Insurance We Accept
At Washington Eye Doctors, we want you to feel completely prepared for your upcoming visit and are proud to accept a variety of insurance and financing plans for our services. If you plan to use private insurance to cover the cost of your appointment, please be aware it can take us up to 48 hours to verify your coverage. Please check the list of insurance plans we accept to ensure yours is included — while we proudly accept VSP plans, we cannot accept Medicaid. If your plan isn’t listed here, don’t worry — we also offer a courtesy discount on exams and eyeglasses for patients with vision plans we don’t accept, so everyone can get the care they deserve.
In-Network Insurance Providers
Navigating insurance shouldn’t be the hardest part of your eye care journey. We pride ourselves on being a multi-provider practice, accepting a diverse range of both vision and medical insurance plans to ensure our services are accessible to as many patients as possible. Whether you are coming in for a routine wellness exam covered by a vision plan or seeking treatment for a complex medical condition billed through your primary health insurer, our dedicated billing team works directly with carriers to maximize your benefits. By participating in various networks, we aim to minimize your out-of-pocket costs while providing the high-standard care you deserve.
Two Main Benefits: Insurance & Special Accounts
Health & Vision Insurance
Health and vision insurance are great ways to cover or reduce the cost of various medical services. Vision insurance covers routine eye exams and appointments and can often be used for eyewear as well. Health insurance is used to cover medications and medical treatments, such as for eye diseases . At Washington Eye Doctors, we’re proud to accept both types of insurance to make our care as accessible as possible.
FSAs and HSAs
FSAs and HSAs are benefits that can help pay for part or all of your qualified medical expenses using pre-taxed money. Often, you’ll add money to an FSA or HSA every pay period.
While both FSAs and HSAs can be used for similar medical expenses, there is a crucial difference between the two. FSAs typically won’t roll over any unused funds to the next year, so make sure to remember to use your FSA funds before they expire!
What to Know Before Your Exam
To ensure your visit is seamless and that your benefits are applied correctly, keep the following in mind:
- Identify the Reason for Your Visit: If you are coming in strictly for a routine check-up and new glasses, we will likely access your vision benefits. If you have a specific medical concern or a pre-existing eye condition, your medical insurance will likely be the primary coverage used.
- The “Refraction” Fee: A refraction is the test performed to determine your eyeglass prescription (the “Which is better, 1 or 2?” part of the exam). Many medical insurance plans, including Medicare, consider this a “routine” service and do not cover it. In these cases, there may be a standard out-of-pocket fee for this portion of the exam.
- Bring Both Cards: Because the doctor may discover a medical issue during a routine exam (or vice versa), please bring both your medical and vision insurance cards to every appointment.
- Verify in Advance: Insurance plans can be complex. We recommend contacting your carrier or our office 48 hours prior to your appointment to confirm that we are in-network with your specific plan and to understand your current deductible or co-pay responsibilities
Flexible Financing with CareCredit
Get the Care You Need, When You Need It
We understand that maintaining your vision often involves unexpected costs or investments in premium technology that may not be fully covered by insurance. To ensure you never have to compromise on your eye health, Washington Eye Doctors proudly accepts CareCredit.
CareCredit is a healthcare credit card designed specifically to help you manage out-of-pocket expenses for your family’s vision care. Whether you’re considering specialty contact lenses, designer frames, or advanced medical treatments, CareCredit offers the flexibility to pay over time.
Insurance & Billing FAQs
Why am I receiving a bill?
Receiving a bill usually means there is a remaining balance after your insurance provider has processed your claim. This amount typically covers deductibles, co-insurance, or co-payments that are required by your specific plan. Additionally, some services—such as a refraction (the test to determine your eyeglass prescription)—are often not covered by medical insurance carriers like Medicare. If you have questions about a specific charge, our billing department is happy to walk you through your statement and explain how your benefits were applied.
What’s the difference between vision and medical insurance?
It is common to have two separate policies for eye care. Vision Insurance (like VSP or EyeMed) is a wellness benefit designed for routine eye exams, prescription updates, and discounts on glasses or contacts. Medical Insurance (like BCBS or Aetna) is used when the doctor is diagnosing, treating, or managing a medical condition such as dry eye, glaucoma, eye infections, or complications from diabetes. Depending on the nature of your visit and the health of your eyes, we may need to bill one or both of these providers to ensure you receive the most comprehensive care possible.
Do you accept out-of-network insurance?
Yes, we can often still provide care even if we are not a preferred provider for your specific plan. While out-of-network benefits vary by carrier, many plans allow you to pay for services upfront and receive reimbursement directly from your insurance company afterward. Our team can provide you with an itemized “superbill” containing all the necessary medical coding to make the reimbursement process as simple as possible. We recommend calling your provider beforehand to verify your “out-of-network” coverage levels.
Can I use my FSA or HSA?
Absolutely! Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) are excellent ways to pay for your eye care needs using pre-tax dollars. You can use these funds to cover a wide variety of expenses, including your eye exam co-pays, prescription eyeglasses, prescription sunglasses, contact lenses, and even certain specialty treatments. Since many FSA funds expire at the end of the calendar year, we encourage you to schedule your appointment early to make the most of your benefits before they disappear.
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Covered at Every Washington Eye Doctors Location
We have options to cover your care at each of our locations. Stop by our downtown Washington, D.C., office or bring the whole family in at either one of our suburban practices in Chevy Chase, MD, or Arlington, VA, for the best in eye care!
Washington, DC Location
Located 2 Blocks from the White House
