Senior Magazine

Sandra Robben-Weber, St Lukes’s Eye Care & Laser Center continues her discussion of Medicare Benefits and Eye Care in SENIOR Magazine 

Colorado Springs SENIOR Magazine 

Medicare and Eye Care – Part II 

Sandra Robben-Weber, St Lukes’s Eye Care & Laser Center 

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. 

Medicare pays for 80% of the approved-amount on the covered services/items after the annual Part B deductible has been met (2010 Part-B Deductible $155.00). The remaining 20% is covered by any secondary insurance or directly by the patient. St Luke’s accepts assignment for Medicare beneficiaries and will file Medicare, secondary insurance and Medicare Advantage plans. However, remember there can be out-of-pocket costs and those monies are collected at the time of service.  

Spring is Glaucoma Awareness Season. Please contact St Lukes’s Eye Care & Laser Center for a Glaucoma  Screening Appointment. Medicare pays for 80% of the approved-amount for glaucoma screening when medically necessary and we offer this as a free service for our patients, their family members and friends 

Your Sight Is Important To Us!                       

Author Sandra Robben-Weber is the Administrator at St Luke’s Eye Care & Laser Center where Dr McMahon,  board certified in ophthalmology and fellowship trained in glaucoma, performs over 1,000 cataract surgeries annually. Also on staff is Dr Blake Simmons is an optometrist with additional residence-training in ocular diseases. They can be reached at 719-471-4000 

Other resources: www.Medicare.gov