VZW - Visual Voice Mail $2.99

It's a ripoff especially considering that Apple doesn't allow iPhone users to be charged for this.
Use Google Voice instead as others have suggested.
 
IMO - use "Google Voice LITE" - you can follow the instructions at this link and set up GV as your Voicemail and that's it -

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Google Voice Lite

Set up or Remove Google voicemail fon your mobile phone

Set Up Google voicemail on your phone

Google Voice Lite lets you set up Google voicemail for your mobile phone number. You'll have all your voicemail in one place, with transcriptions, access to your past voicemails, and voicemail sharing options.

Set up or Remove Google voicemail fon your mobile phone - Google Voice Help (Set up or Remove Google voicemail on your mobile phone - Google Voice Help)
 
Ditto on Google Voice.

Easy to set up and works great. I too was surprised to see VZW was going to try to charge me $2.99/month for it.

surprised that Verizon was going to nickel and dime you to death???

surely you jest!!!