New! Online appointment scheduling options!
Schedule a new appointment online by simply clicking the button below and following the instructions. If you have any questions, please feel free to call or text us at (805) 495-4625.
Find out more about what to expect from your appointment, and the difference between medical and vision insurance below.
Find out more about what to expect from your appointment, and the difference between medical and vision insurance below.
What to expect from your appointment
The doctors at All Eyecare Optometry care about making sure you see your best, and that you preserve your eye health. During your appointment, your eye doctor will write a glasses prescription for you, update your contact lenses, and check to make sure all of your eyes' structures are healthy. As a result, please expect your eye doctor to either have your eyes dilated or an Optomap photo taken of the retina during your comprehensive eye examination.
What to bring to your appointment if you are a new patient:
- A copy of your driver's license / ID
- A copy of your medical insurance card (e.g. Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross, Medicare)
- Your old glasses or glasses prescription if available
- Empty contact lens packets or contact lens prescription if available
- New patient forms (click here to access)
- List of your medications, including supplements, and allergies
What to bring to your appointment if you are a new patient:
- A copy of your driver's license / ID
- A copy of your medical insurance card (e.g. Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross, Medicare)
- Your old glasses or glasses prescription if available
- Empty contact lens packets or contact lens prescription if available
- New patient forms (click here to access)
- List of your medications, including supplements, and allergies
Understanding your insurance
Let’s face it, insurance can be confusing. This is particularly true when an individual has both medical and vision coverage. Understanding your insurance PRIOR to any service can help you avoid confusion and frustration. We would like to avoid any misconceptions, and we hope that the following will help you better understand how your insurance coverage works.
Medical vs. Vision Insurance
Medical insurance DOES NOT cover vision related issues such as routine exams, glasses, and contact lenses. Many people with medical insurance have a separate rider policy to cover routine eye exams. Typically, medical insurance policies usually cover only the comprehensive examination, but not the refraction (glasses prescription check). You are responsible for the cost of the refraction if your insurance is medical only.
Vision insurance covers comprehensive eye exams and refractions ONLY for purchasing glasses or fitting and purchasing contact lenses. Most vision plans to do not cover ANY medical testing, diagnosis, consultation or treatment. If you have any MEDICAL CONCERN that needs further follow-up, we would bill your subsequent appointments to your MEDICAL INSURANCE.
MEDICAL concerns (Glaucoma, Dry Eyes, Macular Degeneration, Red Eyes, Floaters, Allergies, Styes, etc.) usually take priority over visual concerns because they can sometimes affect your glasses prescription. If your eye doctor has a suspicion for a disease that requires additional testing, information on your condition and necessary testing will be given to you.
Do I have to pay anything for my visit?
Regardless of whichever insurance plan you have, most plans do not cover 100% of expenses. Thus, you should expect some out-of-pocket costs for co-pays, deductibles, or co-insurances as required by your insurance policy. All co-pays are due at the time services are rendered. If your deductible has not yet been met, you will have to pay for the service until your deductible is met.
The cost of services rendered cannot be accurately determined until your insurance company has been billed. We will do our best to provide you with an estimate for the cost of the services before your appointment. The cost for these services must be paid before materials (glasses or contacts lens) can be ordered.
In Summary
Although our staff members are very knowledgeable about insurance plans, remember that it is your responsibility to know the details of your individual health plan, including information about your deductibles and co-pays. Your insurance is a contract between you, your employer, and the insurance company, and not with the doctor. We encourage you to speak with your insurance company PRIOR to your appointment about your plan's specific details. Then, as always, feel free to ask us questions about how they will apply to your upcoming visit. We will do everything we can to help you better understand your policy, but the more knowledge you have about how it works ahead of time, the less frustrating it will be for you at the time of the exam.