Our Approach to Vision Insurance

We believe vision care should not be constrained by the insurance companies’ rules around the services and materials. To ensure we provide the highest quality frames and lens products, Ukiah Optical has a different approach to vision insurance than most optometrists and big-box retailers. Most people don’t know this, but many vision care plans are owned by some of the largest industry conglomerates and they force you to stay within their own verticals for maximum profits. This puts us in a direct conflict with our mission to provide best service to our clients. We are out-of-network with most major vision plans so you don’t need to worry if eyewear products you select are covered by your insurance. Instead, we will submit a claim to your insurance company for reimbursement, if your benefits provide out-of-network coverage.

Frequently Asked Insurance Questions

  • How do I know which vision plan I have?

    Call the phone number on the back of your insurance card and ask which vision insurance you have. It is different from your medical insurance. If you have questions about the exact plan coverage for in- and out-of- network providers, they can help you with that information as well. 

  • I have MESVision. Do I have to file a claim?

    MESVision no longer administers vision plan insurance effective January 1st, 2024. Ukiah Optical accepts MESVision for the services provided between January 1st and December 31st of 2023. 

  • Do you accept VSP?

    Ukiah Optical is out-of-network with Vision Service Plan (VSP). This means that you will pay the full amount for your exam and eyewear (eyeglasses and contact lenses). If you have out-of-network benefits, we will take care of sending out your claim paperwork for you. All you have to do is  to wait for your reimbursement check in the mail. 

  • Do you accept EyeMed?

    Ukiah Optical is out-of-network with EyeMed. However, most times EyeMed allows you to access in-network level of benefits with us if you were not able to schedule a eye-exam appointment within two weeks or there are no other providers within a 10-mile radius at the time of purchase. This means that you will pay the full amount for your exam and eyewear (eyeglasses and contact lenses). If you have out-of-network benefits, we will take care of sending out your claim paperwork for you. All you have to do is to wait for your reimbursement check in the mail.

  • I have Consolidated Tribal Health. Do I file a claim?

    Ukiah Optical is in network with Consolidated Tribal Health. This means all you need to do is to get a referral and your allowance will be automatically deducted from your total cost of eyewear (eyeglasses and contact lenses).


    Dr. Myers is also in-network with Consolidated.  Please note that you will need a separate referral for your eye-exam.

  • Do you take Medi-Cal/Partnership?

    Ukiah Optical is out-of-network with Medi-Cal and Partnership Health Plan. However, Ukiah Optical offers frame and lens package pricing for our Medi-Cal and Partnership  patients. This offering only applies to select frames and patients paying  out-of-pocket. One of the advantages  is that you can get your glasses done much faster with Ukiah Optical. Most glasses are done on-site for same-day pickup. Compare this to a 6 to 8 week-turnaround with  most Medi-Cal providers! Call us at 707-463-2020 for more information on this special  pricing, 

  • Can I use my Flexible Spending money?

    Ukiah Optical accepts  FSA (Flexible Spending Account) or HSA (Health Savings Account) to buy sunglasses, eyeglasses or lenses. If you’re unsure whether or not you have an FSA or HSA account, please check with your employer or insurance carrier. Simply use  your FSA or HSA  or use any other form of payment and submit your claim for a reimbursement. 

  • Why do you not accept insurance?

    Ukiah Optical does accept Consolidated Tribal Health. We are out-of-network with all vision plans, such as VSP and EyeMed. We take price in our high quality products and services at competitive prices. In order to maintain our core value and stay in business despite the ever rising inflation and costs of vision care, we are unable to take these vision plans. Vision plans strive to be in complete control of eye care and they tend to ignore what is in the best interest of the patient. Unlike traditional health insurance, vision plans like VSP and EyeMed are largely a discount program intended to promote the sale of eyewear affiliated with their OWN company. It would be like having medical insurance whose best interest is in selling you prescriptions and medical devices manufactured under the same umbrella of companies. We have reviewed how most of our patients used their vision plan benefits and we found that most were spending MORE on their eye care with vision plans versus what they would pay without it. The key difference in savings is that out-of-pocket patients only pay for services and materials when they need it.