Frequently Asked Questions

Insurance companies usually categorize visits to your eye doctor as either “routine” or “medical.” The type of eye exam you have is determined by your chief complaint as well as your diagnosis. Most medical insurance plans do not pay for “routine vision” services, and most vision plans do not pay for “medical” problems. When you schedule your appointment, please let us know the reason for your visit, and what insurance plans you have. We will help you determine which plans may be appropriate for your visit.

It is the responsibility of the patient to know his or her benefits. Your insurance company determines what they will or will not cover. We rely on the accuracy of the information you provide and information from your insurance company representative to make an initial determination of coverage. Subsequent decisions made by your insurance company are outside of our control. We do expect you to make prompt payment for any portion which the insurance company will not be responsible.

Refraction is the part of the eye exam by which we determine if you can be helped in any way with a new glasses prescription. It is also how we determine the best possible visual acuity and function of your eye, which is essential medical information used to diagnose various eye diseases and conditions. It is NOT a covered service by Medicare and many other insurance carriers. Our refraction fee is $43.00, and will be collected at the time of service. If you have a separate vision plan that covers routine or annual eye examinations and/or glasses, please let us know. Your vision plan may pay for these fees that are not covered by your medical plan. Consult your schedule of benefits or exclusions section for more information.

Generally, if a person is going to purchase a pair of glasses, an up-to-date prescription is preferable. Very few vision providers will recommend that a person hold a prescription for more than a year without having it filled. We will give a patient a copy of a glasses prescription at any time when requested. We will, however, include the actual date that your vision was measured. It is then at the discretion of the optical practice whether they will fill a prescription that is older than a year.

All patients who wear contact lenses are required to have a yearly eye examination to check eye health, since contacts fit directly on the eyeball. Each provider will discuss a plan for the patient during the examination.