​Chippewa Valley Eye Clinic is a medical eye care provider. This means we diagnose, treat, and manage the medical health of your eyes. In most cases, your visit will be billed to your medical insurance, not your vision plan.
Many patients carry both Vision Benefits (e.g., VSP) and Medical Insurance (e.g., Anthem BCBS, Cigna, Aetna, Medicare). These plans cover different services, and we want to help you understand how each one applies to your care.
Vision Benefits Plan
Vision benefit plans typically cover:
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Determining your eyeglass prescription (refraction)
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Discounts or coverage toward glasses and contact lenses
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Annual vision screenings for patients without medical symptoms
Vision plans do not cover medical conditions, injuries, or treatments. Their primary advantage is discounted pricing on materials such as frames, lenses, and contact lenses.
Our team will review your coverage and help you get the most from your benefits.
Medical Insurance
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Eye diseases or medical conditions affecting your eyes
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Eye injuries or infections
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Symptoms requiring medical evaluation
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Systemic health conditions that affect the eyes (e.g., diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol)
Medical insurance does not cover:
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Refractions (the test for your eyeglass prescription)
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Routine vision screenings without medical symptoms
When a medical diagnosis or condition is present, we are required to bill your medical insurance, and standard copays and deductibles will apply.
Insurance Plans We Accept
We accept a wide range of medical and vision plans, including:
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Medical Plans:
Anthem • BCBS • Aetna • Auxiant • Aspirus • BPA • Cigna • Dean Health Plan • First Health • Forward Health (Medicaid) • Group Health Cooperative • HealthEOS/MultiPlan • HealthPartners • HealthSmart / Interplan • Humana • Medica • Medicare • PreferredOne • Quartz • SelectCare / LaborCare • The Alliance • Trilogy • UnitedHealthcare • UCare • WPS
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Vision Plans:
VSP (Eligibility varies—please verify your coverage with your plan.)
Your eye health determines which insurance must be billed. For this reason, we request information for both your vision benefit plan and your medical insurance at check-in. We’ll always explain which plan is being used and why.
Good Faith Estimates
If you are uninsured—or choose not to use insurance—you have the right to a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) outlining expected charges for your care.
You are entitled to:
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A written estimate before your service
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An estimate covering all related costs (tests, medications, equipment, etc.)
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The ability to dispute your bill if it is $400 or more than the estimate
Keep a copy of your Good Faith Estimate for your records.
More information: cms.gov/nosurprises
For eyewear (frames, lenses, contacts):
A verbal quote will be provided, followed by a written invoice. Payment must be made in full before materials are ordered.
Using Vision & Medical Insurance on the Same Day
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By law, we cannot bill medical and vision insurance on the same date for the same patient.
Your options:
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Schedule separate visits—one for medical, one for vision.
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If both must be done on the same day:
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Your medical insurance will be billed for the medical portion.
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The refraction can be performed the same day for a flat fee of $50, paid out of pocket.
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Payment Options
We strive to make eye care accessible for every patient. We accept:
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Cash
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Check
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Visa
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MasterCard
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Discover
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CareCredit
We now accept Care Credit
Apply to see if you prequalify. Use your CareCredit credit card to pay your bill online.
