Insurance Coverage for Vision Therapy

Vision therapy isn’t always covered by insurance, which is frustrating. It’s one of the most effective methods for treating strabismus or lazy- or crossed-eyes. It’s also used to treat learning disorders such as dyslexia or attention deficit disorder, which is how insurance companies get out of covering the service. Use the following tips to get your vision therapy covered by your insurance provider.

Check Your Insurance Policy

Vision therapy may be covered by your insurance company, or certain kinds of vision therapy could be covered. You don’t know until you do your homework. Get a copy of your insurance policy and check out the restrictions.

Get it in Writing

Insurance companies deny vision therapy expenses all the time … based on technicalities. Because it is also used to treat learning disorders, insurance providers may classify it as “non-medical” expense. If you receive a denied claim, ask for the specific reason in writing.

File an Appeal

Insurance companies don’t expect their clients to appeal, but if your vision therapy claim has been denied based on “non-medical expenses” you still have every right to coverage. You can contest any denial your insurance company makes, and you should. You never know what loophole they are using to wrangle out of your claim.

Vision therapy needed to treat lazy or crossed eyes should be covered under eye care policies. Write your insurance company with proof of why your vision therapy is a medical expense.

Insurance companies sometimes claim treatments like vision therapy are “too experimental” to support. You can fight this too by providing studies showcasing the 80% success rate of vision therapy, as opposed to the 3% success rate of eye surgery, in the treatment of strabismus. Include costs needed to treat eye problems throughout a lifetime or throughout surgery and recovery. You may be surprised that your insurance company changes their guidelines in regard to this “experimental” procedure.

Vision Therapy for the Learning Impaired

Insurance companies that claim vision therapy is an educational expense may very well approve claims for ADHD-related medications or for equipment used to treat patients with dyslexia. The insurance provider is using a loophole to get out of providing your family with coverage. Don’t be afraid of using the evidence at hand to demand your vision therapy is covered as well.

Vision therapy can be an expensive treatment, but it is by far the most successful choice for lazy- or crossed-eyes. Insurance companies may try to buck the system and avoid providing your family with care, but you may find coverage is just an appeal away.