WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.— UnitedHealthcare ranked highest in customer satisfaction with managed vision care plan providers, according to the J.D. Power 2014 Vision Plan Satisfaction Report released yesterday. The leading vision insurance plan performed particularly well in coverage, cost and communications, according to the report.

Now in its second year, the J.D. Power 2014 Vision Plan Satisfaction Report measures customer satisfaction with vision plan providers based on five factors (in order of importance): coverage, cost, communications, customer service and reimbursement. Based on responses from 3,063 vision plan members from October through November 2014, satisfaction is calculated on a 1,000-point scale.

With overall satisfaction among vision plans members ranking an average of 709, the top four vision plans ranked as follows: UnitedHealthcare 732, EyeMed 717, Davis Vision 706, and VSP 702. All companies improved over last year’s rankings, while Davis and VSP switched positions when compared with the 2013 report.

Among vision plan members who rated overall satisfaction as outstanding (10 on a 10-point scale), the average number of positive recommendations increased from the report average of 1.4 to 3.5, and 87 percent said they “definitely will” choose their current provider in the future, compared with the report average of 42 percent, according to the report.

“While coverage is critical to satisfaction, members are also very sensitive to cost,” said Rick Johnson, director of the health care practice at J.D. Power. “It’s extremely important to provide clear communications about the plan’s benefits so members fully understand what they are paying for and the value of having the plan. When communications are clear and concise, satisfaction and loyalty metrics are likely to increase.”