Frequently Asked Questions

A typical eye exam take 1-1.5 hours because we do a comprehensive, dilated eye exam. This includes: dilation, tonometry (a measurement of eye pressure), visual field test (a measurement of peripheral vision) and visual acuity test (a measurement of distance vision).

Drops are placed in your eyes to dilate, or widen, the pupils. Once the drops are given, it can take up to 20 minutes for your eyes to fully dilate. Once your pupils are dilated, our physicians use a special magnifying lens to examine your retina to look for signs of damage and other eye problems, such as diabetic retinopathy or age-related macular degeneration. A dilated eye exam also allows your physician to check for damage to the optic nerve that occurs when a person has glaucoma. After the examination, your close-up vision may remain blurred for several hours.

At the Eye Clinic of Wisconsin, we believe that the finest eye care in the region should be within reach for everyone. We offer flexible financing options to help make vision correction convenient for all. (More information is found under “Payment Options”.)

This is coverage that you use for any medical services. This insurance information is what you share with all your healthcare professionals such as primary care providers, surgeons, podiatrists, internal medicine providers, etc.

Vision plan coverage you would use for your yearly comprehensive eye examination, glasses, or contact lens services. These services may be advertised as “free” or “low-cost” eye exam coverage during open enrollment periods. Glasses and contact lens benefits vary by carrier and plan. Testing such as visual field tests, photographs, etc., would not be covered under these plans. An optometrist would typically provide these services.

This question should be directed to your health insurance carrier. Some carriers do cover eye exams if done for medical reasons which could include diabetes, cataract, or glaucoma. Some health insurance plans may have benefits for routine or wellness eye exams. We encourage you to verify your benefits, along with your deductible, co-insurance, and copayment amounts with your insurance carrier. Eye refractions and contact lens evaluations may not be covered under health insurance coverage.

The Eye Clinic of Wisconsin, SC accepts many, but not all, health/medical and Medicare Advantage plans. We also accept traditional Medicare coverage and Medicare supplement plans.

Currently, the Eye Clinic of Wisconsin only accepts National Vision Administrators for vision plans. **Beginning in 2024, the Eye Clinic of Wisconsin will ONLY be accepting National Vision Administrators (NVA) for a vision plan. No other vision plans will be accepted. Please feel free to contact our accounts receivable staff with any questions you may have regarding your insurance and/or billing.

You can click the above icon that says “Patient Portal” or click here. I don’t have a password. You should have received an email inviting you to create a patient portal account. If you did not receive one, please call us 800.472.0033 to request the information to be sent to you.

You can: See a summary of your care, including: demographics, vital signs, care team, care plan, problems, medications, allergies, procedures, and lab results. Take the following actions: See and send messages, update your personal information, view online activity, and see the documentation of your care.

The secure messaging function allows you to communicate with our doctors and staff while securely exchanging information regarding your care with our office (similar to a phone call). Our goal is to respond to you within two business days regarding questions about your recent appointment or visual needs. If you are experiencing new symptoms, do not leave a secure message; call our office at 800.472.0033 in order to speak with a nurse or doctor. IF THIS IS AN EMERGENCY, DO NOT USE SECURE MESSAGING – Dial 911 or proceed immediately to an emergency room for treatment.

The Eye Clinic of Wisconsin accepts cash, Mastercard, and Visa. We offer easy and convenient payment options, including online bill pay and text-to-pay.

Does your employer offer a medical flexible spending benefit? Spend your flex funds on something you’ll enjoy for years to come: better vision from the Eye Clinic of Wisconsin. You can pay for LASIK and other vision correction procedures with pre-tax dollars. With flex accounts, you can save up to 30 percent and enjoy clear vision now.

Many people have a number of questions about vision correction surgery and services – especially about how to pay for the treatment. That’s why we offer convenient payment options to make your experience as smooth and convenient as possible. For more information, call the Eye Clinic of Wisconsin at 800.472.0033.

When you get emergency care or are treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, you are protected from balance billing. In these cases, you shouldn’t be charged more than your plan’s copayments, coinsurance and/or deductible.

What is “balance billing” (sometimes called “surprise billing”)?

• When you see a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs, like a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible. You may have additional costs or have to pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a health care facility that isn’t in your health plan’s network.
• “Out-of-network” means providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your health plan to provide services. Out-of-network providers may be allowed to bill you for the difference between what your plan pays and the full amount charged for a service. This is called “balance billing.” This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count toward your plan’s deductible or annual out-of-pocket limit.
• “Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care—like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider. Surprise medical bills could cost thousands of dollars depending on the procedure or service.

You’re protected from balance billing for:

Emergency services

• If you have an emergency medical condition and get emergency services from an out-of-network provider or facility, the most they can bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles). You can’t be balance billed for these emergency services. This includes services you may get after you’re in stable condition, unless you give written consent and give up your protections not to be balanced billed for these post-stabilization services.

Certain services at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center

• When you get services from an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, certain providers there may be out-of-network. In these cases, the most those providers can bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount. This applies to emergency medicine, anesthesia, pathology, radiology, laboratory, neonatology, assistant surgeon, hospitalist, or intensivist services. These providers can’t balance bill you and may not ask you to give up your protections not to be balance billed.
• If you get other types of services at these in-network facilities, out-of-network providers can’t balance bill you, unless you give written consent and give up your protections.
• You’re never required to give up your protections from balance billing. You also aren’t required to get out-of-network care. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network.

When balance billing isn’t allowed, you also have these protections:

• You’re only responsible for paying your share of the cost (like the copayments, coinsurance, and deductible that you would pay if the provider or facility was in-network). Your health plan will pay any additional costs to out-of-network providers and facilities directly.
• Generally, your health plan must:
  • Cover emergency services without requiring you to get approval for services in advance (also known as “prior authorization”).
  • Cover emergency services by out-of-network providers.
  • Base what you owe the provider or facility (cost-sharing) on what it would pay an in-network provider or facility and show that amount in your explanation of benefits.
  • Count any amount you pay for emergency services or out-of-network services toward your in-network deductible and out-of-pocket limit.

If you think you’ve been wrongly billed, contact Eye Clinic of Wisconsin at 800-472-0033.

Visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers for more information about your rights under federal law.

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