How is this possible? Did my insurance get charged appropriately?

Submitted by Jamfour9 t3_ygsa7h in personalfinance

So I stopped in to LensCrafters in an effort to avoid allowing my 200 frame allowance to expire. Plus I really needed new frames. This is how much I was charged.

Frame $188

Single Vision $ -.01

1.67 Plastic Lens $198.40

Blue IQ Clear $15.00

Premium Antireflective $68.00

Subtotal $469.59

I’ve never paid that much for glasses. The retail price was $1000 and insurance savings was $530.61.

receipt

plan benefits

I have the enhanced plan.

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[deleted] t1_iuahhga wrote

None of us have access to the full itemized receipt and your insurance policy to review and see if you were only charged for items you received and your insurance was applied appropriately. If you want to double-check, get those items and review them.

Given that your frame allowance was $200 and your insurance savings is greater than $200, there's no obvious issue in what you've posted.

Stores can charge whatever price they like for glasses, don't buy them here if you don't agree with this price.

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Jamfour9 OP t1_iuapm4d wrote

The frames more than anything are what give me pause. In the future I’ll order them online.

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dwinps t1_iuaei3b wrote

It was possible because that is what you agreed to.

You didn't choose the base frames that your insurance covered and all the other premium stuff also isn't covered.

That's the name of the game for optometrists, get you in for your "free" exam and upsell you on everything.

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Jamfour9 OP t1_iuag250 wrote

My insurance has a frame allowance versus base frames.

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dwinps t1_iuaou21 wrote

Yes, and it is typical that people choose more expensive frames than the allowance but there will usually be frames available that match that frame allowance.

I just get my eye exam done, get the prescription and get my glasses online. Much less expensive. If you want to get a base pair of glasses that have no premiums you can do that as well.

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Jamfour9 OP t1_iuapgut wrote

I think I’m just going to order my next pair online.

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1000thusername t1_iuaj94p wrote

LensCrafters may not be in network for you. I know it’s not for me (VSP plan), so you only get like 30 or 40% off and not the true allowance if you go there. If I go to someone in network, my glasses are basically almost free except for the premium coatings. The complexity of your prescription factors in too. Progressives cost more than single vision lenses, and stronger prescriptions on the feather weight lenses cost more, etc. There are a ton of factors.

It’s probably something like that, but we couldn’t tell you for sure without knowing the specifics of your plan and all the finer details.

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Jamfour9 OP t1_iuavr8r wrote

It’s in network for me. My prescription isn’t complex. It’s -4.0.

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1955photo t1_iualedi wrote

Stay out of chains and go to a good local optometrist with his/ her own shop. Ask around for recommendations on someone competent and ethical.

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ChiSquare1963 t1_iuas6w2 wrote

When you buy glasses, know your insurance allowances and be clear on how much you are willing to spend. Optical shops will show you the expensive designer frames first, unless you are clear that you aren’t going to buy from them unless the price is within your budget.

Also, some places give uninsured customers a discount. I get 20% off for paying with my credit card, then I file my own insurance and FSA claims. I buy my backup glasses online, but I like to get my main pair locally so they’ll adjust after I knock them out of shape.

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g92592 t1_iuc5x31 wrote

Just get your prescription and buy your glasses from a low cost frame/eyeglass store. There are many more eyeglass stores, and much cheaper, than LensCrafters. More than likely, the low cost is not going to take your insurance though. Doesn't matter, you're still going to spend less

Or buy them online

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Jamfour9 OP t1_iucxo0c wrote

I’ll buy them online as I’ve stated, going forward

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