The Affordable Care Act and What It Means For Your Child’s Eyes

Now that the Affordable Care Act, or “Obamacare,” has come into effect, some changes have arrived for vision coverage in health plans.  Whether you are keeping your original health plan or switching to a new one, important new things are happening for eye care coverage.  This is especially important for children.

Under the ACA, all health plans are required to cover certain types of preventative care for children, including dental and eye care.  This means that all children under 18 can have an eye examination without any charge or copay if they go to an optometrist within their network. 

The importance of having children’s eyes checked should not be overlooked.  In fact, according to the American Optometric Association, children should have their eyes examined right before kindergarten, and then every two years after that.  It can be easy to overlook something as vital as vision, and a child may not even realize they have a vision problem. The ability to see well has a major impact on a child’s ability to learn.  Studies show that if a child is unable to see well, he or she will have a more difficult time in school.  Being unable to see the white board or homework clearly can make learning difficult.  Having your child’s eyes examined before they start school can prevent this.

At Infinite Eye Care we offer a variety of services for children and take most major health providers.  We offer a great program called InfantSEE for very young children, and regular comprehensive eye examinations for older children.  So take that important step for your child and book an appointment today!