VISION

Eligibility & Enrollment

Eligibility
If you are an active associate scheduled to work at least 20 hours per week, you may participate in the vision care plan on the first of the month immediately following your date of hire.

Eligible Dependents
If your dependents are eligible for a Valassis-sponsored medical plan, they are automatically eligible for coverage under the EyeMed vision plan. You will need to enroll them in the plan separately, however.

Enrollment
Vision care coverage begins the first of the month following your hire date (or eligibility date), as long as you have enrolled within 31 days of your eligibility date.

Cost
The vision plan is a voluntary plan, meaning associates pay the full cost of the benefit. Some products (e.g., contact lenses or certain eyeglass lens options) require a copay or are available for you to purchase at a discount.

The amount you pay for coverage depends on the plan you choose and who is covered (you, you and one dependent, or you and two or more dependents), as well as your full or part-time status.

Information about your share of the cost, which you make through payroll deductions, is available during open enrollment or from your Human Resources representative. See 2009 Benefit Cost Sheet.

Before-tax Contributions
Valassis offers certain tax-savings opportunities available under current federal law. As a result, in accordance with Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code, contributions to your medical plans (and health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts) are made with before-tax dollars, except for non-IRS qualified domestic partners. This means that you make your contributions before federal income, Social Security and, in most cases, state income taxes are withheld. As a result, your taxable income is lower, so you pay less in taxes.

Because of these tax advantages, you may change your elections only during open enrollment each fall, unless you have a qualified change in status.