We may earn a commission for purchases through links on our site, Learn more.
Costco Optical centers welcome various vision insurance plans, such as Davis Vision, MESVision, and Spectera, from major national providers.
It’s important to note that while Costco Optical accepts these insurance plans, the optometrists working there are independent professionals. They aren’t directly employed by Costco, which means they might not always accept insurance for their eye services.
Additionally, Costco doesn’t facilitate insurance payments for eye services conducted online.
Costco Optical Insurance acceptance explained
Costco Optical generally accepts a wide range of vision insurance plans. However, it’s essential to note that to access Costco Optical services, you’ll need to hold a Costco membership.
While Costco does accept various national vision insurance plans for services at their physical optical centers, they do not extend this acceptance to online orders for items like contact lenses or sunglasses. Additionally, prescription eyeglasses are not available for purchase online through Costco.
For specifics, Costco Optical centers across several states—such as Arizona, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington—have been confirmed to accept national vision insurance plans like Davis Vision, FEP BlueVision, MESVision, MetLife, Spectera, Superior Vision, UnitedHealthcare, and VBA Vision.
Costco Optical centers work with independent optometrists, not directly employed by Costco. These doctors have the freedom to decide whether they’ll accept insurance for the eye care services they provide. When we reached out to various Costco Optical centers, approximately 10% mentioned that their eye doctors don’t take insurance.
Before scheduling an appointment at a Costco Optical center, it’s advisable to contact your local Costco to confirm whether the eye doctor at that particular location accepts your insurance coverage. Additionally, it’s a good idea to reach out to your vision insurance provider to ensure that Costco is within their network of covered providers. This proactive step can help avoid any unexpected costs or coverage issues related to your eye care services.
Vision insurance not accepted at Costco
Costco Optical does not currently accept certain vision insurance plans like Aetna, EyeMed Vision Benefits, Humana, and TRICARE based on our research. However, it’s important to note that insurance acceptance might differ from one Costco location to another.
Your local Costco Optical might accept other insurance plans not listed here, so it’s recommended to get in touch with your nearest Costco Optical to check for specific details regarding insurance acceptance.
How much is Costco Optical without insurance?
When you visit Costco Optical without insurance, here’s a breakdown of the expected costs:
- Eye Exam: Typically ranges from $50 to $100. This examination assesses your vision and overall eye health.
- Contact Lens Exam: This specific exam, if needed, may cost between $100 to $125. It’s required to fit contact lenses properly.
- Prescription Glasses: The price for prescription glasses without insurance varies, usually falling between $150 to $200. This cost covers the frames and lenses tailored to your vision needs.
Remember, these are approximate costs and may vary based on location and specific services.
Does Costco Optical accept FSA and HSA cards?
Yes, Costco Optical accepts both Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) cards. You can use these cards to pay for eligible eye care products listed on Costco’s website using your FSA. Additionally, you can also use your HSA card to cover the expenses for prescription eyewear at Costco.
How to schedule an eye exam at Costco
To schedule an eye exam at Costco:
- Find the contact number of your local Costco Warehouse using Google or the Costco “Find a Warehouse” tool.
- Call the Costco Warehouse and select the optical department when prompted.
- Request to schedule an appointment for an eye exam with the independent doctor of optometry.
- When you go for your eye exam, be prepared to pay using cash or card, or present your insurance card for billing purposes.
This process remains consistent whether you’re paying out of pocket or using insurance for your eye exam at Costco.
What does a Costco Optical exam entail with or without Insurance?
A Costco Optical exam, whether you have insurance or not, typically involves a comprehensive check of your vision and eye health. The examination is similar to what you’d get at any eye doctor’s office and focuses on correcting vision problems.
During the exam, the eye doctor will conduct various painless tests to assess different aspects of your vision and eye condition:
- Color blindness: Testing to determine if you have difficulty distinguishing between different colors.
- Peripheral (side) vision: Assessing how well you can see objects at the edges of your visual field.
- Eye coordination: Checking how well your eyes work together and move in unison.
- Eye pressure: Measuring the fluid pressure inside your eyes, which is crucial in assessing conditions like glaucoma.
- Retina health: Evaluating the health of your retinas, including checking for any signs of disease or abnormalities.
- Vision issues: Assessing common vision problems like presbyopia (difficulty focusing on close objects as you age), astigmatism (irregularly shaped cornea causing blurred vision), farsightedness, and nearsightedness.
- Visual sharpness: Checking how clearly you can see both close-up and distant objects.
Following the examination, the doctor will provide you with an updated vision prescription if needed. This prescription can be used to buy new glasses, sunglasses, or contact lenses.
Costco Optical aims to offer similar comprehensive eye care services to other eye clinics, making sure your vision is corrected accurately and ensuring your eyes are healthy inside and out.
Is a Costco membership needed by Costco Optical?
Costco Optical provides eye care services like contact lens fittings, dilation, and retinal imaging to everyone, whether you have a Costco membership or not. However, to buy prescription glasses, sunglasses, or contact lenses, you’ll need a Costco membership. If your insurance isn’t accepted, you can still submit a claim separately by contacting your provider for an out-of-network reimbursement form.
What eyewear brands does Costco provide?
Costco offers a wide range of eyewear brands, including popular names like Bebe, Burberry, Fendi, Ray-Ban, and Oakley. Alongside these renowned brands, Costco also provides its own affordable yet quality eyewear under the label Kirkland Signature.
This diverse selection caters to various preferences and budgets, allowing customers to choose from both renowned and Costco’s exclusive brand options when shopping for eyewear.
Does Costco Optical take EyeMed insurance?
Costco Optical doesn’t directly accept EyeMed Insurance as an in-network provider. If you choose to get eye care services from Costco, Walmart, or other providers not in EyeMed’s network, you’ll have to pay the full cost upfront. After that, you can submit a claim form to EyeMed Vision Care.
When you do this, EyeMed will reimburse you for the services you received at Costco Optical. This reimbursement amount will match what you’d receive for in-network services under your EyeMed plan.
Can you bring a prescription to Costco Eye Center?
You’re welcome to take your existing prescription to Costco Optical. This allows you to explore options such as getting new frames, updating your prescription, or receiving eye care services. These services can help assess whether your current prescription is still suitable for your needs.
What are the Costco Eye Center hours?
The operating hours of Costco Optical may differ depending on the specific location. Typically, most Costco stores open their optical centers at 10 AM and close at 8 PM. To find the exact hours of the Eye Center at your local Costco Warehouse, you can use their store locator tool. Simply locate your store on the map and view the specific hours of operation listed for that particular store.
Will Costco Optical put new lenses in old glasses with insurance?
Costco Optical offers the service of replacing the lenses in your existing frames, whether you have insurance or not. However, there might be cases where your frames are damaged or unsuitable to hold the new lenses, in which some exceptions might apply. But generally, if your frames are in good condition, Costco Optical can put new lenses in them for you.
Is Costco Optical expensive?
Costco Optical is generally considered affordable for eye care. They offer reasonably priced eyewear and eye care services. Their eyeglasses, contact lenses, and frames are often cheaper compared to many other optical retailers. Additionally, their eye exams and services are relatively inexpensive, making Costco Optical a cost-effective choice for many people seeking eye care solutions.
Does Costco have optometrist staff?
Costco has optometrists working at their vision centers, but these professionals are not Costco employees. Instead, they are independent doctors who operate within Costco’s vision centers to provide eye care services.
Does Costco Optical accept insurance online?
Costco Optical doesn’t have an online system to directly process insurance for eyewear purchases. When buying glasses or contacts from Costco Optical’s website, they don’t currently have a mechanism to handle insurance payments or reimbursements online. Customers typically pay the full amount online and then seek reimbursement from their insurance provider by submitting a claim separately.
The bottom line: Does Costco Optical take insurance?
Costco Optical accepts most major vision insurance plans. To confirm whether they accept your specific vision insurance, it’s best to call ahead and inquire directly. You can also check with your vision insurance provider to verify if Costco is within their network to prevent any potential issues.
Even if you don’t have insurance, Costco offers reasonably priced eye exams and eyewear, ensuring accessibility to these services at affordable rates.
To purchase eyewear at Costco Optical, a Costco membership is required. Despite these steps, opting for Costco Optical ensures a positive experience meeting your eye care requirements.