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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 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Internet Only Manual, Publication 100-16, Medicare
Managed Care Manual, Chapter 1, Section 20.2.
The rules say a health plan must disclose to its enrollees in clear, accurate terms all cost sharing information
(such as copayments, deductibles and coinsurance). You can find this rule at 42 CFR Section 422.111(a) and
(b). The rules say that a copayment is a fixed amount charged to an enrollee on a per-service basis. The rules
say that coinsurance is a fixed percentage of the total amount paid for a health care service that can be charged
to an enrollee on a per-service basis. You can find this rule at 42 CFR Section 422.2.
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)
If you want to read these Medicare rules, you can go to this website www.medicareappeal.com.
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, out-of-area dialysis services, and cases in which the Plan authorizes the use of out-of-network
providers. You can find this information on page 22 of the 2022 Evidence of Coverage.
The Plan contract says that routine vision services are offered through Vision Care. Please contact
Member Services (phone numbers are printed on the back cover of this booklet) to see if your vision provider is
in the network. The contract also says that the Plan offers a $200 vision allowance for routine contact lenses or
eyewear every 2 years. You can find this information on page 119 of the Plan's 2022 Evidence of Coverage.