Vision plans vs. medical insurance
Vision plans, like VSP, EyeMed and Spectera, are designed for routine care: a yearly eye exam to check your vision and update your prescription, plus help paying for glasses or contact lenses.
Medical insurance, like Medicare, BCBS and Aetna, covers eye care for medical problems: eye infections, injuries, dry eye disease, glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic eye exams. It usually does not pay for glasses.
Which one we bill depends on the reason for your visit, and we'll help you sort it out.
What vision plans typically cover
- A routine eye exam, often once every 12 months
- An allowance toward frames, often every 12 or 24 months depending on your plan
- Coverage for standard lenses, with copays or discounts for upgrades like progressives, anti-reflective coatings or light-adaptive lenses
- Or, instead of glasses, an allowance toward contact lenses
Benefits vary widely from plan to plan. Bring your insurance card, or call ahead, and we'll check your benefits before you shop.
Getting the most from your frame allowance
Your allowance applies to any frame in our optical, from everyday styles to designer brands like Gucci, Ray-Ban, Silhouette and Maui Jim. If you choose a frame above your allowance, you pay the difference. Many patients use their FSA or HSA for the remaining balance, and CareCredit financing is also available.
Does Medicare cover glasses?
Original Medicare generally does not cover routine eye exams or glasses. It does generally cover medical eye care, such as a yearly diabetic eye exam, glaucoma testing for people at high risk, and treatment of eye diseases, plus one pair of glasses or contacts after cataract surgery with an implanted lens. Some Medicare Advantage plans add routine vision benefits.
Plans we accept
We accept VSP, EyeMed, Spectera, Medicare, BCBS and Aetna, along with FSA and HSA cards and CareCredit. Don't see your plan? Call us at (602) 263-0850. See our New Patients & Insurance page for details.