Lodestar Family Eye Care wants you to have the most positive experience possible and look forward to assisting you with any insurance questions you may have. Several of the more common questions are listed below.
Your insurance will be accepted according to the benefits of your specific policy. Some necessary information must be obtained during your pre-registration call in order to verify your benefits, so please have the information in advance. If you do not have insurance, payment for your services is due, in full, on the date of service. For your convenience, we accept Visa, Master Card, American Express, Discover and Care Credit, as well as cash and checks for payments.
We are glad to file for your insurance so long as we are provided with the appropriate information. As a courtesy, we will file insurance claims for all insurance plans in which we participate. Please keep in mind, we do not work for your insurance company, we work for you and therefore, you are ultimately responsible for payment. You may be responsible for any co-payments and deductible amounts or any non-covered services. Charges that are not covered by your insurance are due and payable at the time of service, and any balance not covered by insurance is the patient’s responsibility.
We participate in many major insurance plans. If you do not see your plan on the list below, please call our office to see if your plan is accepted. Many medical insurance companies require pre-authorization for medical services. If your insurance requires you to pre-certify, pre-authorize or get a second opinion, you must do this prior to your exam date. Please consult with your insurance company or primary care physician to obtain a pre-authorization, if required.
We understand that comprehending insurance plans and what is covered can be frustrating and intimidating. Do not hesitate to contact our office with any questions or concerns that you may have. We will work with you and your insurance companies to ensure you are maximizing your benefits.
A: Vision coverage plans are often included in your medical insurance, so it is important to contact your medical insurance company before your appointment to verify your vision benefits. We need to see the medical insurance card at the time of your visit to insure appropriate insurance billing.
Having both the vision and medical insurance plans on file helps us to streamline your care. For example, if an eye infection or injury occurs at any point during the year, we can bill your medical insurance for the medical visit, without having to burden you when you are not feeling your best.
A: There are types of coverage that can be billed for an eye exam: Vision insurance and Medical insurance. Although the exam you receive may seem similar to previous visits, the reason for the exam and the diagnosis dictate how we may bill insurance.
– Vision Insurance: (VSP, etc.)
This type of insurance covers your annual eye health and vision exam (i.e. complete eye exams for glasses and contacts) when no medical eye problem or related complaint specifically exists. Vision coverage is often included or networked through the medical plan.
– Medical Insurance: (Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska, Medicare, United Health Care, etc.)
This type of insurance provides benefits for the treatment of medical problems including medical eye problems. To obtain coverage under medical insurance, a symptom or complaint indicative of eye disease, eye injury, or a chronic medical condition is the reason for your visit.
A: If you have vision insurance for glasses then usually a set amount or a percentage of the total is covered by insurance. The amounts vary from plan to plan, so please check with your insurance company to determine your specific coverage.
