January 27, 2010
How Would Obama Care Affect My Vision Care?
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Unless you live under a rock you’ve surely heard the phrase “Obama Care,” which has also been referred to as “health care reform” and “national health care.” Regardless of your political affiliation, proposed legislation as far reaching as the health care reform act would undoubtedly effect every person & every aspect of health care. So how would the proposed health care reform affect your vision care?
One of the most commonly asked questions in our practice and for the thousands of folks we correspond with each month has been “precisely how will the proposed health care reform affect my vision care, my flexible spending account and my annual visit to the eye doctor?”
While, unfortunately we’re not privy to what the actual proposed bill(s) will and will not cover – we have read a summary of both the latest proposed House & Senate bills. Each bill has its nuances and neither clearly or directly outlines how vision care will be impacted.
Both the House & Senate bills will theoretically bring tens of millions of new insured folks into the health care system. Initially, what sounds like a boon for health care providers like eye doctor’s may end up costing them hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars because of the new proposed caps on reimbursements to the medical professionals. Capping reimbursements even further will undoubtedly drive the profession to find new ways to “expedite” and “streamline” procedures – which is not always in the patients long term best interest.
Unfortunately, while we would like to have given a more “informed” answer to the pointed question of how proposed health care reform will impact your vision care, visits to your eye doctor, contact lenses, prescription glasses, medical procedures like Lasik and corrective eye surgeries – we will need to see more in the way of detail in the proposed plans. And, until our elected officials decide it is in our best interest to see and participate in these discussions – we remain skeptical.
Tags: Contact Lenses
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I am tired of all the hot air from the politicians. I have purchase my acuvue 2 lenses and I will submit them for reimbursement from my flexible spending account.
Obama talks in circles just like a contact lens.
Are contact lenses even allowed in a socialist state?
It is scary what this administration is trying to shove down America’s throat!
I love the fact that I just used up last years FSA for a pair of frequency 55’s on Dec 13th and now I’m using my new, reloaded FSA to do the same but with 6 boxes.
I can’t say I’m sad that this “national” health care plan looks to be dead in the water. I think we need some kind of reform but not something not thought through…
with the goverment involved it wont be long before they will tell me I can’t use contact lenses and I will have to go back to wearing glasses… uggg!!
Great article. The Brown win might squash any worries for now at least.
I don’t think it is appropriate to use the term Obama care, in a blog post on a contact lens website. I find it offensive.
Does anyone know if I can get contact lens solution with my FSA or just contact lenses ?
I just got 8 boxes of acuvue 2’s with my 2010 FSA. Do it, do it now.
I don’t need the government in my eyes.
I just bought a pair of colored contact lenses (blue) and was denied my claim by my FSA. They said it was vanity not necessity. Anyone have any ideas?
Just bought nearly a years worth of my contacts with FSA and still have money to spend.