BATON ROUGE, La.—Managed-care provider AlwaysCare Benefits will kick off its first fully insured safety eyewear program beginning Jan, 1. The new plan is available as an add-on for group vision-plan clients with 500 employees or more, an announcement said.

Members whose employers opt to participate in this new program will be able to obtain safety eyewear in addition to either their contact lenses or regular ophthalmic eyeglasses, according to AlwaysCare.

“Vision plans that include protective eyewear programs can help employers add tremendous value to their employee benefit plans by keeping employees safe from hazards while on the job, and saving money for their employees,” said Gene Sherman, DMD, Always Care’s senior vice president of business development and provider relations.