Why is vision care not "medically necessary"???

[AndrewR]

Has anyone else run into this fallacy of the U.S. medical system? Why do medical coverage plans, including the military's, not cover the cost of glasses or contacts? Ok, the military will give you BCGs* or one of the "stylish" frames they offer, but anything that someone would actually wear in public comes out of your pocket. Contacts are not covered at all. When we had an HMO, only the exam was covered -- which is just short of completely useless since the majority of the cost is in the application of the exam, ie., buying glasses or contacts.

If someone can't hear, I believe hearing aids are covered by medical plans. Why is eyesight not the same considering that you cannot drive or work without seeing?

 

[Eli]

Good question.

On another note, if you wear glasses/contacts, I highly recommend the book Take Off Your Glasses and See by Jacob Liberman.

 

[amdskip]

BCG's=Birth Control Glasses

 

[azncoffeeboi]

Originally posted by: Eli
Good question.

On another note, if you wear glasses/contacts, I highly recommend the book Take Off Your Glasses and See by Jacob Liberman.

HM. Curious. Care to give an overview?

 

[idNut]

Originally posted by: azncoffeeboi

Originally posted by: Eli
Good question.

On another note, if you wear glasses/contacts, I highly recommend the book Take Off Your Glasses and See by Jacob Liberman.

HM. Curious. Care to give an overview?

Same here, when you finish the book do you have 20/20?

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: idNut

Originally posted by: azncoffeeboi

Originally posted by: Eli
Good question.

On another note, if you wear glasses/contacts, I highly recommend the book Take Off Your Glasses and See by Jacob Liberman.

HM. Curious. Care to give an overview?

Same here, when you finish the book do you have 20/20?

LOL..

I suppose that depends on you. 😉

It basically points out the fallacys of the "vision care" industry and their symptomatic approach to treating things. You do need an open mind to read through it though. Of course, the ideas put forth in the book won't work for everybody, but it is interesting none the less.

Link at Amazon

 

[Zebo]

scam of some sort I'm sure. I believe because a) contacts are considered an asthetic fix like breast implants are just like they are not covered and 2) all plans do cover the crap glasses which are medically necessary

 

[amnesiac]

AndrewR, one of the reasons "vision" is insured separately is because of the incredible amount of claims that are filed, plus the great costs associated. Add to that there's still a majority of people who do not EVER have eye problems and would rather pay lower premiums to not cover vision insurance.

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: amdskip
BCG's=Birth Control Glasses

Thanks, forgot to add the definition at the bottom of my post. 🙂

In the civilian world from what I have seen both for myself and with my parents, vision care is often not included in healthcare by many companies. When it is, it often does not have any money for actually buying glasses and contacts though you might get a discount (mine was 10% -- gee, thanks).

Here's another question: If eye surgery (LASIK, PRK) can almost always guarantee permament eye correction in the right people (since some cannot be helped by it), why shouldn't it be considered by insurance companies as opposed to lifelong insurance costs associated with eye exams and prescription eyeware? If you go yearly for an eye exam and buy contacts yearly (and are compensated at 50%, just to take a figure), that could equate to $250 per year in insurance costs. Over four years, that could pay for eye surgery for one eye. Eight years for both eyes. Cover 50% of the cost of the surgery, and I'm sure there would be plenty of people who would opt for that plan. (All figures used are illustrative only.)

I just hope I can have the military perform PRK on me sometime in the next five years or so. I am tired of wearing glasses or contacts. 🙂

 

[Colt45]

do you have a picture of the BCG's? i've heard people laugh about them before, but never actually seen them...

i want to see if they're that bad..

edit: forgot AT uses [] not <>

 

[ElFenix]

you know, if it was made into a "benefit," you'd have to pay for it anyway. and you'd have the insurance company skimming off the top in addition to what is already paid out to the doctors.

of course, usually you can upgrade your health coverage from the base that you get as part of your employment agreement

 

[IGBT]

What??......and mess up the white cane industry??