By Dr. Nadine Shelton
Insurance benefit cards have a number to identity the insured member and their plan
Understanding what is covered in your eye health insurance
The devil is in the details, when it comes to private eye health insurance benefits and what is and isn’t covered. We often field questions regarding this topic as people are booking an appointment for their next eye exam. Those answers are as varied as our clients. However most vision benefits will either cover all or partially cover the costs of eye exams, lenses and or frames. There are some insurance providers that will not have any vision care benefits or if they do, will only cover the costs of the eye exam.
Direct Billing
For most Insurance Companies, the eye exam office can bill the cost of an exam direct to the company using their website. The patient may have to pay a difference at the time of the exam depending on their allowable insurance coverage. This benefit is usually payable every two years and not a day sooner. So it is important to know the date of your last eye exam submission. Know the options available to you by calling your insurance provider ahead of time. Some submission websites will allow a provider to submit an inquiry for available benefits. It is important to check when your benefits expire, which for most people is the end of the year, and use them up before this date. This insurance check may also be completed during the time you are waiting for your exam by the staff at the optometrists’ office.
Covered Glasses & Eye Health Insurance
Insurance companies that cover an eye exam most often cover part of the cost of glasses every two years. This amount is predetermined by the company and is not influenced by the cost of the glasses. Some companies may also have a health spending account that can be used to cover the difference that is not covered by the vision plan. This spending account, however cannot to billed directed by the provider and requires the patient to submit a proof of payment receipt.
An eye exam can help refine your focus
Insurance Billing consultation
Visit me, free of charge at nv eye care eye wear if you have any questions regarding your eye health insurance and what is and not covered under your private insurance health plan. Or you can visit http://nvmyeyes.com/insurance/ for a list of insurance companies that we direct bill to. And remember, patient visits are always covered by Manitoba Health, for those with a Manitoba Health number. For more answers to your eye health questions, please contact me, Dr. Nadine Shelton at nv eye care eye wear, 204-504-6863.
Dr. Nadine Shelton at her clinic – nv
The Owner
Dr. Nadine Shelton B.Sc, O.D. studied at University of Winnipeg, Canada and Indiana University, USA. She has worked abroad in Guanajuato, Mexico assisting outreach patient eye care with VOSH (Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity). Her university days focused on early child eye care and low vision. Dr. Shelton has spent almost nine years in South St.Vital growing her practice. She has recently opened her new own practice with her partner Victor Lopes in the heart of the Corydon Village called nv. nv Eye Care Eye Wear is a full service optical where eye exams are available and a great selection of unique to the city eye wear can be found. Learn more at nvmyeyes.com, call us at (204) 504-6863 or come see us at 100-698 Corydon Ave in Winnipeg, Canada.