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Financial Aid For Eye Care
Many state and national resources regularly
provide aid to people with vision problems.
The
National Eye Institute, which supports eye research,
does not help individuals pay for eye care. However,
if you are in need of financial aid to assess or
treat an eye problem, you might contact one or more
of the following programs.
You may also contact a social worker at a local
hospital or other community agency. Social workers
often are knowledgeable about community resources
that can help people facing financial and medical
problems.
Eye Exams and Surgery
- EyeCare America, a public
service foundation of the American Academy of
Ophthalmology (AAO), provides free and low-cost
eye exams for qualified U.S. citizens 65 and
over who have not had access to an
ophthalmologist in the past three years.
Telephone: 1-800-222-EYES (3937). Website:
http://eyecareamerica.org/eyecare/public.
- Lions Clubs International
provides financial assistance to individuals for
eye care through local clubs. There are
Lions
Clubs in most local communities, and services
vary from club to club. Check your telephone
book for the telephone number and address of
your local club. The telephone number for the
national office is (630) 571-5466.
- Mission Cataract USA,
coordinated by the Volunteer Eye Surgeons'
Association, is a program providing free
cataract surgery to people of all ages who have
no other means to pay. Surgeries are scheduled
annually on one day, usually in May. Telephone:
1-800-343-7265.
- Knights Templar Eye Foundation
provides assistance for eye surgery for people
who are unable to pay or receive adequate
assistance from current government agencies or
similar sources. Mailing address: 5097 North
Elston Avenue, Suite 100, Chicago, IL
60630-2460. Telephone: (773) 205-3838. E-mail:
ktef@knightstemplar.org. Website:
http://www.knightstemplar.org/ktef/.
Eyeglasses
- Sight for Students, a
Vision Service Plan (VSP) program in partnership
with The Entertainment Industry Foundation,
provides eye exams and glasses to children 18
years and younger whose families cannot afford
vision care. Telephone: 1-888-290-4964. Website:
http://www.sightforstudents.org/.
- New Eyes for the Needy
provides vouchers for the purchase of new
prescription eyeglasses. Mailing address: 549
Millburn Avenue, P.O. Box 332, Short Hills, NJ
07078-0332. Telephone: (973) 376-4903.
Prescription Drugs
- The Medicine Program
assists people to enroll in one or more of the
many patient assistance programs that provide
prescription medicine free-of-charge to those in
need. Patients must meet the sponsor's criteria.
The program is conducted in cooperation with the
patient's doctor. Mailing Address: P.O. Box
4182, Poplar Bluff, MO 63902-4182. Telephone:
(573) 996-7300. E-mail: help@themedicineprogram.com.
Website:
http://www.themedicineprogram.com.
- HelpingPatients.org, a new
interactive website offered by the
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of
America (PhRMA) and 48 of its member companies.
This site was designed to help patients find
medication assistance programs for which they
may qualify. Website:
http://www.helpingpatients.org/.
- State Pharmaceutical Assistance
Programs, National Conference of State
Legislatures provides general information on
state drug assistance programs for low-income
people. Website:
http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/drugaid.htm.
Government Programs
- Medicare Glaucoma Benefit
Glaucoma is a leading cause of vision loss.
People at high risk for glaucoma include those
with diabetes or a family history of glaucoma,
or African Americans age 50 or older. Medicare
will pay for an eye exam to check for glaucoma
once every 12 months. Patients must pay 20
percent of the Medicare-approved amount after
the yearly Part B deductible. Telephone:
1-800-633-4227. Website:
http://www.medicare.gov.
- State Children's Health Insurance
Program (SCHIP)
For little or no cost, this insurance pays for
doctor visits, prescription medicines,
hospitalizations, and much more for children 18
years and younger. Most states also cover the
cost of dental care, eye care, and medical
equipment. Telephone: 1-877-543-7669. Insure
Kids Now! Website:
http://www.insurekidsnow.gov/states.htm.
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