Vision Insurance vs. Medical Insurance

There seems to be a lot of confusion when it comes to using your different types of insurance at your eye doctor’s office. Let’s try to clear that up now!

There are two different categories of insurance that are typically accepted by your Vision Source optometrist. The first is what has been traditionally known as “Vision Insurance”.  You may or may not have a card that lets you know which company represents you, but if not, you’re Vision Source office will do their best to find which plan you have.  Vision Insurance usually covers a routine eye examination that includes the following items:

Checking the basics of the ocular system, the prescription for your eyeglasses and an assessment of the health of your eyes.  Some vision insurance plans will also give you an additional benefit to spend on glasses and/or contact lenses.

The other type of insurance that nearly everyone has is “Medical Insurance”.  Vision Source doctors not only accept vision insurance but also many medical plans. These could include Medicare, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, United Health Care, and many more.  This type of medical coverage most always comes with a card that has your name and policy number.  Traditionally, medical insurance has been used to pay for the doctor visit when the patient has a medical eye problem, such as an eye infection macular degeneration or glaucoma. But did you also know that your medical insurance also covers conditions such as dry eyes, eye allergies, floaters, and diabetes of the eye.

Our 6,000 Vision Source optometrists across the country are highly trained to diagnose and treat any eye disease that you or your family member may have.  Some medical insurance plans are also now including coverage for a “routine eye examination”, so if you know that you don’t have a separate vision insurance plan, you may be covered for an eye exam under your medical insurance policy.

Just give one of our Vision Source offices a call and we will gladly help figure out your insurance coverage!