The eyes aren’t just a window into the soul — they can also tell doctors a lot about what’s happening in the rest of our body. Why, then, do I have separate insurance cards for my medical and vision care?

It’s another oddity of US health care, a system that nobody would necessarily design on purpose but one we’re nevertheless stuck with. During open enrollment this year, you might be able to sign up for a vision plan through your work for, say, $10 per month or so — if you’re lucky.

But for many Americans, vision insurance simply isn’t an option: Less than 30 percent of US workers are offered vision benefits, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

If you’re on Medicaid, whether you can receive vision care depends on the state you live in. Patients on the traditional Medicare program, meanwhile, have no vision benefits unless they purchase them separately; the patients who sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan might be able to get vision benefits — at an additional cost.

All of this means that most of the US population doesn’t have access to a routine eye examination covered by insurance.

Confused about your benefits?

Medical costs keep going up, and yet our two political parties are stuck in an impasse over what to do about health care policy — while patients hang in the balance. And now, here again is that stressful time of the year — even without government chaos — to sign up for your health insurance and other benefits for next year. Health care costs and the cost of living keep rising, making these decisions all the more important for your financial well-being.

We’ve covered open enrollment from every angle in the Vox guide to using your benefits to make sure you know why the system works this way and how you could make it work the best for you. Read on to learn:

• Why are my health insurance premiums going up so much?
  
• How to figure out if your insurance plan covers therapy

• Why dental insurance also isn’t included in your health plan

• The bizarre backstory of flexible spending accounts

You can also read the whole package

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