In the last issue we reviewed what Medicare does cover and in this issue we will address what Medicare does not cover related to eye care.
Medicare does not pay for routine vision services or glasses/contact lenses other than the life-time benefit after cataract surgery (refer to page 46 of Fall/Winter issue of Colorado Springs SENIOR Magazine). Medicare does not pay for the refraction portion of the eye exam that measures how well you see at a specific distance. As any secondary insurance will only cover the remaining 20% of what Medicare covers, with refraction as a non-covered benefit, it and must be paid for at the time of service whenever it is deemed necessary. Refraction could even be charged during post-operative care. For example, St Luke’s charges for a refraction when making the prescription determination of post-cataract surgery eyeglasses, or at anytime when providing a written prescription for visual acuity. St Luke’s Eye Care & Laser Center offers the Medicare Beneficiary a discount off our normal-and-customary refraction fee, when this is paid at the time of service.