Costco is one of the leading multinational corporations in the United States and is among the top five retailers in the world. Apart from selling products in bulk, Costco offers other services such as home and installation services, life and health insurance, and vision care. In this article, we will see about ‘Are VSP And EyeMed Accepted By Costco?’.
Are VSP And EyeMed Accepted By Costco?
The services at Costco, just like their products, are available at affordable rates. Holding a Costco membership allows the members to enjoy their services at an even cheaper price. In addition to this, Costco accepts almost all types of insurance for its services.
The in-store optical centers of Costco provide top-notch optical services at a reasonable price range. The optical centers provide vision exams, eye care, prescription lenses, and new optical wear including frames. Almost all these services can be covered under insurance too. Costco accepts all the major eye care insurances, including:
- Spectera
- United Health Care
- VBA vision
- MES Vision
- Davis Vision
VSP and EyeMed insurances are no exception to this. However, the type and number of insurances accepted by each Costco location vary from each other. The amount of reimbursement and copay differs with each type of insurance as well.
VSP vs EyeMed
VSP and EyeMed are the two major eye care insurance providers that provide both basic and comprehensive coverages and a variety of other discounts. They have tie-ups with top companies such as Target Optical, LensCrafters, Visionworks, etc. As of 2022, both VSP and EyeMed are accepted by Costco; however, VSP is considered to be their standard insurance provider.
Similarities
Both VSP and EyeMed give you the option to choose from the different plans they have to offer and find one that may fit your needs. VSP offers two distinctive vision plans which are the Standard Option and the High Option. EyeMed provides 3 plans namely, EyeMed Healthy, EyeMed Bright, and EyeMed Bold. The plans differ in their respective per month deduction, comprehensive coverage, and allowance.
Costco is not an in-network provider for both VSP and EyeMed; which means you will be required to submit an insurance claim to avail the refund amount for the care received. The amount will be credited directly to your bank account within a few working days.
It is also important to keep in mind that Costco employs independent optometrists and therefore the type of insurance accepted largely depends on these physicians. This also means that your insurance, be it VSP or EyeMed, will not cover online purchases of certain products such as sunglasses. Prescription eyewear can however be purchased online using FSA and HAS funds.
Differences
VSP covers almost all your optical needs while EyeMed only covers services such as eye tests and a few optical wears. Since Costco is an out-of-network provider, EyeMed discounts that are available for in-network members will not be available for Costco optical care customers.
On the other hand, VSP members enjoy the same benefits from Costco optical care as their in-network counterparts. Total coverage on plastic lenses and a copay of 39$ are among the few benefits VSP offers to their Costco customers.
Insurance Covered Brands
Costco covers a multitude of brands that qualify for insurance coverage. If you have a preferred or a favorite brand, chances are that it is insured under Costco’s policies. The top brands that possess insurance coverage include:
- Burberry
- Tod’s
- Fendi
- Bottega Veneta
Insurances Not Taken By Costco
Certain insurance providers are not approved by any of the Costco locations. Some of these providers are:
- TRICARE
- Cigna Vision Insurance
- Aetna
It is imminent that you enquire about the types of insurance accepted by the Costco location near to you before an appointment is made.
Conclusion
Although both VSP and EyeMed are accepted by Costco, VSP tends to be their primary insurance provider. However, since Costco’s optometrists are independently employed, the insurance they accept varies with each eye doctor. To make things easier it is always better to call Costco ahead of time and ask whether the optometrist you wish to consult accepts your insurance or not. You may also contact your insurance provider and enquire whether the Costco optical store nearest to you is in-network.
FAQs
1. Do I need to be a member to get an eye exam at Costco?
Since all Costco optometrists are independently employed, a Costco membership is not necessary for you to get an eye exam. Both Costco members and non-members have to pay the same amount for the eye exam.
2. Do I need to make an appointment to visit Costco’s optical center?
It is always better to make an appointment ahead of time if you want to visit the optical center of Costco. Nonetheless, some locations do allow walk-in appointments at certain times.
3. How can I find a Costco optical store near me?
Go to the official website of Costco, click on the “Find A Warehouse” option, and type in your zip code, you will see a list of Costco optical stores available near you.
