Costco VSP Vision Insurance

[chanwmr]

I did a search online and on here and was not able to find my answer.

AARP offers a couple of VSP plans for vision insurance. Does anyone know if these plans are accepted by Costco's optical department and can be directly billed to the insurance company?

[EricM569048]

 I recently purchased the VSP insurance through AARP and learned afterwards that Costco is considered Out of Network. They will still accept the insurance to purchase glasses, but being Out of Network the benefits are diminished to roughly half of any in-network providers. For years when I had VSP insurance through my employers, Costco was always accepted so I was shocked to find out it was out of network with what I had just purchased. I wish there were a way to encourage AARP to request that Costco Optical be in-network instead. When I spoke to VSP over the phone, they also told me that Sam's Club/Walmart Optical centers are considered Out of Network with our coverage.

[CBtoo]

Here is an alternative that works locally. I get my annual eye "wellness" check at an MD's office under medicare B. I pay $50 cash to get the prescription for my glasses. I then price shop my new lenses (make sure you are price shopping by brand and model of lenses as the cheapest ones have a very narrow line of visions for progressive lenses and ones like Zeiss (and some others) it is much wider. As I use the same frames for multiple years I don't have that expense. 

With frames you could try them on at shops, write down the maker and model and buy them online much cheaper (in many cases). Then you just bring the frames with you for the lenses. 

Sure doing this is more work but it saves me a lot of money when I look at the cost of vision insurance and their related costs vs what I am doing.

Also I initially "shopped" vision insurance both regular on the market for anyone of any age vs ones offered for seniors (AARP and others). I often found the ones for anyone were cheaper with the same or close to the same benefit costs and benefits. Ones for seniors only have a risk pool of people who are far more likely to have vision issues outside of the needing glasses ones. As a result the premiums need to be higher.

As a total aside - relevant issue is Costco - a Costco membership plus the cost of hearing aids bouth there is way cheaper than using insurance benefits for hearing aids. this is because their price for hearing aids - including good ones - is way lower.

[TRL1111]

For those who don't know, the optometrists at Costco are independent, and I'd be surprised if they don't individually decide what insurance to accept.  So just because the optometrist at a given Costco accepts a certain insurance doesn't necessarily mean the optometrist at a different Costco would.

[SereneSeagull]

That’s interesting, thank you for that

[chanwmr]

Thank you both!

Yes, I did ask the store but all they can tell me is they do take VSP in general with the exception of certain specific plans under VSP. Because the optical store employee is not familiar with the AARP plan, they can only confirm with an insurance policy ID, which mean I have sign up with AARP first.

I currently have Davis (expiring at the end of Jan), which isn't as broadly accepted as VSP as a whole. My experience is that Costco has no issue with working with my current policy so I think I can assume the AARP VSP plan will also work without kinks but we'll see.

[BtW751689]

I have VSP but not through AARP.  Costco takes the VSP I use.  If you don't have a costco membership I think you can still enter Costco for this service but call and ask them.

[SereneSeagull]

I’m sorry I don’t know but possibly could you check with Costco by phone to the optical department on what insurance they take, if you don’t get any info.