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Under the Affordable Care Act, every American is required to have medical insurance. Your employer may provide this plan or you can purchase it yourself. Additionally, you may choose to invest in vision insurance—but how does this differ from normal medical insurance and do you need this additional eye care coverage? Find out below.

What Do Medical & Vision Insurance Cover?

eye careWhen it comes to eye care, medical insurance kicks in when there is a problem. It could cover treatment for an infection like pinkeye, a floater, allergies, dryness, or styes, as well as chronic conditions like glaucoma. Illnesses that require regular eye exams, like diabetes, are also covered. In contrast, vision insurance is geared towards routine eye care when there isn’t necessarily a health issue at stake. This includes an annual health wellness screening as well as a vision test. Some insurers will also cover part of the costs of eyeglasses or contact lenses as well.

How Is Your Eye Care Billing Affected?

Vision insurance needs to be taken into account when submitting information for billing at the eye doctor. For example, say you to go in because of dry eye. They conduct an exam and give you drops—but also recommend updating your glasses prescription. The office may bill the exam and drops to your medical insurer while the glasses fitting could be covered by vision insurance. Note that most vision plans have a limit on how many times they can be used per calendar year. Ask your eye care team how to minimize out-of-pocket payments.

 

Don’t let confusion about insurance keep you from getting the eye care you need. The friendly professionals at TriState Centers For Sight of Crestview Hills, KY, can guide you through the maze of paperwork and advise on how to maximize coverage. They have been serving residents in the Cincinnati area for over 25 years, with a diverse team of doctors specializing in cutting-edge procedures from LASIK® to cataract treatments. Learn more about their general ophthalmology offerings online.

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