Dividing your dispensary - Ins side / non-ins side

**AustinEyewear** · 08-26-2011, 12:04 PM

Is it possible to divide your dispensary up into two sections: A section that pts can select frames in which their can utilize their insurance benefits for, and a section, well, if they want those frames they can't? In other words, Hey, I know you may want this frame in the non-ins side, but we don't deal with insurance companies on this side - you'll have to pay cash if you want that frame. You may want to look at the other side of the dispensary, there are still 1000 to choose from, and your ins benefits will cover them?

**kcount** · 08-26-2011, 12:08 PM

I supose you could. I have frame in my office I don't allow any insurance/discounting on. I also have frame I gleefully use insurance with. So, yes I don't see why you couldn't. if your an in network VSP provider your going to have a problem when someone calls to complain that their coverage didn't work on a section of frames.

**Judy Canty** · 08-26-2011, 12:08 PM

It sounds like a LOT of extra work, to me.

**AustinEyewear** · 08-26-2011, 12:16 PM

Pt complaining, etc aside, is there really anything an ins co can do about it? Do they have the power to tell you want frames you can and can not offer as long as you meet quality standards?

**OHPNTZ** · 08-26-2011, 03:09 PM

Have a seperate room, with a bouncer at the doorway. Have him check insurance cards like he would ID's.

Then let the appropiate patients through the velvet rope area of the VIP room..

**AustinEyewear** · 08-26-2011, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by OHPNTZ

Have a seperate room, with a bouncer at the doorway. Have him check insurance cards like he would ID's.

Then let the appropiate patients through the velvet rope area of the VIP room..

I was thinking more of an Ark like display case, with a golden glow and Angelic music coming from it - more subtle.

**Diopterman** · 08-26-2011, 03:20 PM

Why would you discriminate?

How would you feel if the tables were turned and you walked into a store, or a doctors office and faced similar discrimination?

How would this serve your bottom line?

What image would this project?

**kcount** · 08-26-2011, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by OHPNTZ

Have a seperate room, with a bouncer at the doorway. Have him check insurance cards like he would ID's.

Then let the appropiate patients through the velvet rope area of the VIP room..

Don't Laugh but there's an office in chicago that has a VIP room. Me, I just have wine glasses and anyone's welcome to toast.

**kcount** · 08-26-2011, 03:24 PM

@Diopterman How is it discrimination? all are eligable to purchase the product. the question is, whether your willing to go out of pocket. As to image, he'd probably start to find a more affluent discriminating clientelle.

**Diopterman** · 08-26-2011, 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by kcount

@Diopterman How is it discrimination? all are eligable to purchase the product. the question is, whether your willing to go out of pocket. As to image, he'd probably start to find a more affluent discriminating clientelle.

Just my take on the question at hand.

Here is how I am visualizing this question:

Cash pay sit at the front of the bus.

Insurance holders sit at the back!

Are my views wrong?

I know it is how I would feel.

Also, if you (not you Kcount, the collective you) feel the need to treat insurance carrying patients different than cash pay patients, why take insurance in the first place?

Maybe those that would discriminate should reevaluate their business plan. Why not embrace the insurance patient and educate yourself as to how to maximize profits? I will even venture to say that overall, the insurance base patients, equate to much more profit for your business than the elusive cash pay patient!

**AustinEyewear** · 08-26-2011, 03:34 PM

Well.... my intent of the question was to discuss if it was possible with ins companies. You're concerns are well noted and the same concerns I would have. To answer the last part of your last response, there are situation where you can actually lose money on a frame when you accept ins.

**Diopterman** · 08-26-2011, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by AustinEyewear

Well.... my intent of the question was to discuss if it was possible with ins companies. You're concerns are well noted and the same concerns I would have.

Good!

Have you checked your contracts? There may be points or clauses that follow this and TELL you how you can and can not treat THEIR client. I have not sat with my lawyers and reviewed any of these contracts in years, so I may be urinating into a hurricane on this one. You MAY NOT be able to "separate" the dispensary under your agreement. Hopefully someone who is knowledgeable and has read various contracts can chime in.

Where is Racethe1320 when we NEED her/him?

**AustinEyewear** · 08-26-2011, 03:40 PM

Contracts don't address it head on. Maybe in some round about manner. Not treating anyone differently, I would agree with Kcount - they have options. If you would like to use your insurance, these are the frames you can select from. If you prefer not to use your insurance, then you can also select from these frames. They can choose which they want, and if they don't like it, they can drive down the street about 1/2 mile and select from my competitors selection.

**Diopterman** · 08-26-2011, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by AustinEyewear

Contracts don't address it head on. Maybe in some round about manner. Not treating anyone differently, I would agree with Kcount - they have options. They can choose which they want, and if they don't like it, they can drive down the street about 1/2 mile and select from my competitors selection.

I go back to asking you, why would you discriminate?

**gordmac** · 08-26-2011, 03:46 PM

If you have price tags color code the tags, much easier to explain and doesn't discriminate.

**lsopticalsa** · 08-26-2011, 06:21 PM

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33863680...two-tier-care/

**AustinEyewear** · 08-26-2011, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by lsopticalsa

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33863680...two-tier-care/

interesting - who can blame them. retail goods are a little different situation though. will honor all ins as specified, all optics, as specified, just some frames can't be sold at a discount - some contracts with frame vendors do not allow you to sell less than MSRP.

**OHPNTZ** · 08-30-2011, 11:35 AM

Why not start your own "insurance" or patient loyalty plan or club. Patient pays a fee for membership. Exclusive frames for only those patients...like a VIP davis rack...include VIP service as well...

**Ginster** · 08-30-2011, 02:36 PM

I do have board space with frames that are in most insurance price ranges, but there for everybody else as well. I don't advertise them unless someone says I have insurance and want to stay with what they cover.

**Crazy-bout-Optics** · 09-03-2011, 08:06 PM

Why separate them? I tell them their insurance gives them, as an example, $120 towards a frame and a discount on the balance and I tell them they can choose any frame they want. If they don't want to pay out of pocket for a frame we have 4 trays with frames that retail in the $75 - $99 range. I don't ever assume a patient wants only whats covered and tell them there is no restrictions on what they can get.

Funny enough we had a patient in who had VSP and had gotten glasses at another provider last year. Every single lens option for him was covered. He had a poly physio in trans grey with a/r. These lenses were in a large ugly plastic Marchon frame that he told me he hated. I asked him why he got this frame and he told me "because there was a section that I could choose from if I wanted to use my insurance". He left our office with a two pair order for $700. I simply told him he could get what ever he wanted and we would use any insurance benefit he had to reduce the cost on the glasses HE wanted. ***I know not every Insurance patient is like this, but food for thought on assuming.

~CBO

**Barry Santini** · 09-04-2011, 05:24 PM

Wonderful!

**David_Garza** · 09-04-2011, 05:31 PM

Originally Posted by Crazy-bout-Optics

He left our office with a two pair order for $700. I simply told him he could get what ever he wanted and we would use any insurance benefit he had to reduce the cost on the glasses HE wanted. ***I know not every Insurance patient is like this, but food for thought on assuming.

~CBO

You know what they say about assuming......