9.25 (a) Eligible PS&T Unit employees will be provided with the PEF Vision Care Plan at the same level of benefits, including Occupational Vision coverage, in effect on April 1, 2003 for managerial/confidential employees. Effective January 1, 2009, PS&T Unit employees will be provided with the PEF Vision Care Plan at the same level of benefits, including Occupational Vision Coverage in effect on April 2, 2007 for managerial/confidential employees, except as modified below.

Effective July 1, 2008, or as soon as practicable thereafter, eligible employees and dependents will have 90-days from the date of the vision exam to purchase eyewear from a participating provider.

(a) (b) Covered dependents under 19 years of age shall be eligible to receive vision care benefits once in any 12-month period.

(b) (c) Effective January 1, 2009, under the Medical Exception Program, an individual with a medical condition that may impact vision refraction shall, if referred by his or her physician caring for that condition, qualify for an annual examination of their vision. If new lenses are required due to vision changes resulting from a medical condition for which the individual is under the care of a physician, vision care benefits, including an examination, new lenses and, if appropriate, new frames, shall be available sooner than once every 24 months, but not sooner than 12 months from the last use of vision care benefits, upon written documentation by an ophthalmologist that the medical condition has caused a vision loss that requires a new prescription. Documentation of the vision loss must be provided in writing by the ophthalmologist each time a new prescription is needed sooner than the standard 24-month interval. An individual who requires new lenses due to vision changes resulting from a medical condition, and who otherwise qualifies for Occupational Vision coverage, will be eligible to receive Occupational Vision benefits in accordance with the terms and conditions contained in this paragraph. The Joint Committee on Health Benefits shall work with the Vision Care Plan vendor to establish and confirm the eligibility rules and application procedures for this vision care enhancement.

(d) The state will continue to provide access to a network of providers to obtain Laser Vision Correction services at discounted enrollee-pay-all fees.

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