vision plans good or bad

[HOLLYWOOD]

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do you guys think vision plans are good or bad for optometry?

 

[r_salis]

If you're starting out cold, vision plans get bodies in your chair. Reimbursement rates aren't that hot, though, and the people who have those plans are loyal to the offices which accept their plan, not to the practitioners themselves.

 

[KHE]

If you're starting out cold, vision plans get bodies in your chair. Reimbursement rates aren't that hot, though, and the people who have those plans are loyal to the offices which accept their plan, not to the practitioners themselves.

This is true for any patient though. If you are not on their insurance plan, the chances that they will darken your door are just this side of zero.

Once in a blue moon it happens, but 99.99% of the time, it doesn't. Any one who has been out for any length of time has lost patients to another doctor who is "on the plan." I've only been out 7 years but I've worked with and for enough doctors who have been practicing 30 years and the same thing happens to them. These are patients that they have seen since the patient was a little kid, and now they are seeing their children or even grandchildren. But not on the plan = patient not seeing you....

And for the 100th time...think about it. I only go to providers who are on my plan and I'm sure you all do too. WHy would you expect your patients to be any different?

 

[Ryan_eyeball]

This is true for any patient though. If you are not on their insurance plan, the chances that they will darken your door are just this side of zero.

Once in a blue moon it happens, but 99.99% of the time, it doesn't. Any one who has been out for any length of time has lost patients to another doctor who is "on the plan." I've only been out 7 years but I've worked with and for enough doctors who have been practicing 30 years and the same thing happens to them. These are patients that they have seen since the patient was a little kid, and now they are seeing their children or even grandchildren. But not on the plan = patient not seeing you....

And for the 100th time...think about it. I only go to providers who are on my plan and I'm sure you all do too. WHy would you expect your patients to be any different?

In my geographical area this is what I'm paid for just a Spectacle examination

Cole Vision (these are converting to all Eyemed) $30-38
Eyemed: $40-$50
Superior $50
Bluecrossblueshield (some have routine vision through Cessna) $70
Preferred Health $70
Spectera $65
Davis Vision $40
VSP do not accept it currently

Medical plans Aetna, UHC, BCBS, Medicare, Coventry you receive you're full examination price up to their maximum allowable for medical examinations. You have to be lucky enough to be in a state that allows you to be on the plan. Also, some areas will not allow you on if they have too many providers.

 

[KHE]

Medical plans Aetna, UHC, BCBS, Medicare, Coventry you receive you're full examination price up to their maximum allowable for medical examinations. You have to be lucky enough to be in a state that allows you to be on the plan. Also, some areas will not allow you on if they have too many providers.

Understand that access to medical plans is not a state by state issue. It can vary widely even within a state, particularly if that state is large.

For example, in upstate New York, you may have little trouble accessing medical plans. But in downstate New York it's a nightmare.

Areas that claim they have "too many providers" are generally not nearly as difficult to deal with. I was able to access some of those plans just by looking at their provider lists. Some providers on there were retired and a few were even DEAD. Contacting them and letting them know this almost always got me on the panel. It is the ones that exclude ODs as a matter of policy that are nightmares.

 

[Ryan_eyeball]

Understand that access to medical plans is not a state by state issue. It can vary widely even within a state, particularly if that state is large.

For example, in upstate New York, you may have little trouble accessing medical plans. But in downstate New York it's a nightmare.

Areas that claim they have "too many providers" are generally not nearly as difficult to deal with. I was able to access some of those plans just by looking at their provider lists. Some providers on there were retired and a few were even DEAD. Contacting them and letting them know this almost always got me on the panel. It is the ones that exclude ODs as a matter of policy that are nightmares.

I wasn't aware that the medical plans can even vary by the area of the state that you live in. Luckily I haven't had any problems joining panels, just always have to wait around 90 days for the credentialing process to go through. Thanks for the info.