Today's health care environment has become more confusing and complex. Understanding your health insurance and vision benefit is not as easy as it once was. Our practice has provided this information to untangle and clarify many misconceptions about third party care and your vision.

We are providers of the following insurance programs:

• Vision Service Plan
• Medical Eye Services
• Superior Vision Services
• Medicare
• Medi-Cal

If you have a PPO medical insurance plan, we may be able to bill your insurance for your office visit.  Please contact our office for further information.

It is important for all patients to understand a fundamental principle of the third party mechanism. Unless your provider (doctor or health care facility) specifically takes assignment of benefits, the patient is ultimately responsible for any non-covered services and their charges. The insurance relationship is between the patient and the insurance company not between the patient and the provider.

Many common vision insurance programs only cover the vision part of the overall eye health examination. There are two distinct and important elements to every visit to our practice. First, the most important aspect of your visit today is to insure quality of life by providing you with a comprehensive, thorough medical examination of your visual system. Many eye diseases that affect your vision have little or no symptoms until the problem has become sight-threatening. Routine eye health examinations are critical to prevent debilitating eye disease. Secondly, each comprehensive medical eye exam will include a vision component to analyze and prescribe, if necessary, eyewear or contact lenses to correct your vision.

It may be necessary for your doctor to perform additional special testing to insure the overall systemic health of your eyes. Some of this additional testing may not be covered as part of your vision benefit. Payment for these additional special tests is the financial responsibility of each patient.

The following is a summary of the major Vision Insurance programs. Hopefully, this information will be helpful to all patients in choosing proper eyewear, contact lenses and eye care for themselves and their families. Please feel free to ask our Insurance Benefit Coordinator if you have any questions about your specific vision insurance or medical coverage during your visit today.

Vision Service Plan (VSP)

The Vision Service Plan (VSP) - In most cases, VSP will fully cover your eye health and vision exam. In some cases there may be a co-pay on the part of each patient. The co-pay must be paid at the time of service. The eyewear component of the Vision Service Plan contributes or subsidizes the purchase of your eyewear. Each specific Vision Service Plan subsidizes eyewear purchases at different levels. The Vision Service Plan is not an entitlement plan and patients are free to choose any frame or lens option recommended by their doctor. Our professional optical staff will be happy to determine if any out-of-pocket costs will be incurred by the patient. 

Medical Eye Services (MES)

Medical Eye Services Insurance has many levels of service coverage. Most plans will fully cover your eye health and vision exam. Often there are co-pays for the eye exam as well as any materials involved. The c-pay must be paid at the time of service. Our office staff will check on eligibility and obtain a breakdown of available benefits. Please have your insurance card available for us to copy.

Superior Vision Services (SVI)

Superior Vision Plan Insurance has several plans including some discount plans. There are many levels of service available. Many plans will fully cover your eye health and vision exam with a co-payment. Materials may also have a co-pay. The co-pay must be paid at the time of service. Our office staff will check eligibility and obtain a breakdown of available benefits. Please have your insurance card available for us to copy.

MEDICARE

Our practice fully participates in the Medicare program. There is a $100.00 calendar year deductible for Medicare and it is an 80%-20% program. We accept assignment of benefits on behalf of each eligible patient. The eye health examination is a fully covered service under the Medicare program. However, as mandated by the Federal law, the refraction part of the vision section of your exam is a non-covered service. The refraction fee is $50.00. The Medicare program does not cover eyewear. The only exception would be immediately following a cataract surgery. Please have your Medicare and any supplemental insurance card available for us to copy.

Livermore Optometry Group offers a 10% senior citizen discount for patients beginning at age 62. In accordance with our Medicare contract, this does not apply to any Medicare covered service.

Medi-Cal

Livermore Optometry Group participates in the Alameda County Medi-Cal program. Medi-Cal patients are eligible for services on a 2 year basis. All Medi-Cal patients must provide their State of California Medi-Cal card at the time of service. Authorization can be obtained only on, not prior to, the day of service.

Hopefully, this information will give you a better idea of the vision benefit you are using today. Our insurance coordinator is available to answer any questions. Due to the large number of different Vision Insurance Benefit Programs, it is impossible to know the specific details and reimbursement policies of each. If our doctors do not participate in your Vision Benefit Program, we will be happy to provide you all the necessary forms and documentation for you to submit to the carrier for reimbursement.

Thank you for your understanding and patience.