YOUR FIRST VISIT

Please allow about two hours for your first visit to Bay Eye Associates. A comprehensive exam includes extensive history taking, testing, and will typically include dilating the pupils to allow the doctor a full view of the back of the eye. The dilating drops will cause temporary blurred vision and light sensitivity for approximately three hours. This could impact your driving ability, so you may wish to make other driving arrangements and bring sunglasses with you.

For your visit, please bring the following:

  • Glasses that provide you your best vision--whether or not you wear them!
  • Completed history and registration forms that we will mail to you prior to your appointment. Bring these forms with you--do not mail them to the office.
  • If, for some reason, you did not receive our information packet by mail prior to your visit--please arrive a few minutes early to allow time for the paper work.
  • If you are a contact lens wearer, please wear your contacts, or bring them with you. If you do not have any lenses available, bring all contact lens records with you.
  • All medical insurance cards and necessary referral forms.

To save time, please download and fill the Registration/History using the below button.


Download the New Patient Form

If you need new lenses in your glasses or contact lenses to improve your vision, a prescription will be given to you at the end of your appointment. Our Optical Department will be happy to help you with this, or you may take the prescription to the optician of your choice.

IF YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY

  • WHEN THE CLINIC IS CLOSED:
    • If you have a problem that cannot wait, go directly to Munson Emergency Room.
    • Call 231-935-0630 and listen to the instructions on our voicemail.
  • WHEN THE CLINIC IS OPEN:
    • Call Bay Eye Associates - 231-935-0630.
    • All emergency calls are referred to the first available Ophthalmic Technician, who will either return the call promptly or speak to the patient immediately.

A Copy of Bay Eye's Privacy Policy Is Available At Each Location, Additional Copies Available Upon Request.

Your phone calls are important to us. You do not connect to a complicated automated phone directory when you dial Bay Eye Associates. A "real person" answers the phone and directs your call appropriately.


IF YOU HAVE AN NON-EMERGENCY MEDICAL PROBLEM

Your message will be given to one of the Ophthalmic Technicians. They return phone calls around 12:30 pm and again at 4:30 pm. Occasionally, if they have time between patients, your call may be returned at other times.

BILLING POLICIES

We are participating providers with

  • Medicare
  • Blue Cross/Blue Shield
  • Medicare Plus Blue
  • Priority Health
  • Priority Medicare
  • Humana
  • Blue Care Network
  • Blue Care Network Medicare Advantage
  • Vision Service Plan (VSP)
Insurance will be filed for all visits with a medical diagnosis unless you request otherwise. Payment of deductible and coinsurance amounts are expected at the time of service. Receipts will be given for reimbursement, if needed.


If you have another insurance, please contact our billing department. Some policies allow for benefits/services provided by an out-of-network provider.


Insurance coverage for an eye exam can be confusing because there are two types of insurance: Medical insurance and Vision insurance.


  • Medical insurance: usually covers eye exams for patients with diabetes, glaucoma, cataracts, or other medical diagnoses that relate directly with the eyes.
  • Vision insurance: usually pays for a vision exam and eyeglasses or contact lenses needed to correct vision if the patient is eligible. Many of our patients have both medical & vision insurance and our office will bill each separately for the appropriate professional services. There still may be co-pays or deductibles or non-covered services due after insurance has been billed. These are the patient's responsibility.

We encourage you to be familiar with the terms of your insurance coverage. Some procedures are considered "non-covered" by many insurance carriers. Although a 'refraction' is a necessary test done to determine if glasses or contact lenses could improve your vision, it is a non-covered service under most insurance policies and therefore, is entered as a separate charge and is payable by the patient.


If you have any questions concerning your insurance, our business office staff will be happy to assist you in any way.

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