Vision insurance is not generally included with regular medical insurance, so for many people, that is a separate expense on its own plan.
Insurance providers like VSP and EyeMed at least make eye care affordable and accessible, especially since they partner with some of the most prevalent vision centers in the U.S.
Since Walmart has been operating vision centers within their superstores for decades, you might be wondering: Does Walmart take VSP and EyeMed? Here is what I discovered!
Does Walmart Take VSP & EyeMed?
Walmart does take VSP and EyeMed; however, they are not considered in-network. Typically, Walmart customers with VSP and EyeMed insurances must have out-of-network benefits as part of their plan and will submit out-of-network reimbursement forms to their specific provider after their appointment. Additionally, VSP and EyeMed may not cover out-of-network services to the same degree as in-network.
To learn more about VSP and EyeMed, what is covered by both in Walmart Vision Centers, and how to file out-of-network claims, keep reading!
Are VSP & EyeMed In-Network With Walmart?
Neither VSP or EyeMed is considered in-network with Walmart.
As both are considered out-of-network, not every customer of these plans will be able to visit a Walmart Vision Center.
In order to receive reimbursement for your appointment, you will have to have an out-of-network add-on with your plan (which will obviously add to what you pay for your insurance).
It’s also important to note that, as these insurance plans consider Walmart Vision Centers out-of-network providers, you will very likely pay more in the long run.
Chances are good that you won’t receive the same discounts on your visits as you would if you saw an in-network provider.
And in many cases, you will likely end up paying for the entire visit upfront, in full, out of your own pocket, so you’ll have to have the money for it at the time of the appointment.
After you pay and receive your total bill, you should hold onto the receipt because you will need it to file a vision reimbursement claim with your insurance.
You can find the topic below for more on how to do that.
What Does VSP Cover At Walmart Vision Center?
What VSP covers at Walmart’s vision center depends on your plan.
But in general, you can still get a wellness exam that assesses your vision, tests for eye conditions, and purchase glasses or contacts.
However, your reimbursement for glasses or contacts will likely be less than if you went to an in-network vision center.
And ultimately, you will miss out on special perks only available for in-network services.
What Does EyeMed Cover At Walmart Vision Center?
Your EyeMed vision insurance will vary in terms of coverage at Walmart, depending on your plan.
You will want to ensure you have the out-of-network add-on with your plan, or else you will pay for your visit in full and not receive reimbursement.
But as with VSP, you can expect to receive any of the services available at your local Walmart Vision Center, like wellness exams and glasses/contacts ordering.
And again, as with VSP, you can expect the discount on those to be less than if you went to an in-network provider, and you will miss out on in-network-only member perks.
How Do You File A Vision Insurance Reimbursement Claim At Walmart?
Both VSP and EyeMed have made filing out-of-network claims relatively easy and straightforward.
You can do so for either insurer via their website.
Make sure you have your receipt on hand; if you have a receipt and it is not itemized, you will want to go back to the Walmart Vision Center and ask for an itemized one.
Both insurers will want to see what services you received and how much you paid for each in order to process your claim.
Then, if you are submitting your claim online, you’ll have to snap a photo of the receipt and attach it to the form.
You can also mail your claim, print and fill out the form and include a copy of your receipt.
Walmart aims to make the process for out-of-network claims easy on their end; as such, they have included the VSP and EyeMed claims addresses here.
Are VSP & EyeMed The Same?
VSP and EyeMed are not the same; they are two entirely different vision insurance companies and, as a result, direct competitors.
VSP stands for Vision Service Plan, and it is one of the largest vision care insurance plans in the U.S.
Additionally, VSP offers benefits to both individuals and companies, and in addition to covering well-visit appointments, glasses and contacts, customers can also get discounts on LASIK.
On top of this, VSP owns Visionworks, Eyeconic, UNITY lenses, and Community Eye Care insurance.
In contrast, EyeMed is owned by EssilorLuxottica, making it a sibling with LensCrafters, Target Optical, Pearle Vision, and Sunglass Hut.
Like VSP, EyeMed offers significant discounts at in-network providers and also partially covers LASIK surgery.
Both VSP and EyeMed offer a variety of plans; the more you pay, obviously the better your plan and the more services that are covered.
If you are looking to learn more about Walmart, you can also see our related posts on Walmart Vision Center return policy, Walmart Vision Center prices, and if Costco takes VSP and Eyemed.
Conclusion
Walmart customers can use their VSP and EyeMed insurance plans at Walmart Vision Centers, but should be aware that these visits are considered out-of-network.
While Walmart Vision Centers are convenient and lower-cost than private practices, their out-of-network status means that patients will have to submit claim forms after their appointments.
