MEDICAL VS VISION INSURANCE EXPLAINED
What is Vision insurance, and how is it different from Medical insurance?
A Vision insurance policy is different from your health insurance policy.
Regular medical health insurance covers you for any medical eye concern, such as a red eye, infection, cataracts or glaucoma. Any diagnostic testing ordered to evaluate a medical condition would also be billed to medical insurance, just like testing ordered by your PCP or another specialist. Any exam, test, or surgery billed to medical insurance will be subject to your deductible and the co-insurance, or cost share, as determined by your specific plan.
In contrast, vision plans provide an added wellness benefit for healthy eye exams, which includes routine eye care, prescription eyewear and contact lenses, and other vision services at a reduced cost.
Some examples of vision insurance include Vision Service Plan (VSP), Davis Vision and Spectera/ United Healthcare Vision
What does vision insurance cover?
Most vision insurance plans include the following benefits:
· Annual Vision exams
· Eyeglass frames & lenses
· Contact lenses
Benefits for glasses and/or contact lenses (sometimes called hardware or materials) vary. Most plans cover an amount toward one or the other, but not both.
What does my vision insurance NOT cover?
Vision plans do not cover any part of an eye exam considered “medical”. For example,
vision insurance will not cover vision loss, floaters, dry eyes, allergies, infections, eye
disease, or eye exams for complication from diabetes. If you need medication the doctor
will not be able to give you a prescription if you are using a vision insurance.
Some vision insurance plans do not cover contact lens fittings or include them as part of the overall material benefit.
Insurance coverage is a complicated issues and is constantly changing. If you have questions, please reach out to the office.
All of our providers accept the following insurance plans:
Traditional Medicare
Regence
Premera
Cigna
Humana
First Choice
United Healthcare PPO and Medicare Advantage plans-
We CANNOT accept UHC Community Plan
Our optometrists also take Vision Service Plan, Davis Vision and Spectera/UHC Vision
As plans change over time, we always recommend reaching out to your plan to confirm coverage details.