If you’ve been considering making Costco Optical your go-to place for eye and vision care, then you’re probably wondering what types of insurance they take. Today, we’ll go over all the important details of how insurance works when you use Costco Optical. Keep reading!
First, let’s cover what types of vision insurance Costco Optical accepts. According to their website, Costco optical accepts most vision insurance plans. However, this doesn’t really give us much detail about what exactly that means or whether your specific plan will be accepted.
Costco recommends contacting your local Costco Optical center to find out exactly what insurance plan you’ll need to receive care and services.
One major reason why there are no across-the-board answers about vision insurance from Costco Optical is because the optometrists who work at these locations are independent doctors, not Costco employees. In other words, each doctor will differ in terms of what insurance they accept for their services.
Even though there’s no official answer from Costco, it is safe to say that most Costco Optical centers accept major national providers like Davis Vision, FEP BlueVision, MESVision, and Spectera. While some sources claim that Costco accepts VSP insurance, VSP states clearly on their website that Costco is considered an out-of-network provider. To be sure, call your local Costco Optical center to find out if your insurance plan is accepted.
Contents
How Much Is Costco Optical Without Insurance?
If you’re interested in purchasing eyewear or accessing eye care services from Costco Optical without insurance, here’s a guide for what to expect price wise.
- Eye exam: $50-$100
- Contact lens exam: $100-$125
- Prescription glasses: $150-$200
Does Costco Optical Accept FSA and HSA Cards?
If you use a flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA), you’re probably wondering if you can use these at Costco. Not to worry! There is a wide range of FSA eligible eye care products listed on Costco’s website. You can also use an HSA card to cover the costs of prescription eyewear at Costco.
How To Schedule An Eye Exam At Costco
Now that you know the deal with vision insurance at Costco, you’re ready to schedule your first appointment!
To schedule an appointment for a Costco eye exam…
- Call your local Costco Warehouse (a contact number can be found on Google or via the Costco “Find a Warehouse” tool).
- Select the optical department when prompted
- When transferred to the independent doctor of optometry, request to make an appointment for an eye exam.
- When you arrive for your eye exam, be prepared to either pay in cash or by card, or present your insurance card so that Costco can bill your provider.
This process will work the same whether you are paying for your exam out of pocket or with insurance.
Is Costco Membership Needed By Costco Optical?
Even though Costco is well known for being a “members only” retailer, Costco Optical does not require shoppers to have a membership to receive eye care services such as contact lens fittings, dilation, or retinal imaging. However, if you would like to purchase eyewear products such as prescription glasses, sunglasses, or contact lenses, you will need to have a Costco membership.
Also, remember that even if Costco doesn’t accept your coverage, you can still bill your provider separately by submitting an out-of-network reimbursement claim form. Contact your insurance company directly to find out how to submit your claim.
What Eyewear Brands Does Costco Provide?
Costco sells many of the most popular eyewear brands, including bebe, Burberry, Fendi, Ray-Ban, and Oakley. Costco also offers affordable, quality eyewear from their own brand, Kirkland Signature.
FAQs
Can you bring a prescription to Costco Eye Center?
Yes. You can bring in your current prescription to Costco Optical to either get new frames, update your prescription, or receive eye care services to determine whether your current prescription is still working for you.
What are the Costco Eye Center Hours?
Costco Optical hours vary by location, but most locations open at 10 AM and close at 8 PM. You can find out the hours of operation of your local Costco Warehouse location by visiting their store locator tool, finding your store on the map, and looking at the store hours.
Will Costco Optical put new lenses in old glasses with insurance?
Yes. With or without insurance, Costco Optical can update your prescription lenses in your existing frames. There are some exceptions if your frames are damaged or otherwise unsuitable to support your new lenses.
Is Costco Optical expensive?
In terms of eye care costs, Costco Optical is considered quite affordable, offering low-cost eyewear and affordable appointment rates for eye care services.
Does Costco have optometrist staff?
No. All of the optometrists who work at Costco’s vision centers are independent doctors and are not considered Costco staff members.
Does Costco Optical accept insurance online?
Unfortunately, there’s a short answer to this question: no. Costco Optical does not accept insurance online.
Conclusion
Overall, Costco Optical is a great place to go for eyewear and vision care. As far as insurance goes, you’ll have to do a little extra legwork to find out if your vision insurance provider is accepted. And if you’re interested in buying your eyewear at Costco Optical, then you’ll have to make sure you have a Costco membership as well. But by doing this, you’re sure to have a great experience with all of your eye care needs.
