Spectera eye exam reimbursement?

[DMHarry]

Good afternoon fellow optical friends.

I'm looking to find out a little bit about spectera. We are considering taking it once again in our practice and before we start the month long process I'd like to know if its even worth the effort.
Is there anyone who knows offhand what they pay for a routine exam? Also, I heard that they are similar to Davis where they have their own lab and selection or frames. Is that accurate? What is the average payout from spectera?

Thanks!!

[AngeHamm]

Following.

[pknsbeans]

In my area, exam pays $55. They do have their own lab and provide most of the frames as well. Consider yourself a showroom for materials. It is a step above Davis. Don't confuse that for an endorsement. Without itemizing everything (because I assume this falls into a gray area of what information is allowable on this forum), do NOT expect much over the exam for exam + glasses. You will likely have a negative balance from time to time after all the chargebacks. I'd rather not get too negative, but I wish my book was full enough to drop specterible.

[drk]

What's the point?

They always offer a sop to the OD in the form of an offensive--but not too offensive--$55 or somesuch.

But it's the optical and the CL supply that screws you over.

Run--don't walk--away from Specterrible.

[pbrownlee]

On contacts S will say they have 150 dollars worth of contacts but will only reimburse 120 dollars. You will get negative balances if they person gets more than basic add ons. They will give you cost for frames if you supply them. But that is the way everyone else is. You have to send the glasses to their lab. They also have covered contacts. you do better with them than non covered contacts. You get about 100 to 110 for glasses including the exam. The malls get a different plans than private practice. Like the previous person said RUN

[King of the Lab]

Spectera is terrible, other than the exam reimbursement which is OK, ...the materials and the lab will for sure screw you over and the same can be said for Davis Vision as well. I remember when Spectera had the ugly frame box of horrors. At least that is gone.

[David_Garza]

If your state laws and/or their contract let you opt out of using their Specterible lab it's no different than EyeMed or VSP give or take $10-$15 on the eye exam reimbursements.

[mervinek]

They will give you cost for frames if you supply them. But that is the way everyone else is. You have to send the glasses to their lab. The malls get a different plans than private practice. Like the previous person said RUN

This sounds a lot like Eyemed!

[LadyDie]

I thought I heard that Spectera became United Healthcare??? I certainly could be wrong on this.

[King of the Lab]

I thought I heard that Spectera became United Healthcare??? I certainly could be wrong on this.

Spectera is associated with United Healthcare, however, some UNH members aslo have VSP.

[EyeManDan]

I have been for years trying to get my OD to stop taking Spectera, lab quality is not terrible more on the poor side. Payouts are very low. sometimes not worth the time it takes to service the patient.

[AngeHamm]

I thought I heard that Spectera became United Healthcare??? I certainly could be wrong on this.

You heard right... kind of. Some UHC plans have VSP. Some UHC plans have what they call "United Healthcare Vision." That is Spectera. So now we have the conversation, about five times a week, where we have to explain to a patient that yes, we accept their United Healthcare if they have a medical diagnosis, but no, we don't accept their United Healthcare Vision if they are a routine visit. It's infuriating.

This same nonsense is why I won't "refer to this coverage as Cigna Vision" for Cigna VSP jobs.

[CVEChicas]

You heard right... kind of. Some UHC plans have VSP. Some UHC plans have what they call "United Healthcare Vision." That is Spectera. So now we have the conversation, about five times a week, where we have to explain to a patient that yes, we accept their United Healthcare if they have a medical diagnosis, but no, we don't accept their United Healthcare Vision if they are a routine visit. It's infuriating.

This same nonsense is why I won't "refer to this coverage as Cigna Vision" for Cigna VSP jobs.

We have been having the same discussions. Yesterday we had 5 patients ask if we took United Health Care and had to explain this. I was here looking to see if maybe there was something showing they had improved and UHC Vision was worth taking a look at again, but it seems like it's still terrible. It's really frustrating to not be able to give our local patients the service they deserve because of low reimbursements which wouldn't help keep the practice open and poor lab quality would give us a bad name and our patients bad vision.

[pbrownlee]

If they give the patient 150 for contacts you will get reimbursed 120. If they have covered contacts you actually do better and get about 100+ from patient and Spectera but you do not get anything for the fit. You will get statements in the mail that you owe them money or pay you wth them. They do not take credit cards and you have to pay with a check. Transition warranty is only good for 90 days. We have to use their lab and it take at least 5 to 10 business day her in Oklahoma.

[drstasney]

With all insurances, you can negotiate. That is the key. If they tell you they would pay this for a frame, offer something reasonable. If they won't play, don't play with them. Our worst problem is private companies taking over the state medicaid programs. One company, March Vision will reimburse you what you paid for the frame, up to $30 or so dollars. I told them no, and only do eye exams for them. Wal-Mart is giving free frames. They recently asked me to not refer any more patients to them, lol. Private businesses need to network better. This is the call to arms!