How fees work
Low vision visits and devices are billed in different ways. Here is how we handle each, in plain words.
Insurance we work with
A routine eye exam is billed to a vision plan. A visit about an eye disease or about how you see with it is often billed to medical insurance, and many visits mix both. The office tells you which part goes where. Medicare does not cover routine eye exams or glasses, with a few exceptions. Magnifiers and other devices are often not covered by any plan, so we ask about it before you choose one.
Vision plans, for routine exams and glasses
Medical plans, for eye health and low vision visits
Medicare, within its limits for eye care
If you pay yourself
If you pay yourself, you pay for the exam and for what you choose to take home. Devices, special lenses and coatings are billed separately from the exam. We never ask you to buy a device on the day. You can try it, go home and decide.
The exam and any testing
Lenses, coatings and frames
Magnifiers and other devices you choose
Receipts for reimbursement
Ask for an itemized receipt and send it to your plan. The plan decides what it pays back, and it may take a few weeks.
An estimate in advance
If you pay without insurance, we give you a written estimate before your visit. You can ask for one when you book. If a bill ever comes to $400 or more above your estimate, you have the right to dispute it, and we will tell you how.
Ask for an estimateChecking your benefits
Before your visit we check your benefits where we can and tell you what we find. Please call your plan as well, because the plan has the final say. A relative is welcome to make the call with you.
What the first visit includes
The first visit is the low vision exam: a long talk, careful testing of how you see, and time to try devices. The exam is billed after the visit, and the office explains each line of the bill. Devices are billed only for the ones you take home.
The talk and the testing
Trying lenses, magnifiers and lights
A written plan and your prescription
Your prescription is yours. We give you a copy after your exam and fitting, and you can fill it anywhere.
Which visit goes where
Vision plan, medical insurance or you
The usual pattern. Your plan decides what it pays, and we check before you come.
| Visit or product | Vision plan | Medical insurance | You pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Routine yearly eye exam | Vision planUsually | Medical insuranceNot usually | You payAny copay your plan leaves |
| Low vision exam | Vision planSometimes, for the routine part | Medical insuranceOften, as an eye health visit | You payA copay or deductible |
| Eye disease or urgent visit | Vision planNo | Medical insuranceUsually | You payA copay or deductible |
| Glasses | Vision planOften, up to the eyewear benefit | Medical insuranceNo | You payAnything above the benefit |
| Magnifiers and other devices | Vision planRarely | Medical insuranceRarely | You payUsually, with a written estimate |
Your prescription is yours
Your prescription is yours. We give you a copy after your exam and fitting, and you can fill it anywhere.
Questions about a bill?
Call before your visit and we will go through it with you. A relative can listen in.