Services
How fees work
Insurance we work with
A routine eye exam is billed to a vision plan. A visit about dry eye or another eye problem, an eye disease check or a follow-up is billed to medical insurance. Many visits mix both, and the front desk explains which part goes where. Medicare does not cover routine eye exams or glasses, with a few exceptions.
Vision plans, for routine exams, glasses and contact lenses
Medical plans, for dry eye and other eye health visits
Medicare, within its limits for eye care
If you pay yourself
Self-pay covers the exam and the services you ask for. In-office treatments, plugs, fitting fees and premium lens options are billed separately. We tell you what each part costs before you decide, and we do not quote a price over the phone as a promise.
The exam
Tests and treatments you choose
Lenses and coatings
Receipts for reimbursement
Ask for an itemized receipt and send it to your plan. The plan decides what it reimburses.
An estimate in advance
If you pay without insurance, we give you a written Good Faith Estimate before your visit. Ask when you book. If a bill is $400 or more above the estimate, you can dispute it.
Checking your benefits
Before your visit we check your benefits where we can and tell you what we find. Please confirm with your plan too, because the plan has the final say.
What the first visit includes
A first dry eye visit covers your story, a set of gentle tests and the options. The exam is billed as above, and anything you pay yourself is agreed in writing first.
Which visit goes where
Vision plan, medical insurance or you
The usual pattern for the visits at a dry eye practice. 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 |
| Dry eye evaluation and follow-ups | Vision planSometimes, for the routine part | Medical insuranceOften, as an eye health visit | You payCopay or deductible |
| Eye problem, eye disease check or urgent visit | Vision planNo | Medical insuranceUsually | You payCopay or deductible |
| Glasses and contact lenses | Vision planOften, up to the eyewear benefit | Medical insuranceNo | You payAnything above the benefit |
| In-office dry eye treatments | Vision planRarely | Medical insuranceSometimes, so ask us | You payOften, with a written estimate |
Your prescription is yours
Your prescription is yours. We give you a copy after your exam and fitting. Fill it anywhere.
Questions about paying
Why was part of my visit billed to medical insurance?
When we look at an eye problem such as dry eye, the visit is a medical one. A routine exam goes to a vision plan. The front desk explains how yours was split.
Do you work with my plan?
We work with many vision and medical plans. Call us to confirm yours, and we check your benefits before your visit.
Can I get a receipt for my plan?
Yes. Ask for an itemized receipt and send it in. Your plan decides what it reimburses.
Questions about a bill?
Call the front desk before your visit and we go through it with you.