VSP is managing the state of Wisconsin's vision insurance. As a potential member, I must say that my experience with them has already been terrible, making me less likely to use them.

Apparently somewhere on their site is a web page to sign up for the state plan. Our department benefits manager sent along a link to it. It doesn't work. Instead I'm told to call member services. I'm guessing the site is using some sort of session state that makes it difficult to share links. Not a promising start.

I was directed to check out "Find a VSP Doctor" to see if the doctor I wanted to use was covered. Bonk! No help for you. Okay, I'll try the "doctor" link. Bonk! I can't log in because I'm not a member, I'm considering becoming a member. Okay, I'll try "Not a member" Bonk again! I get a warning that they can't reliably tell me which doctors are on my list unless I'm already a member. How can I make an intelligent decision about choosing VSP if I can't find out who the doctors covered are? But I'll try to "Continue as a Non Member" anyway. In we go. So, where do I download a full directory? Oh, I don't. All I can do is search. Worse, I need to fill out a CAPTCHA to search. Why do I need to fill out a CAPTCHA? "This helps us prevent unauthorized use of our doctor information." How do you use a list of doctors in an unauthorized way? My health insurance offers a PDF download and a searchable form, neither of which are hidden behind a CAPTCHA. Oops I got the first two wrong, so it wipes out my address, forcing me to retype it.

I'm a borderline case. I probably don't need vision coverage beyond what my health insurance normally covers, but I am interested in it. So I came to VSP's site to learn more. They had an opportunity to show me how great they are. Instead they set up a series of roadblocks. This doesn't bode well for the service I'd receive as a member. So I'll pass. Congratulations on shooting yourself in the food, VSP.