Maximize Your Insurance Benefits for Eye Health

The rising costs of healthcare is a popular topic of conversation and debate for political pundits, but for individuals and families in western North Carolina, it’s a very real concern. People are scrambling to figure out how to pay for housing and necessities, so it is of the utmost importance to minimize the costs of their health and wellness.

Unfortunately, many find they are between a rock and a hard place when it comes to paying for medical care. Families can feel like they have to choose between general wellness, dentistry, and eye care. Vision and eye health may seem like they should take a backseat to other medical care.

However, it is vital to protect your eyes and preserve your vision. Neglecting eye health can lead to degenerating vision and other issues. In this article, we want to make sure you are maximizing your insurance benefits for the sake of your eyes, so you don’t have to choose what parts of your health and wellness deserve attention.

How to Maximize Your Insurance Benefits for Eye Health

Here is how you can make sure you are not missing out on insurance benefits for your eyes:

1. Talk to Your Trusted Local Optometrist

Most of your insurance coverage questions can be answered by our eye care team in Asheville. We can also assist you by calling your insurance carrier on your behalf. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require assistance.

We do ask that you supply us with information about your insurance benefits prior to your visit, so that we can verify your coverage.

We participate with the following insurance plans:

VISION:

Blue Cross/Blue Shield
Community Eye Care
EyeMed
Humana Vision
VSP

MEDICAL:

Blue Cross/Blue Shield
Cigna
Crescent
Humana
Medicare
Primary Physicians Care
United Health Care
Most Medicare Advantage Plans

2. Make Sure You Are Utilizing Your FSA Benefits

One of the best ways to make sure you are caring for your eyes properly is to utilize all the benefits of your FSA. Healthcare.gov defines FSA as:

“A Flexible Spending Account (also known as a flexible spending arrangement) is a special account you put money into that you use to pay for certain out-of-pocket health care costs.”

The money you contribute to your FSA is not taxable, so you are able to reduce your tax burden while ensuring you get quality healthcare. Many people don’t realize that vision and eye care costs are often FSA-eligible.

FSA-Eligible Eye Care Expenses Typically Include

Eye Glasses: If you need corrective lenses to see more clearly, they are likely to be FSA-eligible.
Frames: Of course, you need frames to hold your lenses, and those are likely to be eligible for FSA spending as well.
Prescription Sunglasses: Sunglasses are a luxury unless you need them in order to see more clearly. If you need prescription UV protection, it is likely they will be FSA-eligible.
Eye Exam: Everyone over the age of six should have an annual eye exam, which your FSA may cover in part or in full. Schedule an eye exam at a convenient time for you to check for any changes in your vision that may necessitate the use of corrective lenses. Exams for your entire family are likely eligible.
Contact Lenses: If your contacts are necessary for vision correction (not changing eye color alone), they will likely be eligible for FSA.
Reading Glasses: As we age, sometimes we may not need corrective lenses, but just a little help with reading more clearly. Even though they may not be necessary for daily use, if you need reading glasses, you may be able to purchase them with your FSA.
Other Eye Health Needs: If you need medications or have other eye health expenses, it is important to determine whether they could be FSA-eligible.

Remember, if you don’t use your FSA account by December 31st, it is possible you will lose those funds. Not wanting to use their FSA funds too soon, some people find that they save them for too long and forget to use them before it’s too late.

Now is the right time of year to plan your eye health. Don’t wait till the last minute to try and spend your FSA. Asheville Vision and Wellness provides the highest quality eye care and can help you get the most out of your insurance benefits and flexible spending account. We have three decades of experience helping Asheville area residents care for their eyes and see our beautiful region more clearly.

If you need an eye exam, new glasses, contacts, or have any other eye health concerns, we are here to help. Contact western North Carolina’s trusted eye care experts at Asheville Vision and Wellness for more information about your eye health and to schedule your next eye exam.