Community Chat

[patbz]

DH and I don't have vision insurance and we both had cataract surgery ( out of pocket total for both of us less than $500).  Opthamalogist is no cost to us due to Medicare and we buy glasses from zennioptical online for less than $120 per pair including frames and progressives.  Also don't have dental insurance which so fine for me but DH has cost thousands over the years but I checked and even with dental it would have cost us close to same.  We use care credit to pay that money over time with no interest.

[CelticCrafter]

@Mom2Dogs this is just my opinion but if your husbands eye exams are covered by Medicare because he has a condition and it were me I would drop it.  

There is always some place that is giving deals on glasses should he need them.

[geezerette]

It really depends on your own situation and what type of vision plan you're talking about.

For myself, when I checked what the vision plans cost and what they actually covered, I figured I'd be just as well off paying myself.  Yes, the glasses I normally end up with are very expensive, but a vision plan would only cover part of their cost.  I'd still be liable for the rest, along with all the premiums throughout the year for the plan itself.  The cost came out about the same for me.

You may find it a better buy for your situation, depending on what type of plan is available to you.

[millieshops]

@Mom2Dogs   sorry I wasn't. clear.   Even for vision insurance, it pays to check --  what you need and what the plan actually pays.

My vision insurance was not in my main policies -  it was separate.  All my medical vision bills were paid through those main policies.  Even in the years I can cataract surgeries and during years I had several other surgeries, the vision policy was essentially worthless to me.

It covered about the equivalent of a co-pay for one pair of glasses every other year.   

I assume there are better policies, but you have to need what they pay.  Mine didn't and once I wasn't working and required to carry it, I cancelled.   

[gertrudecloset]

@Mom2Dogs 

I don't have vision insurance.  The premium on a monthly basis is the cost of an eye exam and some of the cost for the glasses and lens.  You can only go once a year or in some cases less.  Of course, if you have a medical need the costs could add up if you don't have one.

Do what's best for your household.

[Just Bling]

@Mom2Dogs 

Coming from an optometry family, it very important to get your eyes examined every year.

As you get older, the muscles weaken and more can go wrong.

It's not a matter of getting new glasses every year but getting an exam to make sure that you are not getting cataracts or any other eye disease.

Better to catch something before than take care of it when it's too late.

Just my two cents.

[CalminHeart]

I alway carry vision insurance. I'm lucky that my vision and dental could be elected through my employer pension plan. If not, I'd have to find other coverage. I hope these are added to Medicare soon.

[Cats3000]

@Mom2DogsWe have Medicare and Medigap policies.  They pay for the majority of our medical care.  I had a Cataract removed; between the 2 policies, the procedures were paid in full.  Some of the regular vision examination procedures are covered by Medicare, others ar not.  We pay out of pocket for the ones that are not.

We do not have dental insurance.  We found that you have to go to one of these franchise dental groups to get coverage.  We wanted to stay with our current dentists.

[ROMARY]

I like L*nscr*fters.   

I haven't been there since the C epidemic, but last time I was there they had a section of glasses including lenses for something like $99. 

I believe the exam was $79 ?. 

Anyway, I could have had a free exam at my HMO's exam offices, but decided that I'd do everything at L*nscr*fters, for convenience.  They are very quick re: grinding the lenses, etc.  No two or three week wait.  Etc.

That was at that time.  Who knows about now.