How the Optometrist BCBS Federal Employee Program Works

The BCBS Federal Employee Program offers a range of benefits to federal employees, including vision coverage through a network of participating optometrists.

As a participating provider, an optometrist can offer discounted services to federal employees, helping them save money on eye exams and other vision services.

To qualify for the program, an optometrist must be a participating provider in the BCBS network and have a contract with the federal government.

Federal employees can find participating optometrists by visiting the BCBS website or calling their customer service number.

Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) is a trusted health insurance provider for federal employees, offering a comprehensive optometrist program. BCBS has been serving the nation's capital for over 80 years, with a strong reputation for reliability and quality care.

The BCBS Federal Employee Program offers a wide range of benefits, including vision coverage, prescription coverage, and dental coverage. BCBS has a network of over 90,000 providers, making it easy for federal employees to find a doctor or optometrist in their area.

BCBS offers a variety of plan options, including the Standard Option and the Standard Option with a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) feature. The Standard Option plan has a lower premium but higher out-of-pocket costs, while the HMO plan has higher premiums but lower out-of-pocket costs.

Federal employees can choose from a range of vision plans, including the Basic Vision Plan and the Enhanced Vision Plan. The Basic Vision Plan covers routine eye exams and glasses, while the Enhanced Vision Plan also covers contact lenses and laser eye surgery.

The FEP Blue Vision Program is a benefit for federal employees who receive their vision care through BCBS. This program offers coverage for vision correction surgery, including LASIK and PRK.

You can receive coverage for up to $3,000 for vision correction surgery through the FEP Blue Vision Program. This is a one-time benefit, so you can't use it for future surgeries.

The FEP Blue Vision Program has a specific list of qualified providers who offer vision correction surgery. You can find this list on the BCBS website or by contacting their customer service.

As a participant in the BCBS Federal Employee Program, it's essential to understand what's covered and what's not. Comprehensive vision care exams are covered every 12 months with no copayments.

You'll need to know your vision plan to get the most out of your coverage. This will help you understand what's included in your plan and what's not.

Here's a breakdown of what's covered in the BCBS Federal Employee Program vision care plan:

Contact lenses can be a convenient alternative to glasses, but it's essential to understand the coverage and costs involved.

You'll need to choose between glasses and contacts in a BlueVision plan, as your coverage is available for one item and not the other.

The High Option offers more flexibility, allowing you to spend up to $150 per calendar year on lenses and take 15% off charges higher than $150.

In the High Option, evaluation, fitting, and follow-up visit are included for non-speciality lenses, but if you choose specialty lenses, those costs are covered up to $60.

The Standard Option also covers contact lenses, but with a lower annual limit of $130.

With the Standard Option, you'll get a 15 percent discount on charges higher than $130, and evaluation, fitting, and follow-up visit are still included.

As a BCBS member, you can expect to pay monthly premiums, which will vary depending on your plan and location. These premiums will be deducted from your paycheck as pre-tax dollars.

The amount you pay in copays will also depend on your plan, with some plans offering allowances and discounts on certain products. For example, if you need glasses after an eye exam, you may have to make a copayment for the lenses, which can be around $10 or $15.

To save money and get the most from your vision insurance benefits, we recommend using in-network providers. Members pay the same no matter where they go in-network.

Here's a breakdown of how different groups pay their premiums: