Medical Vs Vision Insurance Explained

A vision insurance policy is different from your health insurance policy. Regular medical health insurance protects you from unexpected costs for eye injury or disease.

In contrast, vision insurance provides 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 Davis Vision, Spectera, March Vision, Vision Benefits of America (VBA), and Eyemed.

What does vision insurance cover?

Most vision insurance plans include the following benefits:

• Annual Vision exams
• Eyeglass frames
• Eyeglass lenses
• Contact lenses

Check with your plan to see if your benefits cover you once every year or once every two years. Eyeglass frames and lenses and contact lenses can usually be purchased at a discount, but not every plan has this benefit.

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 complications from diabetes.

If you need medication the doctor will not be able to give you a prescription if you are using vision insurance.

Additionally, some vision insurance plans do not cover contact lens fittings (for first-time wearers or established wearers that need to switch to a new brand) or yearly contact lens evaluations.

What kinds of Vision insurance plans are available?

Typical vision insurance plans include benefits in exchange for a yearly fee. Just like your medical insurance, this means that you may have a yearly deductible and/or copays for exams and other services.

Another type of vision insurance plan is a discount plan. Instead of copays, you will pay a discounted rate (usually anywhere from 75-85%) of the total fee charged by your doctor.

When do I use my medical insurance at the eye doctor’s office?

Your medical insurance is usually used if you have an eye problem or eye disease or if any medical condition is present that causes eye problems. Some common conditions for which we can bill your medical insurance include:

• Patients with vision loss, floaters, dry eyes, allergies, infections, etc.
• Monitoring cataract development
• Examination of patients possessing diabetes
• Examination of patients using medications with potential eye side effects, such as steroid medications, arthritis medications, etc.
• Patients that are at high risk for glaucoma development
• Patients with macular degeneration

When you call in to make your next appointment with the eye doctor, make sure to explain the purpose of your visit so that we bill the appropriate insurance. Additionally, please always bring your insurance card(s) with you to every appointment.

Will Medicare cover my eye exam for new glasses or contact lenses?

Unfortunately, no. Medicare does not cover routine eye exams where your glasses or contact lens prescription is checked. Medicare will only pay for eye exams relating to medical complaints.

Can I use my vision insurance and my medical insurance for a joint exam on the same day?

No. By law, we cannot bill two different types of insurance in one day. There are two alternatives:

1. First, we can always schedule your medical and vision visits on separate days, allowing us to bill your insurance on different days. You may have to go through some repetitive parts of the exam on those days because by law there are certain things the eye doctor must document at every visit.
2. If you need to schedule your medical and refraction exam on the same day, another option is billing your medical insurance for the medical exam (don’t forget, this may include a copayment at the time of your visit) and paying the additional flat rate for a refraction ($50.00).

Good question! We don’t make the rules, we just follow them. You can call the phone number on the back of your insurance card or look up your insurance policy details online. Ultimately it is your responsibility to understand the policies of your insurance companies, both medical and vision.

Please call us if you have any remaining questions.