Community Chat

[NicksmomESQ]

   On  November 20th I went to the eye doctor for a checkup .This was my first time I've been to her for a checkup. She gave me a prescription for reading glasses.

  Today I get a bill from her office for $20, with a note that the insurance company was billed for $320 for the visit.That charge was pending.I checked my medical insurance online account & they had not received the doctors bill for payment yet.

  I called the doctors office to get an explanation for the $20 charge & why I'm being billed before insurance review. I was told that the $20 was for the prescription that the doctor wrote!! I told the woman that a doctor has never billed me for an eyeglass prescription. I told her I should have been advised of the extra charge.She seemed embarrassed & apologized but said that insurance doesn't cover the fee so the patient is billed directly.

  Has anyone ever been billed for an eyeglass prescription before? DH says it's only $20, but to me it's the principle more than the money.

  Sorry for the rant,but I feel taken advantage of.

[Mz iMac]

NOPE!

If it was me, I would speak my concerns w/the office manager.  Tell him/her that you want something in writing about the "change in pricing" procedures.  They will either do that or waive the $20.

I'm like you.  I read my bills w/a fine tooth comb.  Any discrepancies I always call for an explanation if there is none.  I don't care if it's $1.  It's the principle of the thing.

[deepwaterdotter]

Is your signature on any documents relating to this appointment?  If so, did you get a copy of the documents and read them thoroughly before signing?  If such documents do not mention this charge, I would contest it.

[aroc3435]

@NicksmomESQ I am pretty sure your eye doctor, whether she is an ophthalmologist (an MD) or an optometrist is, in fact, breaking the law, federal and state laws apply.

If an examination results in needing a prescription one should/must be provided to you.  And she cannot force you to purchase your glasses from her.

Good luck.

aroc3435

Washington, DC

[Carmie]

That sounds fishy.  I would ask her to send the bill to your insurance before you pay it.  If your doctor is participating, he might not be allowed to Bill beyond what they allow.

My DH's doctor billed him $27 for lab fees.  The lab fees were not denied by his insurance company and the bill was never submitted.  I called the drs office to find out what was going on.  They said insurance would not cover it, so they stopped sending the bills for these specific lab charges.

I told them to bill as they are in network.  They did and the insurance company paid them $7, which they had to accept.  They knew the insurance co. Only would pay a small amount and tried to get around it by billing him.

I have a feeling your eye doctor might be doing the same.

Now, if the $20 is for a refraction, many insurance companies do not cover that charge.  You would have to pay that seperate out of your pocket.  I don't know what type of insurance you have.

If your DH has a medical condition he is seeing the doctor for and has Medicare or some other medical insurance, but not a seperate vision coverage, my guess is that the $20 is for a refraction...which is a great price for this service. A refraction is given to determine your RX for your prescription lens.

[Kachina624]

NO!  I've had an eye exam every year of my adult life and have never been charged for a prescription.   It's a ripoff, find another doctor.  If you just need readers, go to readers.com.  That's what my doctor suggested.

[azgal]

Yes, I have to pay for a prescription for glasses. I'm on medicare and it does not cover it. If I'm going in for a checkup or an issue with my eyes, then I am covered.

I have to pay $50!

ETA: I'm not charged for a prescription for eye drops or any other prescription for the eyes.

[ScrapHappy]

My daughter was born premature, very premature.  3 months early weighing 1 lb. 7 oz.  Due to her prematurity she has been going to eye doctors since the day she came home.  It's been 15 years now, still going to the eye doctor at least once a year, sometimes twice and I never have been charged a fee for writing a prescription.

[NicksmomESQ]

@Carmie  My husband is still on his employer sponsored medical insurance.He's not on Medicare yet. The charge was for my exam not his. After the doctor checked my eyes. When she was walking me out of the exam room I asked her for a script for reading glasses. When she got to the reception desk she reached for a pad & jotted down the prescription. 

[MamaWick]

If you are on Medicare...regular Medicare part B does not pay for refraction.  If you have a Medicare part C (Advantafe plan), then it will pay.  Other insurances vary in coverage for refraction.