$595 at the eye doctor for an exam and lens only (I brought in my own $35 frames) and you will never make me understand why my eyeballs need their own insurance! 🙄
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in Australia eye exams can be "bulk billed" and they are paid for by the public health system with no out of pocket.
Most optometrists provide "no gap" glasses which means your private health insurance covers the full cost.
Pensioners etc are covered by a public program for no out of pocket.
Right, that really used to tick me off! Now I do have dental included, but still you pay a good chunk when issues arrive. I mean who doesn’t need teeth?
I was told that Costco may not be able to provide lenses for some RayBan frames. They were able to in my case. I think that’s more on RayBan than Costco.
Warby Parker, if there is one within driving distance. Great price for glasses. AND I got a very thorough eye exam there by an optometrist for less than $200.
Don't ever buy glasses at the eye doctor unless it's like America's Best. Go to Warby Parker. My eye doctor wanted $795 for 1 pair. Got 2 pair elsewhere for $175.
America's best is why I am back at the eye doctor. I spent $150 there and literally tossed the glasses in the trash. Complete waste of time and money. I need tri focals. I have yet to find a place that gets the script right. But I don't have eye insurance which was the point of the OP.
Yeah - we have 4 of us in glasses. If we buy 1 pair it more than pays for the membership. We buy two due to 3/4 of us being rough on glasses and the 2nd pair is discounted.
I don't know what else people buy at Costco. Outside of glasses and halloween candy we usually find better deals elsewhere.
Because the insurance business decided that glasses were not necessary for life. Which is absolutely STUPID because if you need glasses you sure as hell can't really live without them! 😡 Same with dental. People can literally die from an infected tooth for crying out loud!
Recently in Thailand I had to replace my glasses. I was pleasantly surprised to find the entire process cost less than 150$. Exam, lenses and frames. It was so cheap, I had a pair of prescription sunglasses made for about 50$ more. In America we are charged accordingly. These are profiteers inMerica
It’s like the “carve-out” for orthodontia…$2k LIFETIME max when basic is $5k. Scam. Both eyes & straightening teeth should be fully under their respective insurances!
When I went to my eye doctor it cost 85 dollars for the exam. My sister questioned me why I paid that. I told her 1. My eyes are important to me. 2. It cost 85 last year as well. Guess who won ? ME !
My eyes & teeth have their own insurance, mainly because I'm getting up there and both need extra appointments yearly. Eyeball insurance combined with rest of body insurance doesn't cover the full cost, but it reduces it enough to be worth it. Tooth insurance covers about half the annual cost.
Exactly what happened to me yesterday! My eye insurance is in network, but my health insurance wasn’t. I’m insured for both, and ended up paying out of pocket anyway.
Probably the same reason that my Crohn’s disease treatment of Skyrizi needs its own coverage for the $22,000 injection every 8 weeks. Thank God for the Patient Assistance Program.
The problem is my script. I went to one of those Eyeglasses Superstores last year. It was $150 all in and I was thrilled until I picked them up and the prescription wasn't even close. I literally threw them away.
I recently had intraocular lenses implanted to correct my vision. I was amazed at how well I can see now without glasses. My buying new glasses was more expensive in the long run than the implants. Plus I do not misplace or break them.
Agree! I've used eyebuydirect since pandemic times and won't go back. As long as you're careful with frame measurements and the online site has a good return policy, you get what you want for a lot less $$. 👀
Even when I had a job with benefits... we only received $200 to be spread out over 2 years for an exam and glasses... They must have quite the lobbyists working for them...
Costco is a great option! Free eye exam as a member and a decent price for glasses. We have insurance but it covers only an exam. A $65 Costco membership is definitely worth the price. Another option for those without “health” insurance is the places is somewhere like Americas Best.
I have the exam done elsewhere but get the glasses there. 2 for the cost of 1 elsewhere. Great deal. Costco has great frames for adults with narrow faces/tweens and kids. Options that tots can't break. I'm happy!
Its a disgrace here in the US you need to carry health insurance, dental insurance and vision insurance. I bought progressive glasses with anti-blue light, anti-glare & anti-something else & they cost me $800
I saw an explanation of this, though I hardly recall any details. It had to do with the creation of Medicare, I think? The AMA doctors had looked down on dentists and eye doctors, who set up their own orgs. All 3 orgs lobbied to stay out of Medicare; the AMA failed, ADA and AOA lobbies succeeded.
If you have a Costco membership and don’t need a specialized optometrist the exams at their vision center are $85 for glasses. The lenses and frames for my bifocals with every option are usually between $200-300 depending on the frames chosen. Good service, good prices.
Also... when your loved one has diabetic retinopathy, undergoes years of laser treatment, fluidectomies & eye surgeries, you understand the need for specialized eye insurance even if it's covered under your general health plan.
Covered eye exam 100% (insurance.)
The retailer at my optometrist (Doctors & Eyewear sales usually Not connected to each other) tried putting me in a Single pair for $775 with insurance.
Went to COSTCO.
$379 for progressive lenses, coating, frames & a second pair of prescription sunglasses.
true…
and our teeth
and our ears
(all other body parts are connected except the ones that definitely change as we age…doesn’t seem quite right to call them out as exclusions)
I get ask my glasses online these days. Still have to pay for the exam. But I need glasses more than yearly so it gets too expensive otherwise. My last pair of nice auto tint glasses from Zenni were like $120 with a bunch of bells and whistles.
I broke my glasses while in a small town in France. It was right before I was to attend an art workshop. In a panic, I hit up an optometrist at 8am. The SUPER nice manager and optical technichian helped me out by fitting my lenses to a pair of frames. They charged me about $130 USD TOTAL.
The optician fitted my lenses on-site in their lab. In California, every optician sends their frames and lenses out to a lab in LA. It takes about 2 weeks. And meanwhile, a technician had my lenses refitted in about 2 hours. And there were dozens of optical shops every few blocks.
I get it. I just went this afternoon. Even with my insurance, my copay was $390. Exam, frames and basic lenses were included. I did upgrades to the lenses.
I know! I was shocked it was such a small amount. I have to go to their network of providers but there are lots in my area from which I can choose. Fortunately, I live in a large urban area.
I just have them give me my prescription and order glasses/lenses from zenni. My copay for fancy exam is $100 and zenni glasses + lens (progressive) ~120
I get this. I've had to come out of pocket heavy even with insurance that covers my exam. It's just infuriating and stressful. I'm so sorry you had to go through this.
We get a free eye exam and glasses (to a certain price point) every 2 years in Ireland. Even outside that, an exam and 2 pairs of glasses would be less than €200.
Seriously! Are teeth and eyes not a part of our bodies? Why are they not included in all health insurance? Do places with universal health care also have to pay extra or are they included? This country is insane...
Went to Lenscrafters a few yrs ago. They wouldn't let me use my own frames, which I had purchased there previously. New lenses require their new frames. What a rip off. Walked out.
The eye is the gate way to the soul and without your sight life is not easy. So I am of the opinion nothing/amount is too expensive to preserve your sight .
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Costco & Warby Parker are
always great prices
(Costco also has optometrist eye exams)
Most optometrists provide "no gap" glasses which means your private health insurance covers the full cost.
Pensioners etc are covered by a public program for no out of pocket.
Best brush up on your "crikey" and learn how to avoid poisonous animals.
I'm not sure how much the insurance saves us. But we are typically able to get an exam + 2 pairs of glasses for less than the exam + 1 pair elsewhere.
It's really the only reason we pay for a Costco membership.
I don't know what else people buy at Costco. Outside of glasses and halloween candy we usually find better deals elsewhere.
Wouldn't it be cheaper overall to cover my glasses so they don't have to reset any bones?
Then I remembered Dental insurance. 😬
Tf?
I guess what I've learned is that the head isn't part of the body....
(No, seriously. Your eyebulbs need not suffer the woes of the Luxxotica cabal.)
But I live in a first world country which has decent medicare.
Better yet, I shouldn't have to worry about it. It should be covered in my government-provided, taxpayer-funded, not-for-profit system.
Of 34 Western countries, only 1 has healthcare as a for-profit model. Guess which one.
The U.S. healthcare model is not in the interest of keeping people alive and well. It is the result of corporate greed. Period.
The retailer at my optometrist (Doctors & Eyewear sales usually Not connected to each other) tried putting me in a Single pair for $775 with insurance.
Went to COSTCO.
$379 for progressive lenses, coating, frames & a second pair of prescription sunglasses.
and our teeth
and our ears
(all other body parts are connected except the ones that definitely change as we age…doesn’t seem quite right to call them out as exclusions)
Welcome to Stupid American Healthcare!