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 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 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, eyewear 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. Some of this additional testing may not be covered as part of your vision benefit. Payment for these additional special tests is the financial responsibility of each patient.
The following is a summary of the major Vision Insurance programs. Hopefully, this information will be helpful to all patients in choosing proper eyewear, contact lenses and eye care for themselves and their families. 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.
- EyeMed
- BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD
- MUST
- EBMS
- MEDICAID
- Healthy Montana Kids
- CareCredit
MEDICARE Our practice fully participates in the Medicare program. We accept assignment of benefits on behalf of each eligible patient.
Hopefully, this information will give you a better idea of the vision benefit. Our insurance coordinator is available to answer any questions. 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 our doctors do not participate in your Vision Benefit Program, we will be happy to provide the necessary forms and documentation for you to submit to the carrier for reimbursement.
Thank you for your understanding and patience.