Finance and Insurance

We accept cash, check, credit cards, Care Credit and flexible spending plans. Your professional fees and purchases of eyeglasses and contact lenses at our office qualify as medical expenses.

POLICIES

• Professional fees not covered by insurance are due on the same day of service.

• Full payment is required before materials can be ordered. This makes the process much more efficient.

• A $35.00 fee for all checks returned by the bank will be assessed.

• A $75.00 fee for appointment no shows with less than 48 hours notice.
  
  

INSURANCE
We accept most insurance plans, the most common of which are listed below. Each one can be clicked to link to the insurance website to check on your own benefits. If you do not see your insurance listed, please contact our office for help.

• Aetna PPO​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
• Cigna PPO​​​​​​​
• Medicare
• Safeguard
• United Food & Commercial Workers Union - We accept UFCW vision benefit forms
• Vision Service Plan
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VISION PLAN REIMBURSEMENT FORMS
Do you want to submit for direct reimbursement for your yearly eye exam, prescription glasses, prescription sunglasses, or contact lenses? We have compiled the forms and links for your convenience. Click here!

VISION EXAM VS EYE MEDICAL EXAM
Today's health care environment has become more confusing and complex. Understanding your health insurance and vision benefit is not as easy as it once was. Our practice has provided this information to untangle and clarify many misconceptions about third party care and your vision.

It is important for all patients to understand a fundamental principle of the third party mechanism. Unless your provider (doctor or health care facility) specifically takes assignment of benefits, the patient is ultimately responsible for any non-covered services and their charges. The insurance relationship is between the patient and the insurance company not between the patient and the provider.

Many common vision insurance programs only cover the vision wellness part of the overall eye health examination. There are two distinct and important elements to every visit to our practice. First, the most important aspect of your visit today is to insure quality of life by providing you with a comprehensive, thorough medical examination of your visual system. Many eye diseases that affect your vision have little or no symptoms until the problem has become sight-threatening. Routine eye health examinations are critical to prevent debilitating eye disease. Secondly, each comprehensive medical eye exam will include a vision component to analyze and prescribe, if necessary, eye wear or contact lenses to correct your vision.

It may be necessary for your doctor to perform additional special testing to insure the overall systemic health of your eyes. This additional testing most likely will not be covered as part of your vision benefit. Payment for these additional special tests is the financial responsibility of each patient. If a medical problem is uncovered during the wellness evaluation, further diagnostic tests and treatment may be warranted, which are not covered by vision insurance. Your medical or health insurance may cover this portion separately.

The following is an example of a major vision and health insurance program. Please feel free to ask our Insurance Benefit Coordinator if you have any questions about your specific vision insurance or medical coverage during your visit today.

VSP
The Vision Service Plan (VSP) - In most cases, VSP will fully cover your eye health and vision exam. In some cases there may be a co-pay on the part of each patient. The co-pay must be paid at the time of service. Additional co-pays will apply if you require a contact lens prescription. The eye wear component of the Vision Service Plan contributes or subsidizes the purchase of your eye wear. Each specific Vision Service Plan subsidizes eye wear purchases at different levels. The Vision Service Plan is not an entitlement plan and patients are free to choose any frame or lens option recommended by their doctor. Our professional optical staff will be happy to determine if any out-of-pocket costs will be incurred by the patient.

MEDICARE
Our practice fully participates in the Medicare program. We accept assignment of benefits on behalf of each eligible patient. Medically necessary services are covered under the Medicare program at 80% after the deductible has been met. Secondary insurance plans may cover the patient's 20% portion. As mandated by Federal law, a refraction, or the measurement of your eyeglasses or contact lens prescription, is a non-covered service and must be charged separately to the patient. Unless immediately following cataract surgery, there is no eye wear benefit under the Medicare program. The purchase of frames, lenses, lens options and coatings is the responsibility of each Medicare patient.

We are here to help you.

Hopefully, this information will give you a better idea of the vision benefit you are using today. Our patient care coordinator is available to answer any questions. At your visit, we will do our very best to help you utilize your benefits to your best advantage. Due to the large number of different Vision Insurance Benefit Programs, it is impossible to know the specific details and reimbursement policies of each. If we do not participate in your Vision Benefit Program, we will be happy to provide you all the necessary forms and documentation for you to submit to the carrier for reimbursement.

​​​​​​​Thank you for your understanding and patience.