Our Approach to Vision Insurance
We believe vision care should not be constrained by the insurance companies’ rules around the services and materials. To ensure we provide the highest quality frames and lens products, Wink Optics has a different approach to vision insurance than most optometrists and big-box retailers.
Most people don’t know this, but many vision care plans are owned by some of the largest industry conglomerates and they force you to stay within their own verticals for maximum profits. This puts us in a direct conflict with our mission to provide the best service to our clients.
We are out of network with all vision plans so you don’t need to worry if eyewear products you select are covered by your insurance. Instead, we will submit a claim to your insurance company for reimbursement, if your benefits provide out-of-network coverage.
Wink Optics San Anselmo and Dr. Margolis do not accept vision insurances (VSP, EyeMed, etc.) for goods and services including eyeglass or contact lens purchases and eye exams.
Frequently Asked Insurance Questions
How Do I Know Which Vision Plan I Have?
Call the phone number on the back of your insurance card and ask which vision insurance you have. It is different from your medical insurance. If you have questions about the exact plan coverage for in- and out-of-network providers, they can help you with that information as well.
Do you accept VSP?
Wink Optics is out of network with Vision Service Plan (VSP). This means that you will pay the full amount for your exam and eyewear (eyeglasses and contact lenses). If you have out-of-network benefits, we will take care of sending out your claim paperwork for you. All you have to do is to wait for your reimbursement check in the mail.
Do you accept EyeMed?
Wink Optics is out of network with EyeMed. However, most times EyeMed allows you to access in-network level of benefits with us if you were not able to schedule a eye-exam appointment within two weeks. This means that you will pay the full amount for your exam and eyewear (eyeglasses and contact lenses). If you have out-of-network benefits, we will take care of sending out your claim paperwork for you. All you have to do is to wait for your reimbursement check in the mail.
Can I use my FSA or HSA?
Wink Optics accepts Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) to buy sunglasses, eyeglasses or lenses. If you’re unsure whether or not you have an FSA or HSA account, please check with your employer or insurance carrier. Simply use your FSA or HSA or use any other form of payment and submit your claim for a reimbursement.
Why do you not accept vision insurance?
We take pride in our high quality products and services at competitive prices. In order to maintain our core value and stay in business despite the ever rising inflation and costs of vision care, we are unable to take these vision plans.
Vision plans strive to be in complete control of eye care and they tend to ignore what is in the best interest of the patient. Unlike traditional health insurance, vision plans like VSP and EyeMed are largely a discount program intended to promote the sale of eyewear affiliated with their OWN company. It would be like having medical insurance whose best interest is in selling you prescriptions and medical devices manufactured under the same umbrella of companies.
We have reviewed how most of our patients used their vision plan benefits and we found that most were spending MORE on their eye care with vision plans versus what they would pay without it. The key difference in savings is that out-of-pocket patients only pay for services and materials when they need it.