Insurance

Insurance can be a confusing
process to navigate

Insurance can be frustrating and difficult to navigate. Our goal is to help make this process as simple as possible. Please be aware that the following information is generalized. Please refer to your specific plan.

Most companies change vision plans from time to time. If your vision plan is changing, or if you are retiring and need help evaluating your vision options, we are happy to help! One important thing to remember is that insurance companies do not dictate where you can receive care. Below we have included the Out of Network claim forms for a variety of insurance companies. If you are a current patient at Cortez Vision and need assistance evaluating your options based on your prescription, your order history and other personalized factors, please call us to schedule a consultation. We can look at the numbers together and help you make an informed decision.

Due to the time involved in researching your order history, it is unlikely we will be able to accommodate walk-ins. Please call or text us at 970-565-2020 to schedule an appointment, or an after hours phone call with Erin.

Vision Plans

Vision Service Plan (VSP)

We are currently providers for VSP. Many of the larger companies in the area offer VSP benefits to their full-time employees. Generally these plans cover an annual eye exam with a specified copay (amounts vary, call us, or your plan administrator for details). Most VSP plans also offer an allowance for either glasses or contact lenses. The amount of the materials allowance varies, our opticians and/ or contact lens technician can help you understand what your specific plan allows. Because we are an in network provider, we are allowed to bill the insurance company directly. Please understand that you are responsible for any overages or services not covered by your specific plan.

​​​​​​​Davis Vision

We are not currently Davis Vision providers, but we can provide you with the necessary paperwork to submit a claim to your insurance. Click below to review and print your Out of Network claim form:

Eye Med​

We are not currently Eye Med providers, but we can provide you with the necessary paperwork to submit a claim to your insurance. Click below to review and print your Out of Network claim form:

Blue View from Anthem

We are not currently Blue View providers, but we can provide you with the necessary paperwork to submit a claim to your insurance. Click below to review and print your Out of Network claim form:

Spectera Vision

We are not currently providers for Spectra Vision plan, but we can provide you with the necessary paperwork to submit a claim to your insurance. Click below to review and print your Out of Network claim form:

United Healthcare Vision

We are not currently providers for United Healthcare Vision plan, but we can provide you with the necessary paperwork to submit a claim to your insurance. Click below to review and print your Out of Network claim form:

MetLife Vision

Typically, MetLife Vision ultizes the VSP provider network. This means we can authorize exam and materials benefits and bill the insurance directly for goods and services.

Other Vision Plans

If your vision plan is not listed here, please contact us. We are happy to include the link to your Out of Network billing forms. ​

​​​​​​​Other payment options

For your convenience, we also accept Care Credit as a third-party medical financing option. For more information, or to apply online, click the link below.

Health Insurance

Eye emergencies and certain scheduled testing is billable to your medical insurance. In the event of eye trauma, swelling, irritation, painful redness, extreme light-sensitivity, flashers, or pain, call our office immediately to schedule emergency care. 970-565-2020

Our doctors are also able to remove foreign bodies such as metal, wood, or plant fibers (such as straw).

Additional testing such as Visual Field, Intraocular Pressure, Retinal Photo, or other diagnostic testing may be billed to your medical insurance. Coverage for these tests depends on your specific plan (the services may be covered at a certain percentage, or applied to your plan deductible.)

Some health insurance policies have an allowance for a routine eye care exam. Call you provider for details.

Medicare

Medicare is considered a health insurance, but for patients who quality for coverage, we are able to bill directly to Medicare. Medicare will cover the health portion of your exam but does not cover the $30 refraction (or prescription for glasses). Medicare will cover additional testing as prescribed by your doctor (see "additional testing" section above. Medicare does not offer an allowance for any kind of vision correction. The only exception to this rule is that Medicare will cover your first set of glasses following cataract surgery.

Medicaid

Medicaid will cover a routine eye exam and basic glasses for all eligible patients under the age of 21. Medicaid acts as a health insurance for patients over 21. As of January 2019, Medicaid will cover the cost of a routine eye exam for adults 21 and over. (Usually w/ a minimal copay). Medicaid does not cover the cost of vision correction for adults. Click here to see the Colorado Medicaid Vision benefit sheet. However, in the event of an eye emergency Medicaid will cover care with a possible copay.

UMR

​Some local UMR plans have routine vision care embedded in their medical plan. Typically, this kind of plan allows us to bill for a routine eye exam with an additional allowance toward the purchase of glasses or contact lenses. Other UMR plans contract with a 3rd party vision vendor. If you believe your plan has vision coverage, check with your HR department to verify whether coverage is within your medical plan, or contracted with a specific vision plan.

United Health Care

Cortez Vision is an in-network provider for UHC's medical billing. We are able to bill UHC for a routine eye exam, however, coverage is dependent upon your plan's deductible.

If you have received vision coverage information online or from your HR department, please be advised that vision coverage is billed under United Healthcare Vision. (Please see United Healthcare Vision to download the Out of Network claim form).

We are often able to bill UHC's medical side for an annual eye exam. With high deductible plans, this charge is applied to your deductible. Payment for the exam will be collected on the day of the exam and the charges will be applied to your annual deductible amount.

​Veterans Affairs Patients (VA): We are unable to schedule with Veteran's Choice for an annual eye exam. However, Veteran's wishing to schedule via the VA can be seen for an exam by Dr Underwood. Underwood optical also has the necessary glasses kit to allow Veterans to try on and order glasses for select frames covered by the VA. You can reach Underwood optical at 970-565-7195. Patients who prefer to be seen under their vision plans, or Medicare can be seen in our office. We are happy to help fit glasses from our wide variety of frames. (We do not have frames covered by the VA and will need to refer patients to Underwood optical for that service.)