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Eyes and Eye insurance...

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by Higgins909, Oct 11, 2020.

  1. Higgins909

    Higgins909 Member

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    So the eye insurance enrollment is around and I'm figuring out if I want it. I've got some rather bad eye problems that I've never gotten looked at. I was given a little slip of the coverage and it looks like it's essentially just for exams and glasses and contacts. I was given a estimation of $70 a month for it. There is a chance that the slip was not for me and I need to submit an application to really find out and get an actual price.

    But if that's all it is, supposedly I can go spend $300~ for 2 pairs of glasses and an eye exam, which is like 4 months of the insurance. The thing I don't know is what can actually go wrong with eyes and how thorough is the exam. Then are there medicines n whatnot for eye problems, that could be covered if the coverage was different. Heck maybe even eye surgery or something... Maybe something is wrong with my optical nerve.

    Edit: does anyone have any insight to how any of this works and what can go wrong with eyes?

    Thanks,
    Higgis909
     
  2. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    Each insurance is different you'd probably be best sharing which insurance and coverage plan. Read everything very very carefully especially terms that say "pre-existing conditions". Up front that $70/month looks rather expensive. Costco sells some cheap prescriptions and also found a local lab which cash only was even cheaper. (Son has a very high grade myopia).

    EDIT-. Big thing that happened in our family is cataracts, or clouding of the eye lens, both my parents had to have surgery for it. They replace the lenses. Just asked my significant other as she's a kid doc and she said the health insurances tend to cover cataract surgery so better check your health insurance for overlap...

    moto g(7) power ?
     
    #2 jzchen, Oct 11, 2020
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2020
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  3. Stevewoods

    Stevewoods Senior Member

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    When people say "eye insurance," the majority of the time the only thing covered by "eye insurance" is "corrective lenses (glasses)" and vision exams (look at the eye chart sort of testing).

    And, as mentioned, nowadays, places such as Costco and even online are fairly reasonable, even without "eye insurance."

    Any significant problems are usually covered under your normal health insurance plan (and normal health insurance almost never covers glasses or exams for glasses).

    Need to check with your benefits people on what is covered and then double-check the terms.
     
  4. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

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    I had a friend who had an eye exam at a Costso. Detected a serious cancer just by the exam. So don't assume that just because it is mass market, it is an inferior exam. At the same time, there are two kinds of doctors and only the lesser educated are liable to be at the mass market places.

    I go to my local eye doctor out of habit. I have complex eye issues including poor eyesight, eye muscle problems, replaced cataracts, old age, etc. I get the prescription in hard copy. I generally get one pair of glasses at the local and then go to Costco for the backup at half price. Fitting excellent. Quality seems the same and I'm getting hardened, prism in one lens, progressive lineless bi-focal, tinted, etc. Pretty much everything you can order.

    Because of my issues, an eye exam every few years can be covered by Medicare partially. Local is $600 for glasses and frame. Costco maybe half that. Eye exam is maybe $100. Cataracts $5-10,000 per eye.
     
  5. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    What you are describing sounds like a group vision discount program rather than comprehensive medical insurance. There are many vision plans out there some very cheap or offered free from your employment, that gives you a discount on routine eye exams and prescription glasses and/or contact lenses. If it's free, then try to use it to the maximum benefit, but if you have to pay for it, sometimes it may not be worth buying for they may restrict where you can buy glasses and, often you can get it cheaper on-line. As for the real eye-related medical procedure, they are usually covered by your medical insurance. But you need to read through your policy coverage to make sure they are covered. Specialized ophthalmological treatments are very expensive and can be as hard and specialized as heart surgeons.
     
  6. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    Just as a follow up about the eye doctors at Costco. As I understand they are independent doctors who just so happen to rent the space in Costco. One local one sent a letter saying that sadly after 20+ years Costco decided not to renew his lease and he had to relocate. They are just as good as any other....

    moto g(7) power ?
     
  7. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    One more clarification. A so-called "eye doctor" who performs routine eye exams which includes refraction also called a vision test is an optometrist (O.D.). OD can prescribe minor medication and perform simpler procedures, but he/she is not licensed to perform complex eye surgery or treat eye problems such as glaucoma or cataracts. For those procedures, you need to see an ophthalmologist, a board-certified M.D. As I said in my previous comment, most vision care program does not cover the complex medical treatment performed by an ophthalmologist. You will likely be using your medical insurance for such a treatment.
     
    #7 Salamander_King, Oct 11, 2020
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2020
  8. Higgins909

    Higgins909 Member

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    Earlier this year I was suggested to see an glasses place at Costco. I'm not sure if I need a membership. I don't know what it's name is or anything. I just wonder if they will actually help me if my eye has problems or if they can diagnose. I do fear it's glaucoma or something else serious. I have Humana health insurance and have no idea what it covers or how to find out what it coves. When I became a permanent employee at my workplace, they offered me health insurance. I signed a little paper and I magically had health insurance and I was later mailed a little card. I have a login for their website but it seems to be rather pointless. Doesn't tell me coverage or much of anything at all if I remember right.
     
  9. Stevewoods

    Stevewoods Senior Member

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    Well dude, you have a benefits department (I assume) for a reason.

    If you do not, your employer still has to have someone who can explain your issues to you. It is the law.

    Having said that....again, eyeglass coverage is not a typical coverage, but some places do offer the coverage. It is USUALLY NOT part of the standard health insurance.

    Anything more significant will be covered (maybe) by the standard health insurance.

    Optometrists are what you might see for your eyeglass coverage. Opthomologists are the medical doctors of the the world and are the docs you would see if you have significant problems.

    Optometrists are supposed to know if you need to be referred to an opthomologist. So, you go to the optometrist for glasses, but said person sees that you need to see a real doctor -- an opthomologist....

    See it? I am more than willing to try to help you with this, but basically your employer HAS to have someone that can explain all this to you. It is the law -- at least at the moment.
     
    #9 Stevewoods, Oct 11, 2020
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2020
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  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    how old are you?

    what eye issues are you having?

    can you pass the drivers eye exam for licensing?

    the eye is a complicated organ. there are hundreds of diseases, and a lot of them you want to catch early. you should see an ophthalmologist every two years. don't fool around with your health, take care of yourself.

    look more closely at your health insurance benefits, do you have any options? it should cover your eyes, except for glasses.

    forget the eye insurance, waste of money.
     
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  11. Higgins909

    Higgins909 Member

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    I didn't know it was the law. Will try to bring it up around work tomorrow. I'm understanding that what I'm bringing up is eyeglass insurance/coverage/plan that isn't going to cover more complex eye test and procedures, and medicine. I work in a small shop with 13~ total people, near Austin Texas.

    I think I got my DL when I was 21 (old I know) I passed the eye exam. I confused the last letter with another letter. I don't remember what it was. I'm 24 now, 1996 is the year I was born. I've grown up with headaches and migraines. Some problems that I haven't seen in a while was little black things darting around like there was a fly. Was trying to sleep and there was a random flash in my vision. It's been a while since I've had a bad migraine, but I can get the "aura" as I've been told.

    My current noticeable problems are dry eye, yellowing of the eye and it feels like there is something in my eye along with red "veins". I've been trying to keep up with eye drops for dry eye and it's helped quite a bit, but I now get this dry feeling. I may or may not have plaque psoriasis which I've heard can effect the eyes. I see snow or tv static as I've read is described before. It's not all white and grey but its like my vision is distorted in that sense. Can really see it when I stare at a bare wall. It's translucent is what I'm trying to say.

    Right now I've got a bit of a headache as I've been trying to study and that's usually when I get headaches. My eyes are hurting slightly. If I go outside I have to have sunglasses on. The sun will degrade my vision for a while if I don't. It's also kind of painful as the sun is so bright, without them. I hate driving at night because it's like everyone is driving with their high beams on. I think I have colored floaters or something. Parts of my vision will randomly turn a color but I can't look at the color. Yellow Green Blue? Purple Red... Think that's all the colors.

    At night when turning off lights it's like turning off my vision, I can't really see that well in the dark, and it takes what feels like forever for my vision to adjust. ...Last few weeks I've noticed when I wake up in the morning and turning on my bedroom light as I sleep in complete darkness, I've been seeing this weird grid in my vision. It's vaguely similar to "camera grid" on google but there are far more lines. This one sounds crazy to me. But it's only if I keep my eyes open after turning the light on. I usually keep them closed for a minute or two as It's like I'm staring into the sun.

    ...Yep as I'm typing all of this out I realize I should have seen someone sooner...
     
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  12. Vman455

    Vman455 Senior Member

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    I'll add here for people looking at elective surgeries: My run-of-the-mill vision insurance covered 20% of the cost of LASIK when I had that done 3 years ago.
     
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  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    get thee to an ophthalmologist young higgins!
     
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