单选题
When companies consider their benefits mix, coverage for medical care is often top-of-mind. Yet there may be another, even more powerful concern driving employee coverage preferences: vision care. Roughly 75% of adults in the United States require some type of vision correction, and 84 percent of adults believe that vision benefits are somewhat or very important to them. As a result, vision assistance is moving higher and higher on the list of sought-after employee benefits. What's driving the trend? One factor is the increasing power of eye examinations to detect systemic illness. In addition to identifying nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, routine eye exams now play a role in diagnosing conditions such as diabetes, brain aneurysms (脑动脉瘤), liver disease and stroke risk. Early identification, in turn, translates into markedly lower expenditures for employers. In 2014, eye problems will cost companies an estimated $8 billion in reduced productivity. Making sure employees get the right eye care helps employers reduce these losses. At the same time, it boosts their ability to retain loyal workers. So what's the best way to get patients into the exam chair? One way is to provide a vision plan that lowers out-of-pocket (自己付费的) expenses. Indeed, research shows that out-of-pocket expense—not premiums—is the number-one factor employees consider when choosing a vision plan. 'And that's just smart,' says independent insurance broker Shannon Enders. 'Premiums make up only about 30 percent of total out-of-pocket expenses. So it pays to look beyond the premium and see the real cost of a plan.' A study conducted by Service Excellence Group Inc., a leading market research company, shows how the right vision insurance plan can result in across-the-board (全面的) savings for employees. The study compared the prices customers with different insurance plans paid for the same popular pair of eyeglasses at independent doctors and retail chains. It found that customers with insurance plans that were most successful at keeping out-of-pocket expenses low saved hundreds of dollars. With eyeglasses becoming as much of a fashion accessory (装饰品) as a vision aid, forward-thinking companies are beginning to take note. Enders says more of his clients are saying yes to vision care plans. 'Employees care about their eyes,' he says. 'And offering benefits packages with the features employees care most about will become an even more important corporate strategy going forward.'
单选题
What is the meaning of the last sentence of paragraph one?