Finding Eye Doctors that take Medi-Cal [Step-by-Step Guide]

I was completely blank when someone asked me “How to Find Eye Doctor that Accept Medi-Cal”. I searched multiple times but couldn’t find any link. There was no directories, database or Tools available which can precisely help Medi-Cal beneficiaries finding Medi-Cal Eye Doctors like in case of dentists and doctors.

After that I went through all the documents and found some useful information which I have mentioned further in this article. Read the full article to understand everything in detail.

Medi-Cal Vision Benefits

Before we get into the process of finding the Eye Doctors that accept Medi-Cal let’s discuss the Medi-Cal vision benefits first. One of the best benefits is All the Medi-Cal beneficiaries are not only eligible for a routine eye exam once every 24 months, but they can also obtain eyeglasses (both frames and lenses).

The eye examination includes the health of eyes and some tests to confirm if there any requirement of eyeglasses or not. The doctor will write the prescription accordingly. Don’t worry about the expenses of eyeglasses because it will be covered by the plan if Your age is 21 years or above.

Additional Covered Services

There are some additional covered services too, which includes Contact Lens Testing but only in case beneficiary already suffering from some eye disease or condition and he/ she can’t use eyeglasses.

The Contact Lens testing is not the only service which is covered in additional benefits, there are some other benefits like

Low Vision testing for someone with vision impairment, Low vision Aids, and Artificial eye services and materials to help beneficiaries to perform everyday activities.

Hope You got it!

Types of Eye Doctors that Accept Medi-Cal

According to Medi-Cal handbook and information provided on Department of Healthcare Services website there are four types of eye doctors that accept Medi-Cal. The Doctors with specialization in these four departments are called Optometrists, Ophthalmologists, Opticians, and Ocularists.

I’m not going to discuss all these specializations in detail because it is not our topic. You can visit the eye doctors with any of the above specialization depending eye problems. You may need to have referral (in case of Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan) and doctor will accept Medi-Cal.

How to Find Eye Doctors That Accept Medi-Cal?

The Medi-Cal managed care plan offers flexibility to its beneficiaries when it comes to choosing eye doctors between Medi-Cal authorized doctors and Fee-for-service Medi-Cal. The steps are mentioned below for both the services.

The Medi-Cal Managed Care beneficiaries can call directly to their Plan Providers and ask for assistance. The Plan Providers includes LA Care, PHP-Healthnet, PHP-Blue Cross, Molina, and Kaiser.

There are some Partnered Vision Plans Providers like Vision Service Plan (VSP), Envolve Vision, and March Vision Care. You can also call them if direct Plan Providers not able to serve.

The Fee-for-service Medi-Cal model looks quite interesting to me because it is very straight forward without interruptions. We’ll discuss this model in another article. Let’s stick to our topic.

This model allows You to directly call Your Vision service provider and book an appointment without any referrals and waiting.

I have also provided all the informational resources required to solve Your query. Go through the table given below.

Plan Providers and Contacts

I have prepared a table of Medi-Cal Plan Providers in different counties and their contact details for Your convenience. Find Your county and Plan provider’s name in the table and dial the contact number mentioned against it.

All the information and resources are taken from Department of Healthcare Services Website. I’ll suggest You to visit the website by Yourself before making any decision.

Assistance in locating providers

The Medi-Cal Manages Care beneficiaries can also contact Vision Service Branch at “[email protected]” to find Fee-for-service providers.

What to Expect When Visiting an Eye Doctor with Medi-Cal?

There are a few points the Medi-Cal beneficiaries should remember while visiting an eye doctor.

• Do not forget to bring Your Medi-Cal Benefits Identification card, It may cause some issues. Stay organized for smooth processing.
• Be prepared for Copayments for certain services, It is not compulsory but may happen.
• Sometimes it is required to have prior authorization for some services. Confirm it from Your Plan provider before visit.

Final Remarks

I know You are getting bored after reading this long article but the information given in this article are crucial and Medi-Cal beneficiaries should be aware of it.

You just need to call Your Plan provider and ask Your query, they’ll guide You further. In case You are not able to find Your Plan Provider then follow the table given above.

Hope this article helps and You can now find Eye Doctor that take Medi-Cal.

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Max

Max Collins is a seasoned health insurance expert with over 20 years of experience in the field. A graduate of NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Collins has leveraged his medical background to become a leading authority on healthcare policy and insurance systems. Throughout his career, he has worked with major insurance providers, healthcare organizations, and policy makers to improve access to quality healthcare and optimize insurance solutions. Collins is known for his insightful analysis of healthcare trends and his ability to explain complex insurance concepts in accessible terms.

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