That have both vision insurance (for example, VSP) and medical insurance (for example, Blue Cross, Aetna, Cigna, Blue Shield, or Medicare). They are very different in terms of the services they cover, and it’s important for our patients to understand these differences.

Mainly to cover determining a prescription for glasses, to help pay for glasses or contact lenses, and to cover a yearly routine evaluation of the health of the eyes in a healthy patient that has no particular problems or symptoms. It is not equipped to deal with and does not usually cover medical conditions, injuries, and/or treatments. Medical insurance is designed to cover you when you have a medical problem, including one that affects your eyes like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes. It also applies when you have an eye disease or eye problem such as an infection (pink eye), dry eyes, allergy, or cataracts. Medical insurance does not cover routine services or examinations for glasses, or routine vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

Or medical condition is present that affects your eyes, we must file the claim with your medical insurance, and the co-pays and deductibles for that insurance will apply. Your vision plan does not cover these kinds of problems. Our office does not make these rules, they are made by the insurance companies themselves, and we must comply with them.

No way to know prior to your examination which type of insurance will be the right one to file your claim with. We make every effort to join as many insurance panels, both medical and vision, as we can for your convenience. If you have any questions, please let us know.