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The rules say that plans must pay for a medical service or item if regular Medicare would pay for it in this case.
You can find this rule at 42 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section 422.101.
The rules say that plans may choose the networks of providers available to enrollees and may require enrollees
to obtain authorization before receiving services. You can find this rule at 42 CFR Section 422.112(a) and in
the Medicare Managed Care Manual, Chapter 1, Section 20.2.
Medicare does not pay for low vision aids. This exclusion includes all devices that use one or more lenses to
aid vision or magnify images. This rule applies no matter the size, form or technological features of the device.
This rule does not apply to:
1. post-surgical prosthetic lenses after surgery in which the lens of the eye was removed;
2. prosthetic intraocular lenses (IOLs) and one pair of conventional eyeglasses or contact lenses furnished after
each cataract surgery with insertion of an IOL; and
3. prosthetic lenses used by those who are lacking the natural lens of the eye and who were not furnished with
an IOL.
You can find this rule at 42 CFR Section 411.15(b).
Medicare does not pay for eye exams for the purpose of prescribing, fitting, or changing eyeglasses or contact
lenses for refractive error only. Medicare does not pay for procedures performed in the course of any eye exam
to determine the refractive state of the eyes. Refractive procedures are not covered even when done in
connection with otherwise covered diagnosis or treatment of illness or injury. You can find these rules at 42
CFR Section 411.15(c).
The rules say that scratch resistant coating (V2760), mirror coating (V2761), polarization (V2762), deluxe lens
feature (V2702) and progressive lenses (V2781) will be denied as noncovered. You can find this information in
Medicare's Local Coverage Article: Refractive Lenses - Policy Article (A52499).
If you want to read these Medicare rules, you can go to this website www.medicareappeal.com.
The Plan contract says that the Plan covers items and services in accordance with Medicare rules. The Plan
contract says that, with limited exceptions, members of the Plan must use network providers to get medical care
and services. The only exceptions are emergencies, urgently needed care when the network is not available
(generally, when the enrollee is out of the area), out-of-area dialysis services, and cases in which the Plan
authorizes the use of out-of-network providers. You can find this information in Chapter 3 on page 34 of the
plan's 2019 Evidence of Coverage.
The health plan contract says that the plan will pay for one pair of glasses or contact lenses after each cataract
surgery when the doctor inserts an intraocular lens. (If you have two separate cataract surgeries, you must get
one pair of glasses after each surgery. You cannot get two pairs of glasses after the second surgery, even if you
did not get a pair of glasses after the first surgery.) Our plan does not cover extra pairs of glasses,
bifocal/trifocal lenses without lines and progressive bifocals/trifocals, protective coating for plastic lenses, and
contact lens supplies. You can find this information in Chapter 4 on pages 89-90 of the plan's 2019 Evidence of
Coverage.