Insurance, plainly

Clairmont Nichols is out of network with every vision plan. You should know that before you walk in, not at the register — so here is exactly what it means.

If you have an FSA or HSA, start here

We accept flexible spending and health savings cards. Eye examinations, prescription eyeglasses, prescription sunglasses and contact lenses are all eligible expenses.

You are spending pre-tax money, there is no claim to file, and there is nothing to wait for. For most people who have one, this is both the simplest route and often worth more than a vision plan's frame allowance.

We also take all major credit and debit cards, and contactless payment.

Your receipt is already a claim

If you would like to submit to your plan for reimbursement, you do not need to ask us to prepare anything. The receipt we hand you is fully itemized and already carries what insurers ask for:

  • Every item listed separately — lenses, coatings, frame, examination

  • The procedure codes your plan's form asks for

  • Dr. Crane's name and credentials

  • Our clinic tax identification number

  • The date, and what you paid

Most practices have to put that together specially when someone asks. Ours prints that way every time.

One thing to ask for at the counter. If your plan's form has a field for the provider's NPI number, ask us and we will write it on for you. It is not printed on the receipt, and a missing NPI is one of the most common reasons an out-of-network claim comes back.

Filing it yourself

Out-of-network reimbursement is a form and an attachment. In most cases:

  1. Sign in to your vision plan's website and look for out-of-network claim or member reimbursement.

  2. Fill in your details and ours. Everything you need is on the receipt.

  3. Attach a photograph or scan of it.

  4. Submit, and expect the plan to take a few weeks.

What comes back depends entirely on your plan. Some reimburse a fixed amount toward frames and lenses, some a percentage, some very little. We cannot tell you what yours will pay — and we would rather say so than guess.

Why we are out of network

Joining a network means accepting a plan's fee schedule and, in practice, its pace. It tends to mean shorter examinations and a narrower range of what you can be offered.

We have made a different choice. Dr. Crane's examinations take the time they take. The lenses are ground in our own lab on First Avenue. The frames are here because they are good, not because they clear a reimbursement threshold.

That costs more, and we would rather be straightforward about it than surprise you at the counter.

Questions

Can I still see Dr. Crane if I have a vision plan?

Yes. Anyone can book an examination. You pay at the time, and submit for reimbursement afterwards if you would like to.

Will you tell me what my plan covers?

No — and be wary of anyone who says they can. Coverage varies by employer, not only by insurer. Your plan's member services line can tell you exactly, and it is worth the call before you come in.

Do you bill medical insurance for eye conditions?

No. Some practices bill medical insurance for conditions such as dry eye disease; we do not. Whatever brings you in, you pay at the time and leave with the same itemized receipt.

Can you make glasses from a prescription I already have?

Yes. Bring it in, or have your doctor send it over.

Do you charge to adjust or repair glasses?

We adjust and tighten frames at the counter, including frames bought elsewhere. Repairs that need parts or soldering are quoted before we start.