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Vision insurance plans in Oklahoma can be frustrating for providers. It can be hard to understand the extensive regulations and how much insurers will pay them for services. In addition, low reimbursement rates can create a challenge for providers to make ends meet and still be able to invest in new technologies for patient care.
Fortunately, here in Oklahoma, Vision Care Direct has stepped forward to offer an alternative. Our provider and patient-focused model makes us different from the rest.
The history of Vision Care Direct
Vision Care Direct has its roots in Vision Care Plus, founded back in 1987. At the time, vision coverage under health maintenance organizations and preferred provider organizations was limited. The care and services doctors could provide were strictly governed.
In addition, state insurance regulations began to get more complex and difficult to navigate. Independent optometrists were struggling to negotiate good contracts with managed care companies while still staying in line with regulations.
Thus, optometrists formed Vision Care Plus from a state independent physician association (IPA) to help these independent providers negotiate better terms with insurance companies and restore customized patient care. Over time, Vision Care Plus expanded to multiple states, and Vision Care Direct launched with the help of Dr. Don Railsback.
Dr. Railsback, currently the Chief Executive Officer of Vision Care Direct, was frustrated by the managed care model, which seemed to prioritize patient volume over thorough and personal patient care. When a colleague contacted him about helping to expand Vision Care Plus into Kansas, he jumped at the opportunity. He had lost the use of one of his hands due to a table saw accident, and he couldn’t continue to provide direct care to patients.
However, he still felt the urge to do what he could to help patients get personalized, comprehensive eye care and thought Vision Care Plus was the way to do it. By helping doctors work through complicated regulations and contracts and reimbursing them so they could invest in their business, Dr. Railsback believed that Vision Care Plus (and later, Vision Care Direct) could help doctors provide excellent care to their patients.
The Vision Care Direct mission
We do not provide vision insurance. Instead, we offer pre-paid plans to make vision care affordable. Our end goal isn’t profit but rather advocacy and support for everyone in the eye care ecosystem.
Vision Care Direct’s mission is to ensure that providers can give thorough, personalized care to their patients and that patients have the ability to afford comprehensive eye care. We do that in several ways, but our work with providers is what really stands out.
Our work with providers
Our founders were doctors, so we understand the challenges that doctors face. We want to make sure our independent providers have someone in their corner. Because we have our roots in an IPA, we know the importance of having a team that can help independent optometrists survive and thrive in a world in which the big vision insurance plans in Oklahoma seem to dominate.
We help our providers by offering high reimbursement rates. This allows them to invest in up-to-date equipment and supplies as well as compensate great staff, both of which support providers’ (and Vision Care Direct’s) goal: To let providers focus on taking care of their patients instead of worrying about their bottom line.
Our providers also have the utmost flexibility to provide the services they want, with the technology they want, using the labs they want. In addition, we support our providers through reliable customer service. We work to help them get through the complicated world of healthcare law.
Without the hurdles of traditional insurance, our providers can provide personalized, thorough eye care to all of their patients.
Vision insurance plans in Oklahoma made simple
Things have changed since we started in the 1980s. However, the goal of helping our providers give their patients great care remains the same. We want to provide simple, flexible and affordable vision plans in Oklahoma. The goal is to benefit customers, providers, brokers, and employers alike.
Contact us for more information on the Vision Care Direct difference.
