How fees work
Insurance we work with
A routine eye exam is billed to a vision plan. A visit for an eye problem, a check on an eye disease or a follow-up is billed to medical insurance, and many visits mix both: the office tells you which part goes where. We work with many vision plans and medical plans, and your plan decides what it pays. Medicare does not cover routine eye exams or glasses, with a few exceptions.
Vision plans, for routine exams, glasses and contact lenses
Medical insurance, for eye problems, eye health checks and follow-ups
Medicare, within its limits for eye care
If you pay yourself
If you pay yourself, the fee depends on the exam and on what you add. A contact lens fitting, lenses, coatings and replacement lenses are billed separately. We tell you what each part costs before you decide, and we don't promise a price over the phone.
The exam
Contact lens fittings and follow-ups
Lenses, coatings and replacements
Receipts for reimbursement
Ask for an itemized receipt and send it to your plan. The plan decides what it reimburses, and the receipt shows each service on its own line.
An estimate in advance
If you pay without insurance, ask for a written Good Faith Estimate before your visit and we give you one. If a bill comes in at $400 or more above your estimate, you can dispute it.
Checking your benefits
We check your vision and medical benefits before the visit where we can, and we ask you to confirm with your plan too. Plans that come through an employer work the same way: the plan, not the employer, decides what it pays.
What the first visit includes
A first visit is a comprehensive eye exam, which takes about an hour. A contact lens fitting is a separate visit, and glasses are fitted after the exam. We explain how each part is billed before you leave.
Vision and measurements
A check of your eye health
A copy of your prescription
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 |
| Eye health check or follow-up | Vision planSometimes, for the routine part | Medical insuranceOften | You payCopay or deductible |
| Eye problem or urgent visit | Vision planNo | Medical insuranceUsually | You payCopay or deductible |
| Contact lens fitting | Vision planOften, up to the contact lens benefit | Medical insuranceRarely | You payAnything above the benefit |
| Glasses and contact lenses | Vision planOften, up to the eyewear benefit | Medical insuranceNo | You payAnything above the benefit |
Your prescription
Your prescription is yours
Your prescription is yours. We give you a copy after your exam and fitting, and you can fill it anywhere. You don't have to buy glasses or contact lenses from us.
Questions about a bill?
Call before your visit and we go through it with you.