Does Your Medical Insurance Cover the Cost of Glasses (Lenses and/or Frames)?

[Juan]

Hi there,

I would like to know if medical insurance covers the cost of glasses (lenses and/or frames) in your country.

In Spain it depends on the kind of private insurance one has. Public healthcare does not cover anything as far as I know.

Thank you!

 

[Ngo13]

@Juan, I'm in the US, my insurance is through my employer. My medical insurance does not cover glasses, but my vision insurance will give me up to $200 towards them every two years.

 

[Elmer B Fuddled]

Here in Ireland our HSE covers glasses and eye examination but a person must meet their income guidelines. They cover doctor visits and hospital as well. I had a stent put in 2 years back. The full procedure plus hospital stay was 100% covered.

 

[momus]

That is impossible to answer here in the US. We don't have single-payer insurance like a lot of countries, so each individual has to figure things out for themselves, and it can get enormously complicated. People who work will usually have a few choices on different insurer plans and how they work, while retirees are besieged with so many Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans it is impossible to keep up with them. You almost need a lawyer to figure out the fine print.

My previous insurance was Humana and it was awful. Just trying to see a doctor or eye care person was almost impossible. So I switched to United and everything works like a well oiled machine. Easy to get doctor visits or see specialists, and they will give me a free eye exam as well as $300 allowance toward glasses every year. For an insurance that I get for free through my social security retirement, it is amazingly good. Most of this is income based though. If I made less on social security, or more, the insurance plans would be different.

 

[Juan]

I was asking because there was a piece of news saying that there will be wider coverage available for frames and lenses through employers, when workers use computers etc. Of course the news lacked any detail. It must be projected legislation and that's why I asked about the situation in other countries.

As for hearing aids, it seems a lost battle in Spain, since even really expensive insurance barely covers anything (maybe a fraction of the cost).

 

[RunningMan]

I'm in U.S. on private health insurance. Medical insurance covers my eye exam. My vision insurance covers corrective lenses, but it will only cover glasses (coverage varies based on frames, lenses) every other year or contact lenses every year (up to $200).

 

[Jammer]

Now let's talk about how poor dental insurance coverage is for the typical American, if they have it at all.

 

[Nick47]

England. Free up to about £70. We don't have insurance based system here.

 

[Wolfka]

In Czech Republic you have to pay in full for everything. Insurance covers part of lenses only if your vision is worse than -10 dioptres.

 

[kingsfan]

I'm in U.S. on private health insurance. Medical insurance covers my eye exam. My vision insurance covers corrective lenses, but it will only cover glasses (coverage varies based on frames, lenses) every other year or contact lenses every year (up to $200).

I believe medical insurance only covers ophthalmology, not optometry. You need separate vision insurance to cover an optometrist.

 

[RunningMan]

I believe medical insurance only covers ophthalmology, not optometry. You need separate vision insurance to cover an optometrist.

I have separate vision insurance, but when I have my yearly eye exam, they bill my medical insurance. I even called them about it once asking why it wasn't billed to vision insurance. They rattled on something about being professionals and providing a higher level of service. But my contacts have been paid from the vision insurance. It didn't affect my out of pocket.

 

[kingsfan]

I have separate vision insurance, but when I have my yearly eye exam, they bill my medical insurance. I even called them about it once asking why it wasn't billed to vision insurance. They rattled on something about being professionals and providing a higher level of service. But my contacts have been paid from the vision insurance. It didn't affect my out of pocket.

That's actually nice. It makes it easier to get coverage with them. My employer kept switching my vision insurance and my optometrist didn't always accept the vision insurances I had. Made it difficult, especially when no other optometrist could figure out a prescription that didn't make me dizzy except him.