: With a Section 125 plan, employees can pay their share of medical, dental and vision premiums before taxes.
How CBIS helps
- Learn about your team: We ask how many employees you have, the ZIP codes where they live, what you offer now and what you want to spend.
- Compare plans: You see vision options side by side, including networks and who pays.
- Set up and enroll: We help with applications and employee meetings by phone or video, then set the plan up in Employee Navigator so your team can enroll online. Enrollment materials are available in Spanish.
- Each renewal: We lay out your current plan next to other options, and your named CBIS contact helps with new hires and changes during the year.
Looking for something else?
- Shopping for a medical plan for your team? See small business health insurance in San Diego.
- Want to give employees a set allowance for individual health plans instead? See ICHRA for San Diego employers.
- Shopping for vision coverage for yourself and not as an employer? Call or text CBIS at (858) 283-7575, and a licensed agent will point you the right way.
Common questions about group vision insurance
What does group vision insurance cover?
Most group vision plans help with routine eye exams, glasses and contact lenses. Each plan sets its own copays, allowances, network and how often employees can use each benefit, and the plan documents spell out the details.
Can we offer vision without a medical or dental plan?
Often, yes. Some carriers offer group vision on its own, and some offer it as an add-on to a dental plan. Group size and participation rules vary by carrier, so we check which ones fit your group.
Does the employer have to pay for vision coverage?
No. You can cover all of the premium or part of it, or you can offer the plan and have employees pay their own share. Some carriers set a minimum employer contribution or a minimum number of employees who enroll, and the carrier sets those rules.
How do we know if our employees’ eye doctors are in network?
Each plan uses its own network of eye doctors and eyewear locations. Before you choose, we check the networks against the eye doctors your team already uses, so you know what changes before anyone enrolls.
How many employees do we need for a group vision plan?
In California, small group starts at the owner plus 1 employee. Rules for vision plans vary by carrier, and CBIS works with groups of up to about 250 employees. We’ll check which carriers fit your headcount.
Can employees pay for vision coverage with pre-tax pay?
Often, yes. A Section 125 plan can let employees pay their share of medical, dental and vision premiums before taxes. Your CPA or tax professional can confirm how it applies to your business.
When can group vision coverage start?
Group coverage usually starts on the 1st of a month. How soon depends on each carrier’s deadlines for applications and enrollment, so it helps to start early.
Does CBIS help employers outside San Diego?
Yes. Our office is in Santee and we work with employers across San Diego County. We also help employers elsewhere in California by phone or video. CBIS is licensed in California only.
How does CBIS get paid for group vision plans?
In many cases, the insurance company pays the broker a commission that is built into the premium. Payment can differ by product, and we explain how it works for your plan up front. See how we get paid.
Plan details, availability and eligibility vary by insurance company and by group.