Insurance

Your insurance, in plain English.

Vision plans can be confusing. Here's a plan-by-plan walkthrough of what each one usually covers, what it doesn't, and what to expect to pay when you check out. We verify benefits before every visit — but the more you know going in, the easier the appointment.

Vision insurance

VSP Signature

Our most common plan. Covers an annual eye exam plus a frame OR contact-lens allowance every 12 or 24 months, depending on your employer's setup. Most patients leave with a small copay and predictable costs.

What's typically covered

  • Annual comprehensive eye exam (small copay typical)
  • Frame allowance toward most of our designer brands
  • Standard single-vision, bifocal, and progressive lenses
  • Scratch-resistant coating on most lenses
  • Contact-lens allowance — used INSTEAD of the frame allowance

What's usually not covered

  • Premium lens upgrades like anti-reflective, photochromic, or blue-light filtering — usually a copay or out-of-pocket
  • Designer/luxury frames priced above your allowance — you pay the difference
  • Specialty contact lens fittings (scleral, multifocal, toric upgrade) — extra fitting fee
  • A second pair of glasses in the same benefit cycle
What you'll likely pay

Most VSP Signature patients pay a small exam copay, a small materials copay, and any amount over the frame allowance plus lens upgrades. A typical visit lands somewhere between a copay-only checkout and a few hundred dollars depending on frame and lens choices. We'll quote it in writing before any work begins.

Bring this with you
  • Your VSP member ID (or the primary subscriber's name and DOB)
  • A list of any current medications
  • Your most recent prescription if you have one

We're an in-network VSP provider at all five Bella Vision locations. We pull your benefits before your appointment, so the price you see at checkout is the price you'll pay — no surprise bills weeks later.

Vision insurance

VSP Choice

Same plan family as VSP Signature — exam plus frame or contact-lens allowance — but with a tighter network and slightly different copays. Common with state and union groups.

What's typically covered

  • Annual comprehensive eye exam (copay typical)
  • Frame allowance — amount varies by your specific employer group
  • Standard single-vision, bifocal, and progressive lenses
  • Contact-lens allowance instead of frame allowance
  • Most basic lens add-ons covered

What's usually not covered

  • Lens upgrades like anti-reflective and photochromic — usually copay or out-of-pocket
  • Frames over your allowance amount — you pay the difference
  • Specialty contacts beyond standard fitting
  • Sunglasses unless your plan includes a separate sun-rx benefit
What you'll likely pay

Choice patients usually see slightly higher patient share than Signature, but the structure is the same: copays plus any amount above allowance. We always run a benefit check first so the quote you see is real.

Bring this with you
  • Your VSP member ID
  • Your group or employer name (helps us pull benefits faster)
  • Any prior prescription

Choice is in-network at all five Bella Vision locations. If you're not sure which VSP plan you have, just call us with your member ID — we can tell you within a minute.

Vision insurance

EyeMed

A common employer vision plan. Covers an annual exam plus a frame or contact-lens allowance, with copays for materials and lens add-ons. Structure is similar to VSP but the network and brand list are different.

What's typically covered

  • Annual comprehensive eye exam (copay typical)
  • Frame allowance toward most of our designer brands
  • Standard single-vision, bifocal, and progressive lenses with copays
  • Contact-lens allowance — used INSTEAD of the frame allowance
  • Some lens upgrades (anti-reflective, polycarbonate) at flat copays rather than full price

What's usually not covered

  • Premium upgrades like top-tier progressive lenses or specialty coatings — copay or out-of-pocket
  • Frames priced above your allowance — you pay the difference
  • Specialty contact lens fittings beyond standard
  • Most second-pair purchases in the same cycle
What you'll likely pay

Most EyeMed visits end with a copay-plus-overage checkout — exam copay, materials copay, and any frame cost above your allowance. Lens upgrades are often a fixed copay rather than full price, which can make EyeMed friendly for patients who want anti-reflective coating.

Bring this with you
  • Your EyeMed member ID
  • Subscriber's date of birth if you're a dependent
  • Your most recent prescription if you have one

We're in-network EyeMed providers at all five Bella Vision locations. If your EyeMed plan came through Microsoft, see the next section — that one works differently.

Employer benefit (Microsoft)

EyeMed — Microsoft Declining Balance

Microsoft's vision benefit works differently from a typical insurance plan. Instead of an exam copay plus a fixed frame allowance, you get an annual dollar pool you can spend however you want — exam, frames, lenses, contacts, upgrades. We see a lot of Microsoft patients across all five locations and know the plan well.

What's typically covered

  • Comprehensive eye exam (paid from your annual balance)
  • Any frame in our optical, including designer and luxury brands
  • Any lens type — single-vision, progressive, premium digital progressives
  • Lens upgrades — anti-reflective, photochromic, blue-light filtering
  • Contact lenses, including specialty fits
  • Prescription sunglasses

What's usually not covered

  • Anything purchased after your annual balance is exhausted
  • Costs beyond the plan year (balance does not roll over)
What you'll likely pay

Zero out-of-pocket if your purchase fits inside your remaining balance. We tell you your current balance at check-in, then you decide how to spend it. Common patterns: a full pair of progressive glasses with premium coatings, or one pair of glasses plus a year's supply of contacts.

Bring this with you
  • Your Microsoft employee ID or EyeMed member ID
  • Your most recent prescription if you have one

Because the plan is dollar-for-dollar, there's no surprise — we'll show you exactly how much of your balance each option uses before you commit. Most Microsoft employees come in once a year and use most or all of the benefit.

No insurance / cash patient

Self-Pay

If you don't have vision insurance — or if you've already used your benefits this year — we offer transparent flat-rate pricing across all five locations. Same care, no surprise charges, no insurance paperwork.

What's typically covered

  • Comprehensive eye exam at one flat price
  • Designer frames priced clearly on every frame
  • Lens packages at fixed tiers — basic, mid, and premium
  • Contact lens exams and annual supply pricing
  • Prescription sunglasses at the same lens-tier pricing
  • FSA/HSA accepted with itemized receipt

What's usually not covered

  • Insurance reimbursement — we can give you a superbill if your medical plan covers some out-of-network vision care, but we don't bill on your behalf
What you'll likely pay

We publish our self-pay price book in the office and update it once a year. Ask any team member for our current cash sheet before your exam — there's no obligation to buy anything afterward, and we never up-sell upgrades you didn't ask about.

Bring this with you
  • Any current prescription if you have one
  • A list of medications (helps with eye health screening)
  • Your FSA or HSA card if you plan to use it

Self-pay is the same exam quality as any insured visit — same doctors, same equipment, same time with the optometrist. The only difference is how you pay.

Common questions

What if my plan isn't listed?

We accept most major vision and medical insurance — Aetna, Cigna, Premera, Regence, MetLife, Tricare, Medicare, and many more. Call your nearest office with your member ID and we'll verify benefits before you come in.

Do you bill medical insurance for eye problems?

Yes. Conditions like dry eye, eye infections, foreign-body removal, glaucoma evaluations, and diabetic eye exams are typically billed to medical insurance, not vision. We'll let you know which one applies before the visit.

Why does the price change between locations or plans?

Each insurance carrier negotiates its own allowances, copays, and covered lens types. Two patients standing next to each other can pay completely different amounts for the same frame depending on their plan. That's why we always run benefits ahead of time.

Can I use my FSA or HSA?

Yes — exams, glasses, contacts, prescription sunglasses, and most upgrades are FSA/HSA eligible. We can provide an itemized receipt for reimbursement.

Do you accept all VSP plans?

Yes — we accept every VSP plan, including the less common ones like VSP Advantage and VSP Exam / Allowance. As a VSP Premier practice, VSP members typically see additional savings and access to exclusive frame collections when they visit us.

Coverage details vary by employer group, plan year, and benefit cycle. The descriptions on this page are typical for each plan family — your specific benefits may differ. Always call us to verify before scheduling.

Not sure what you have?

Call your nearest office with your member ID — we'll pull your benefits and tell you exactly what to expect.

See our locations