A refraction is a test done by your eye doctor to determine if glasses will make you see better and what your prescription is.

The charges for a refraction are covered by some insurances but not by all.

For example, Medicare does not cover refractions because they consider it part of a “routine” exam and Medicare doesn’t cover most “routine” procedures--only health-related procedures.

So if you have a medical eye problem like cataracts, dry eyes, or glaucoma then Medicare and most other health insurances will cover the medical portion of the eye exam but not the refraction.

Some people have both health insurance--which covers medical eye problems--and vision insurance--which covers “routine” eye care (no medical problems) such as refractions and eyeglasses.

If you come in for a routine exam with no medical eye problems or complaints and you have a vision plan, then the refraction is usually covered by your vision insurance.  But what if you have a known issue (cataracts, dry eyes, diabetes, etc) AND need a refraction?  It depends on the plan(s) of course which greatly vary in the what they permit and approve.  Some health plans work with these vision plans through a process called coordination of benefits to allow both same day, while others do not and either require the patient to pay the non-covered refraction test, or return a second time to address each (the routine and non-routine) issues individually.