Reviews

Review Details

• Review fromPam G.

  Date: 08/31/2022

  1 star

  Pam G.

  Date: 08/31/2022

  Vision Source is all about the money. I have a VSP plan and Vision Source is a Premier Provider with them. I've had my VSP for 20 years and have used other VSP providers in California where I previously lived. I've NEVER had an issue with them. I still don't. I do however have issues with Vision Source of Greeneville. When I moved here last year, I needed to establish with a new VSP Provider so I contacted them and set up an appointment. On the day of the appt. I went in and provided them with my VSP information. They asked me some questions about my health and after I gave the answers, they wanted my medical insurance information as well. I have never, in 20 years, been asked by a VSP Provider to give that information. There is no reason for them to have it as I have my vision insurance with VSP. I questioned it and they said they require it of everyone. I didn't understand why and I should have walked away, but I gave it to them. I had my exam and was fitted for my new glasses. That was in Nov. 2021. The end of June, I get a bill from Vision Source. I've never received a bill before for any of my vision services through VSP per Provider contract. There is only a minimal Co-pay. I went to Vision Source and asked why I was getting a bill. They said that my secondary insurance said they could not find me in their system. I asked why they were billing my secondary insurance and not VSP. They said because I had XXXXX condition, that they are required to bill my medical insurance. I said that is news to me. I've had this condition for years and my medical has never been billed by a VSP provider. There response, "well, maybe VSP rules are different in CA". No, they aren't. I corrected my secondary ins. info with Vision Source and my Secondary ins. paid. I called VSP who said that they do not require patients with XXXXX to have their medical ins. billed. Preimier providers have a contractual agreement with them AND they cover services for patients with XXXX and actually have additional benefits for them. The only reason that Vision Source would have for billing Medical is MONEY. I contacted my Primary Ins. who said they would have to do a little research, but that if I had a VSP plan that covered those services, then VSP would be the Primary for those services and I should consider filing a complaint. They also advised me not to pay any patient responsibility that may be noted on my secondary Ins. EOB as the provider may be in violation of certain laws and regulations governed by CMS and Medi-Care. I have no intention of paying Vision Source anything since they have already been paid by my primary and secondary medical insurance more than they would have received had they billed VSP under their contract with them. They did not notify me up front that they would be billing Medical and not VSP. Had they actually said that, I WOULD have walked away simply because my share of cost under medical would have been greater than with VSP. That's why I HAVE VSP and go to VSP contracted providers. I am 100% against fraudulent billing practices by providers. There is NO requirement at VSP, Medical Ins, State or Federal level that requires them to bill Medical if I have XXXX. I know, I've called them all. Vision Source should now consider themselves on notice that may be coming under the scrutiny of certain Insurance and governmental agencies.

  Vision Source of Greeneville TN

  Date: 09/06/2022

  Once again, I am sorry for the misunderstanding. Our staff saw that medical had a $0 copay while VSP did not. We thought that it was saving you money; we made a mistake. I am sorry that you are this upset and deny us making this right by reversing all charges and going through VSP. Let me know if there is anything I can do for you. Have a good day.

  Pam G.

  Date: 09/06/2022

  This was not a simple misunderstanding. They told me they REQUIRE my medical insurance. Their staff would not have seen anything about my copays with medical had they not deceitfully obtained that information. They did NOT tell me they would be billing my medical insurance and did not have my permission to do so. I've also followed up with Medicare after their research into the issue. While it is not illegal for a vision provider to bill Medicare for services covered under a separate Insurance plan, they cannot bill Medicare without the express permission of the Patient. They do not view REQUIRING a patients medical information as a patient giving their consent or permission. That is the provider TELLING the patient, "this is what we are going to do". They are not giving the patient an option to bill their Vision Plan. Per TC with Vision Source this morning, they are still claiming that they were required to bill Medical if a patient had XXXXX, they still have not told me who requires that (because it's not true). Vision Source is the one requiring it. I was told by Dr Taylor that they only found out the end of last year that VSP covers exams for patients with XXXXX. Not true. VSP has always covered those exams for me for the last 20 years and VSP verified that these exams have been covered for years under my plan. This is nothing new. Since Vision Source is a Premier Provider with VSP and are under contract with VSP, they are responsible for knowing what VSP covers under different VSP plans. Per the TN Dept. of Health, there is no law in the state of Tennessee that required them to bill Medical instead of VSP for patients with XXXX. By billing my medical, they messed with my medical appointments I had through my Primary Physician. Simply reversing the charges will not make things right, the damage from that had already been done. The claim that they thought they were saving me money, is lame. It would have been more honest to say, we get more money by billing Medical insurance because, my Medical anyway, pays a higher share than VSP. Complaints have been filed with VSP, Medicare and Secondary Insurance and they can deal with the repercussions from that. When you do the wrong thing, you need to be prepared to take the consequences when you get caught. I just hope that other patients will see this review and understand that they have a choice and that they cannot be required to provide their Medical Insurance if they have a separate vision plan. If they have questions, they should contact their vision plan for specifics about what is covered and how billing Medicare may affect future services for the year from their medical provider if they allow Vision Source to bill Medical. Vision Source should be providing this information to patients and they are not. That is very deceptive and in fact fraud. They patient reserves the right to dictate their own medical care and make their own choices about who will be providing what services.