As a 30-year veteran of the employee benefits industry I never tire of "selling" VSP. From my start as a broker I’ve always been proud to connect clients to a VSP vision plan that delivers great value and guarantees satisfaction. And more recently, as the managing director and chief operating officer for Buck Consultants, I was able to demonstrate to colleagues across the nation how regular eyecare through a top-notch VSP eye doctor can be an integral part of a comprehensive health program.
Today, as VSP’s president & CEO, I wake up everyday still eager to sell VSP – not just our plans, but the way we practice business. VSP is truly a company of "firsts," setting new precedents in the industry for service, quality, and innovation. We’re proud to be breaking new ground, being the:
· First vision plan to align – and stay aligned – solely with private practice eye doctors
· First to develop a national eyecare benefit plan
· First to form a nationwide network of eye doctors
· First to establish a quality standard for an eye exam
· First to educate consumers about the importance of eye health
· First to introduce credentialing requirements for a national doctor network
· First to provide practice-management services for eye doctors
· First to be recognized by J.D. Power and Associates as ranking the "Highest in Member Satisfaction Among National Vision Plans"
· First to create an Eye Health Management® program to help patients proactively monitor and manage their eye disease or systemic conditions
· First to develop an insured direct-to-consumer vision plan to help consumers budget for eyecare
Why are these "firsts" so important? VSP has always been at the forefront of the benefits industry. Given our past performance, we hope that what we’re starting today will become tomorrow’s industry standard.
As a company of firsts, I can tell you that our vision for the future includes carving out new, uncharted paths. It is this pioneer spirit that allows VSP to stay in front as the nation’s largest eyecare provider. I look forward to your thoughts on how quality vision coverage has made a difference in your life.
Rob
P.S.: Thank you for the comments many of you have submitted to the VSP blog. We will post comments related to the blog topic, and if the comment is not related to the topic, we will respond to you directly.
While attending one of the Vision Expos a couple of years ago I stopped by the VSP booth and asked why practitioners weren’t allowed to do their own finishing work as in the past. I was told that such was not the case universally and that only certain regions were allowed to do so. Furthermore, I was told, having all practitioners use VSP approved labs provided an extra level of assurance that the work would be done in a consistently timely manner and with predictable quality. OK, I’ll grant you that.Fast forward to today: Given this reasoning, why is in-office lab work allowed for Signature Choice jobs ONLY? I should think that the same requirements for quality and consistancy exist for all VSP plans. Therefore, if we assume those offices that choose to do the Choice work in-house are doing so at a level consistent with VSP requirements, that same priviledge should be extended across all plans. That is, if the primary reason for this restriction is all about quality as I was told at VE.Bobp.s. Several weeks ago I submitted a post regarding the decision to deny local labs the ability participate in the Choice program. I have not received a response to that post nor has it been posted here on the blog. I’m concerned that this blog will only serve as a self promotion vehicle. If that is its purpose then it should be made clear. I think the common understanding of a blog is to encourage not only those points-of-view that agree but those that disagree as well.
Hi Rob,On March 3, 07, I sent you this:Rob, I have been on and off VSP since my first license in 1982. When I was first on VSP, I was excited, it was OD controlled, the fees were half way reasonable. Heck, I even volunteered for peer review, mainly to learn how to run an optometric office. I was off VSP from 1988 to 1998. I can honestly say, VSP has hurt my practice more than has helped it in the last 9 years. VSP has taken away business from other insurance companies that I was better reinbursed. VSP has not kept up with the cost of living in my area. VSP consumes more of my staff time to work with and I am not reinbursed for the extra staff time required. Gee, I am better reinbursed by the Medicaid department in the state, takes less time for paperwork, and I do not have the hassles. Medicaid is a subsidized program and VSP should be paying more than a Medicaid exam in the market place. VSP would like to have their doctors on 24 hour call, yet will not reinburse the doctors for their time for being on call for their patients. Is that fair. Well, these are my personal thoughts on VSP after being in practice for so many years. Sincerely, Susan L.Cotter, O.D. Since then, I have not seen it posted on your blog site (by definition of a blog site, it is not suppose to be censored), and you have not replied.Susan L. Cotter, O.D.
What does VSP have to offer for the monocular patient? I thought I had seen something regarding specific benefits for monocular patients and I have e-mailed Member Services but never recieved a reply. I would think that if an individual only has one eye, the "First" thing they should do is keep it safe.Thanks
As a recipient of your services I find it remarkable you have attained the corporate status your company enjoys. Your service is sub par and I really think I should file a complaint with the Arizona Insurance as well as the corporation commission.