Does Costco Accept Medicare for Eyeglasses? (Medicaid – The Truth!)

Do you know if Costco accepts Medicare for eyeglasses or does Costco accepts Medicaid? These are the questions our readers ask a lot. Well, we´ve got you covered.

There are over 550 Costco Wholesale stores in the U.S., and most of them have their own vision center inside called Costco Optical.

In 2019, Consumer Reports named Costco Optical the best place to buy glasses in America, according to a survey of more than 65,000 Consumer Reports members. 

So, does Costco accepts Medicare for eyeglasses? According to Costco Optical’s website, they accept “most vision insurance plans”. In other words, Costco Optical may accept Medicare, but it will depend on your specific Medicare plan. Medicare Part A and Part B do not cover the cost of routine vision care, eyeglasses or contact lenses. However, some Medicare Advantage Plans have added benefits that may help cover vision care costs. 

In short, it will take some phone calls and research before visiting Costco Optical to make sure eyeglasses purchased there will be covered by Medicare. Use this guide to help you in your research. 

Does Costco have a vision department?

Costco Wholesale is a membership-based retail business. Costco Optical centers are located inside Costco Wholesale stores. 

Optical centers are staffed by qualified opticians and carry a wide selection of prescription and fashion eyeglasses, sunglasses and contact lenses. You can also get an eye examination by an independent doctor of optometry through Costco Optical. Costco Optical also has their own dedicated website.

You do not need a Costco membership to get a vision exam by an independent doctor of optometry at Costco Optical, however you do need a Costco membership to purchase optical items such as eyeglasses, sunglasses or contact lenses. 

Read also: Does Quest Diagnostics Accept Medicare? (The Truth!)

Does Costco Optical accept Medicare?

Costco Optical’s website is a little vague about whether or not they accept Medicare. They simply state they “now accept most vision plans”.

In order to determine if Medicare will cover services and purchases at Costco Optical, you will need to call the Medicare number listed on your insurance card AND you will need to call the Costco Optical center near you. 

Does Costco Accept Medicaid?

No, unfortunately, All Costco Pharmacy Locations Don’t Accept Medicaid which is a public health insurance option for lower-income Americans.

Does Medicare Part A and/or B cover vision care costs?

Again, this gets a little tricky. Generally speaking, Medicare does not cover routine eye exams, eyeglasses or contact lenses. If you have Medicare Part A and/or Part B, you will have to pay 100% out-of-pocket for routine vision care costs.

However, Medicare Part B may help cover costs if you have specific eye health issues. 

According to Medicare, if you have cataract surgery where an intraocular lens was implanted, Medicare Part B will help cover the cost of corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses post-surgery. There are some criteria that must be met for Medicare Part B to cover eyeglasses:

• The supplier (in this case, Costco Optical) must be enrolled in Medicare.
• You must have met your Medicare Part B deductible.
• Medicare will cover one pair of eyeglasses OR one set of contact lenses per cataract surgery.
• Any added costs, such as upgraded frames, must be paid for out of pocket.
• You must pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for corrective lenses after each cataract surgery. 

Read also: What Insurance Does Costco Optical Take? (Best Tips)

Does Medicare Advantage (Part C) cover vision care costs?

Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are offered by private health insurance companies, but are regulated by Medicare.

Medicare Advantage plans must provide at least the same coverage as Medicare Part B, and most offer added benefits such as vision care coverage.

As a result, Medicare Advantage plans cost more than Medicare Part A or B, but may still be less expensive than paying out of pocket for vision care.  

Some popular companies that offer Medicare Advantage are: 

• Aetna
• Anthem (most plans)
• Blue Cross Blue Shield (most plans)
• Cigna
• Humana
• UnitedHealthcare

Medicare Advantage plans offered by these companies may offer vision care benefits such as preventative eye exams, eyeglasses and contact lenses.

If you already have a Medicare Advantage plan, use the contact info on your insurance card to see if you have vision benefits.

If shopping for a plan, check their website to see if they offer plans with vision benefits. You can also visit Medicare.gov for more information.

In summary, you have the best chance of getting Medicare insurance coverage for eyeglasses purchased at Costco Optical with a Medicare Advantage Plan.

For most people with Medicare Part A and/or B, eyeglasses purchased at Costco will not be covered. Even if you have a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers vision coverage, you need to call your local Costco Optical first to make sure they accept your plan. 

How much do eye exams and eyeglasses cost at Costco Optical if I have to pay out of pocket? 

Routine eye examinations performed at Costco Optical typically cost between $75-$90 out of pocket. Eye examinations at Costco Optical are performed by an independent doctor of optometry.

You do not need a Costco membership to get an eye examination.

Eyeglass lenses start at $60 for single-vision lenses, and frame prices range from $60-$200, so a complete pair of eyeglasses will start at $120.

The average price of a pair of eyeglasses from Costco costs $186. In order to purchase eyeglasses at Costco Optical, you need to have a Costco membership, so that cost must be considered when shopping for eyeglasses.

Costco memberships start at $60 per year. 

What else can I purchase at Costco Optical if I’m a member?

Costco Optical sells a wide range of contact lenses, brand-name eyeglass frames, and a large inventory of lenses, including Transitions photochromic, HD progressive, and anti-blue-light lenses.

They also sell reasonably priced eyeglasses under their in-house brand, Kirkland. Costco Optical sells designer and bargain sunglasses including polarized and prescription sunglasses.

Costco Optical also stocks eye care products. 

Can I buy eyeglasses online from Costco?

If you are a Costco member, you have the option to purchase Costco Optical products online. This includes a large selection of eyeglasses, sunglasses and contact lenses.

Eye care products such as saline solution can also be purchased through Costco Optical online. 

Will Medicare cover eyeglasses purchased online from Costco?

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan that offers vision coverage, you can potentially apply the annual eyeglasses benefit amount towards eyeglasses purchased online.

Contact Costco before ordering eyeglasses online to see if they accept your plan, and contact your insurance company to check if you have an annual benefit amount for eyeglasses. 

References

https://www.costco.com/optical.html

https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/eyeglasses-contact-lenses