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COB Routine Secondary Allowances
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COB Routine Secondary Allowances

Signature, Choice and Advantage Secondary Allowances

Service

VSP Signature and VSP Choice

Advantage

Eye exam

$66 less secondary plan copays

$50 less secondary plan copays

Lenses

$51 less secondary plan copays

$36 less secondary plan copays

Frame

$76 less secondary plan copays

$58 less secondary plan copays

Maximum for Exam, Lens and Frame

$193 less secondary plan copays

$144 less secondary plan copays

Secondary allowances are less secondary plan copays and are cumulative.

Other Secondary Allowances:

  •  For patients with an Elective Contact Lens Benefit, refer to the Patient Record Report for the contact lens allowance. (Note: A covered-in-full contact lens exam does not have a secondary COB dollar value).
  • For patients with allowance plans, refer to the Patient Record Report for the material allowance.
  • You can coordinate the secondary exam allowance with the exam, refraction and/or retinal screening out-of-pocket expense from the primary plan.

Medicaid Network Coordination of Benefits Secondary Allowances

Refer to your Medicaid Manual for state-specific Medicaid COB guidelines.

Applying Allowance Examples

VSP to VSP for Exam, Lens and Frame

Here’s a VSP Signature Plan example:

Calculate the patient’s out-of-pocket expenses under their primary plan

Exam copay

$10

 

Lens copay + lens enhancements

+ $133

 

Frame overage:

+ $122

=$265

VSP will COB the patient’s out-of-pocket expenses up to secondary allowance:

Maximum for Exam, Lens and Frame secondary allowance:

$193

 

Lens secondary plan copay

- $20

-$173

Patient pays remaining balance

= $92

Health Plan or Medicare, VSP secondary for Exam and Refraction using WellVision Exam benefit

Here’s a VSP Choice Plan example:

Exam

Refraction

Bill the health plan or Medicare your U&C fee

$120

$35

Determine Other Insurance Allowed Amount

$100

Not covered

Subtract the Other Insurance Paid Amount:

- $75

$0

VSP will COB the patient’s out-of-pocket expenses up to this amount (Other Insurance Pat Responsibility):

= $25

= $35

Balance submitted as secondary claim to VSP

$60

VSP pays up to the secondary allowance $66, less secondary plan copays

- $60

Patient pays remaining balance

= $0

Note: Provider is paid $135 for exam and refraction ($75 from health plan/Medicare + $60 VSP). If the primary plan’s allowed amount is lower than U&C, subtract the primary plan’s paid amount from allowed amount to determine the patient’s responsibility.

Health Plan or Medicare, VSP secondary using WellVision Exam and Essential Medical Eye Care

Here’s a VSP Choice Plan example:

Exam

Refraction

Fundus
Photo

Bill the health plan or Medicare your U&C fee

$120

$35

$80

Determine Other Insurance Allowed Amount

$100

Not Covered

Not Covered

Subtract the Other Insurance Paid Amount:

- $75

$0

$0

VSP will COB the patient’s out-of-pocket expenses up to this amount (Other Insurance Pat Responsibility):

= $25

= $35

=$80

Balance submitted as secondary claim to VSP

$35

$80

VSP pays up to the secondary allowance $66, less secondary plan copays

- $35

Essential Medical Eye Care Fees*

Patient pays remaining balance

= $0

=$0

Note: Provider is paid $135 for exam and refraction ($75 from health plan/Medicare + $60 VSP) plus Essential Medical Eye Care Fee Schedule for medical service(s). If you perform a medical eye exam and services along with a refraction, you may now maximize the patient’s VSP coverage to coordinate using BOTH their medical and routine benefit to reduce their out-of-pocket.

*VSP will pay up the Essential Medical Eye Care fee schedule, less applicable copay. If the service is not covered by the Other Insurance plan, VSP will process service as primary.

Coordination of Benefits by Network Participation

With the exception of the secondary allowances, the VSP Advantage Plan, VSP Enhanced Advantage Plan, and VSP Essentials Plan COB guidelines are the same as the VSP Signature Plan and VSP Choice Plan. If you’re not participating in the Advantage Network and the member wants to use their secondary plan to coordinate benefits, we’ll reimburse the patient based on their non-VSP provider reimbursement schedule (if out-of-network coverage is available).

Patient’s primary plan

Patient’s secondary plan

Your network participation is

Then

VSP Advantage Plan or VSP Essentials Plan

VSP Signature Plan or VSP Choice Plan

Advantage Network

You’ll be reimbursed based on the VSP Signature and Choice COB allowances. (See COB Client Exception Rules for exceptions).

VSP Advantage Plan or VSP Essentials Plan

VSP Signature Plan or VSP Choice Plan

Non-Advantage Network

We’ll reimburse the patient based on their non-VSP provider reimbursement schedule if out-of-network coverage is available.

VSP Signature Plan or VSP Choice Plan

VSP Advantage Plan or VSP Essentials Plan

Advantage Network

You’ll be reimbursed according to the Advantage Secondary Allowances.

VSP Signature Plan or VSP Choice Plan

VSP Advantage Plan or VSP Essentials Plan

Non-Advantage Network

We’ll reimburse the patient based on their non-VSP provider reimbursement schedule if out-of-network coverage is available.