Our priority is to provide you and your family with comprehensive eye care. We proudly accept a wide variety of vision insurance plans as well as self-pay options such as cash, checks, and credit cards. Transparency about costs and fees is important, which is why we are happy to inform patients about the costs of exams and treatments at the beginning of the appointment.
Vision Insurance vs. Medical Insurance
Unlike most health services, eye care is commonly covered under two types of insurance plans: vision insurance, and medical insurance. While both coverage types may pertain to eyes, they cover different types of services and exams.
For example, if the doctor identifies a medical or health-related problem during your exam that is causing problems or warrants medical treatment, the exam is considered medical and your medical health insurance will be billed, meaning appropriate copays or deductibles may apply. Conditions that may warrant a medical exam include, but are not limited, to:
- Cataracts
- Dry Eye Disease
- Ocular Injury
- Glaucoma
- Macular Degeneration
- Diabetic Eye Exams
- Retinal holes, tears, or detachments
If your exam with the optometrist is not medical in nature, then your vision insurance will be billed, and any appropriate copays or deductibles may apply. Services that will likely be covered by vision insurance include receiving new glasses or contact lens prescription, school exams, or having a routine exam with no specific visual complaints. Our staff is well-trained in working with vision insurance plans. We are available to answer questions regarding benefits or claims, and can help explain any services or items not covered by your plan. Most plans require an in-office co-payment, and will likely have a few additional costs that are covered by the patient.
Your vision and ocular health is important to us, and we want to ensure we can work with your insurance coverage to provide you with the best possible eye care. If you have any questions about your insurance coverage or exam billing, please contact our office.
Flex Spending Accounts
A Flex Spending Account (FSA) is an optional plan offered by many employers that allows the employee to make voluntary pre-tax payments to an account that can then be used for medical expenses. These accounts work as supplemental insurance plans that can help cover medical costs not covered by the employee’s regular insurance plan. FSAs can be used towards eye exams, glasses, contact lenses, and even laser vision surgery. We gladly accept FSA payments, which can typically be used in conjunction with other health or vision insurance plans.
Other Payment Options
We know cost can be a concern when it comes to medical expenses, but we do not want fees to prevent you from maintaining good ocular health. For this reason, we accept many forms of payment for exams and can arrange financing options prior to examination when necessary. If you have any questions about exam payment, contact our office.