Remember when you were a kid at the pediatrician, and they wanted to check your eyesight?
“Stand behind this line and read off the letters to me,” the nurse would say.
And one by one, little you read off those letters, from big to small, feeling mighty proud of yourself when you were able to read the ones at the very bottom.
How cute.
Many of us wear bifocals, even trifocals. We’ve had Lasik or need to. Cataracts are looming on the horizon (does it look cloudy here to you?).
Contacts are specially ordered to fit our misshapen eyeballs (thanks, astigmatism).
Sadly, Original Medicare doesn’t cover routine eye exams or vision care. Before you roll those eyes, I wanted to share some tips on how you can save money so your eyes “can see a lot of loves” for a long time to come.
1. Stand-Alone Vision Insurance:
– Consider purchasing a stand-alone vision insurance plan. These plans are separate from Medicare and may cover routine eye exams, prescription eyewear, and other vision-related expenses.
2. Discount Vision Programs:
– Explore organizations and retailers that offer discount vision programs that provide reduced rates on eye exams, glasses, and contact lenses. These programs may be more affordable than traditional insurance. MetLife and AARP both have discount vision programs.
3. Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA):
– If you have an HSA or FSA, you can use the funds to pay for eligible vision care expenses, including eye exams, prescription glasses, and contact lenses. Contributions to these accounts are made on a pre-tax basis. While you can’t contribute to an HSA after you become a Medicare beneficiary, you can still use the funds in that account.
4. Online Vision Services:
– Explore online vision services like Zenni.com and EyeBuyDirect.com that provide affordable options for glasses and contact lenses. Some online retailers offer competitive prices, and you can often upload your prescription for customized eyewear.
While Medicare isn’t comprehensive when it comes to vision care, I hope that you see the ways in which you can be savvy in getting the care you need.