Key Takeaways
- Costco pharmacies typically accept Medicare Part D plans, and registers can accept Medicare Advantage over-the-counter benefit cards.
- Eye care coverage works separately from the warehouse itself.
- Medicare Part B can cover medical eye exams, including yearly exams for people with diabetes or other eye-related diseases.
- Routine exams for glasses and contacts usually need vision insurance or a Medicare Advantage plan.
- We are located next to Costco and have a separate entrance, with no membership needed to book.
You’re walking out of Costco with a cart full of groceries, and you pass the Great Hills Eyecare entrance on your way to the car. A question pops into your head. You start to wonder whether any of this takes Medicare, and whether your eye exam would count.
Yes, Costco accepts Medicare in specific ways, mainly through its pharmacy for Part D plans and at the register for Medicare Advantage over-the-counter cards, while eye care coverage is billed separately through the eye doctor’s office.
What Medicare Covers at Costco Locations
The warehouse and eye care sides handle insurance differently, so it helps to know which is which before you go.
Here’s how Medicare typically applies at a Costco location:
- The pharmacy typically accepts Medicare Part D prescription drug plans.
- Registers may accept Medicare Advantage over-the-counter benefit cards for eligible items.
- Eye exams and eye care services are handled by the optometry office, not the warehouse, so billing runs through the practice.
How Medicare Works for Your Eye Care
Medical Eye Exams and Part B
If you’re dealing with an eye health concern, blurry spots, pressure, sudden floaters, or a condition your eye doctor is already tracking, that visit falls under medical care. Medicare Part B can cover exams tied to those concerns.
People with diabetes get a yearly eye exam covered under Part B as well. The eyes are one of the places where diabetes shows up early, so that yearly appointment gives the doctor a chance to catch changes and track them over time.
Glasses, Contacts, and Vision Plans
Routine exams work differently. If you’re coming in mainly to update your glasses prescription or get fitted for contacts, that visit often needs vision insurance rather than Medicare Part B.
Some Medicare Advantage plans add glasses benefits or a set allowance for frames and lenses. If you have one of those plans, it’s worth checking the details so you know what your allowance covers before you start browsing frames.
Using Medicare or Medical Insurance?
If you plan to use Medicare or medical insurance, such as BCBS or UHC, for your visit, please provide your insurance information at least 24 hours before your appointment. This gives our staff time to verify your benefits and help you understand what your plan may cover.
Get Your Groceries and Eye Care in One Go
Our office sits in the Costco building with its own separate entrance, so you can walk straight in without going through the warehouse floor. Park, come in the eye care door, and you’re there. Then you can run the rest of your daily errands immediately after! However, a Costco membership isn’t required to book an exam. Anyone can schedule, whether you shop there or not.
Same or next-day appointments are often available too. When something feels off with your eye, you don’t want to sit on it for a month waiting for an opening.
How to Book Your Exam
Whether you’re driving in from North Austin, Georgetown, Pflugerville, Liberty Hill, or just down the road, a little prep makes the visit smoother.
Bring these items with you:
- Your Medicare card and any medical, vision, or Medicare Advantage insurance information.
- A list of the medications you take, including eye drops.
- Your current glasses or contact lens prescription, plus the glasses you wear now.
If you’re unsure what your insurance covers, contact our office with your coverage questions. Providing your insurance information at least 24 hours before your appointment gives our staff time to verify your benefits. You can also ask whether your visit would be billed as medical or routine, what your plan covers for frames and lenses, and what your out-of-pocket portion might look like.
Come See Us
Great Hills Eyecare is ready to help you sort out your coverage and take care of your vision, from a yearly checkup to dry eye relief. Call to schedule your exam and ask about same-day or next-day availability.
