Fees, Insurance and Billing

Eye care, like most health services, is provided on a fee for service basis. Fees for services are expected at the time the service is provided.  As a service for you, we participate with many (not all) insurance plans.  Many insurance plans require us to collect co-pays at the time of service.  We gladly accept cash, checks, and some credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, and Discover).  It is not always possible to say exactly what an eye examination will cost since it will vary depending on what procedures must be performed.  Payroll deduction may be available if you are a UAB employee.

UAB Eye Care currently (January 2009) is a participating provider with the following health plans:  Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama (PMD), Medicaid, and VIVA.  We also are participating providers with the following vision plans:  VSP, VCP, OptumHealth (formerly Spectera), and Southland (PEEHIP vision).  We review insurance plans periodically, so this list may change from time to time.  If you are not sure if we participate with your plan, please call us at (205) 975-2020.  Please note:  UAB Eye Care does not participate with any United HealthCare medical products.

When you call our office to make an appointment, we will ask you for your insurance information.  We will need the type, contract/policy number, group number, the name of the policy holder, and the date of birth of the policy holder.  Some plans may not have an ID card (such as VSP), but we will need the contract number (usually your social security number) to verify your coverage.  We will call (or access online) your insurance information with your insurance plan.  We will determine:  1) are you eligible?  2) do you have coverage for the services we will be providing?  3) what is your co-pay/co-insurance?  Please remember, we are glad to file your insurance claim as a service for you, but you (the patient) are responsible for any and all fees for services provided to you.  We cannot guarantee that you insurance plan will pay for the services that are rendered to you, as you may have a deductible or other stipulations (such as a referral) that you must meet.  If we cannot verify insurance coverage, or you cannot provide proof of coverage (your ID card and a picture ID), you will be considered a self-pay patient (no insurance).

Patients may have a balance after insurance processing, which will be billed to you.  We expect payment within thirty days of billing.  Patient accounts are considered delinquent after 90 days and will be turned over for collection.  The patient (or Account Responsible) will owe for services and any collection fees (including attorney fees) that may result from the delinquent account.