We all know about VSP & EYEMED in the USA but are there any major eyecare insurance providers here in Canada.
We all know about VSP & EYEMED in the USA but are there any major eyecare insurance providers here in Canada.
The typical Liberty Health, Blue Cross, Green Sheild, Great West Life, Manulife.Originally Posted by coupe
Now some of these have been merged together.
We have a different system from the US. These insurance companies do not force us to carry certain frames or lenses, nor do we have to apply through them. What happens is the patient will usually get a flat sum every 2 years. For instance, I get $500 every few years. As long as I spend it from a licenced shop on a precription product, I get refunded the amount.
And I am quite glad it is the way it is.
Actually sounds better than our system.
"Man who say it cannot be done, should not interrupt woman doing it" - Confusious
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Don't feed the Beast...
after the complaints I have heard on the board, I think I have to agree
From all the topics complaining about vsp etc, I can with 100% certaincy say our system is better. :cheers:
To the OP, Depending on where in the country you are, you'll see a lot of different ones. When I lived on the East Coast, almost everyone had Blue Cross. In Ontario, (atleast where I live) like 75%-80% of people have Green Shield, and almost no one has Blue Cross. The plans themselves are usually fairly simple, $x over y months. Most plans that I've seen fall into between $200 and $300 every 2 years. Some carriers (like Green Shield) have payment assignment, so we can bill the companies directly, but a lot of the smaller plans don't, so the patient pays upfront and submits their recipts to their carrier who cuts them a cheque.
The US system could be like the Canadian system if the US ECP's would simply learn to stand up for themselves and say NO !
that is a lot of it. But I do not want to make this US versus Canada. It is just the way the Insurance providers are in one nation versus the other. It is just not competitive in the US (due to not public plan), and thus they hold the power.
Plus, for customers, what is the switching cost? If my organization switches plans, the effect is minimal. But if you are in the US, the plan is probably tied in with your regular health plan. More of a pain to switch
I honestly think, when it boils down, the systems aren't that fundimentally different. The insurance company says "to be elligable to use our coverage, you must go to an office that follows these paramiters". Unless I'm mistaken, no one forces the offices to carry any of the insurances. Will they loose money if they don't? Quite possibly, but its the same for us. For instance, if we decide to not direct bill any of the companies, we'll potentially loose money as well.
The Insurance companies in the US will turn you down as a store. They can choose and select who carries their plans. With us, any prescription purchase from any licensed practice is eligible. In the US, the insurance companies may have a set up that is not profitable to the seller. While you are correct that you can say "no." You will exclude yourself from purchases from many insured individuals. Not as much as direct billing, because many customers will still pay out of pocket and get reimbursed. That does not happen in the US
Could you imagine here if people that were insured were ineligible to buy from you?
Once you drink their Kool-Aid, it's like a drug you're addicted to and can't kick. It's like saying no to the MOB once you've been in the family for many years - good luck with that! They either close you down, burn you down or give you cement shoes. VSP and Davis Vision (and any others) need to stay the hell out of Canada!
Bottom line here is insurance companies should not be dictating selection and selling price whatsoever. This is none of their business and should stick to providing the full dollar amount as set out in the policy. They provide a policy - plain and simple.
Also, look at what's starting to unravel in the U.S. - Essilor and VSP partnering up and offering internet eyewear. Essilor politely deflects the issue and says they are simply testing the internet office purchasing capabilities for the future??? Are you kidding me? Essilor is supporting internet sales of eyewear and are competing against you!!!
Independants need to bind together if they are going to survive the future against these massive giants including retail chains and insurance companies.
The time to develop an elite group of independants for self preservation has commeth!
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