If you’ve ever been asked for your medical insurance at an eye exam, you might wonder—shouldn’t this be covered by my vision plan? It’s a common question we hear at Beyond Vision LNK, and the answer often surprises people.
Vision plans and medical insurance both play roles in eye care—but they’re not interchangeable. Understanding the difference can help you get the care you need, avoid unexpected costs, and make the most of your benefits.
What Vision Insurance Covers
Vision plans are often discount plans that help reduce out-of-pocket costs for routine vision services, such as:
- Annual vision exams (for glasses or contact lenses)
- Eyeglasses or contact lenses (frames, lenses, and basic lens options)
- Lens upgrades, like anti-reflective coatings or transition lenses
What’s important to note: vision insurance does not cover medical issues. If your visit involves a diagnosis or treatment for a condition, your medical insurance should be used instead.
What Medical Insurance Covers
Medical insurance covers care related to the health of your eyes—anything beyond routine vision correction. If you’re dealing with symptoms, diseases, or injuries, your medical plan is what applies.
Here’s what your medical insurance typically covers:
- Eye infections, like pink eye or styes
- Sudden vision changes, eye pain, or visual disturbances (e.g., floaters or flashes)
- Diabetic eye exams
- Treatment for chronic conditions like dry eye, cataracts, and glaucoma
- Eye injuries or surgeries, including emergency care
Which Insurance Should You Use?
It depends on why you’re seeing your eye doctor:
- If your visit is purely for a routine eye exam and to update your glasses or contact lens prescription, that’s vision insurance.
- If you have an eye health issue—like redness, discomfort, or sudden vision loss—that’s medical insurance.
Sometimes, both may apply. For example, your medical insurance may cover glaucoma treatment, while vision benefits could help with a new glasses prescription due to changes in vision.
Why Beyond Vision LNK Doesn’t Take Vision Plans
At Beyond Vision LNK, we do things differently. We don’t accept vision plans like VSP or EyeMed—on purpose.
Why? Because those plans often limit your options and reduce the time and attention we can give you. We believe in personalized, high-quality eye care, without shortcuts. Many patients use HSA/FSA funds or submit out-of-network claims for reimbursement, and we’re happy to guide you through that process.
Our comprehensive eye exams go far beyond checking your prescription—we assess your full eye health, screen for early signs of disease, and help you understand how your vision connects to your overall wellness.
Ready to Take Control of Your Eye Health?
If you’re looking for a trusted eye doctor in Lincoln, NE, Beyond Vision LNK is here for you. Whether you need a comprehensive eye exam, are dealing with eye discomfort, or just want a fresh approach to your vision care, we’ve got you covered.
📞 Call us today at 402-261-8699
📅 Or schedule your appointment online at www.beyondvisionlnk.com
Your eyes deserve more than a quick exam. Let’s go beyond vision—together.