Things You Should Know About Your Medicaid Vision Insurance
Medicaid is a reasonably good healthcare program offered in all fifty states for people who are of low income and need healthcare insurance coverage. Rather than investing most of your paycheck into the Healthcare Marketplace, you can find out if you qualify for Medicaid. (In some states, it goes by a different name, such as MediCal in California, or CHP in Colorado.) If you do qualify, the actual health insurance is very good, but the dental and vision insurance options are tricky to maneuver. Here is what you need to know about Medicaid's vision and dental plans.
You Have to Find a Provider That Takes Medicaid
Not all eye doctors and dentists will take Medicaid insurance plans. In fact, there are a lot that do not take them. If you and your children are used to seeing a particular eye doctor or dentist, be sure to ask those doctors/dentists if they accept Medicaid coverage. If they do not, you will either have to pay out of pocket to continue seeing those providers, or you will have to find a new dentist and a new eye doctor that will take your new insurance plan.
Medicaid/CHP Vision Requires That You Select from Preselected Eyeglass Frames
When you use your vision insurance, and you or one of your children needs eyeglasses for vision correction, you will not be able to select just any frames. The frames from which you can select are stored in a case in another room in the clinic. The doctor will let you look through this case to select frames for your glasses. Only these preselected frames are covered by the Medicaid/CHP plan, and only these frames are free with your Medicaid insurance. One new pair of glasses is allowed each year, and only if your vision has changed enough to warrant a new pair. The good news is that there is usually a frame that looks good on every face shape and comes in styles and colors that are simultaneously basic but nice-looking.
Your Portion of the Vision Cost
You might have to pay either a small co-pay for the exam or a small co-pay just for corrective lenses for glasses. (Contact lenses are rarely or never covered by Medicaid insurance plans.) The amount is small and affordable enough that you should be able to manage it. If you cannot, discuss your situation with the eye doctor (or dentist), and find options to pay the co-pay(s) in smaller amounts or whenever you are able to pay them.
To learn more about Medicaid and CHP vision and dental plans, consult a resource in your area.
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