Vision Care FAQs

Q. What is the vision benefit? Does it include eye examinations? Does it include contact lenses?
A. The vision benefit offers savings of 20% to 60% on prescription eyeglasses and 10% to 20% on contact lenses (excluding disposables) at more than 12,000 optical locations throughout the United States. Providers include national optical chains such as LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, EyeMasters, JCPenney and Sears as well as regional chains and thousands of independent practitioners. Often many participating locations offer discounts of 10% on eye exams for both eye glasses and contact lenses. Additionally, the ophthalmology portion of the network offers 10% to 30% discounts on eye exams and surgical procedures, including the popular laser surgeries in select markets. Members may elect to use the mail order service to purchase replacement contact lenses (including disposables) at 10% to 40% discounts.

Q. Is the Coast To Coast (CTC) discount insurance?
A. No – CTC is a discount eyewear and eye care program. There is no paperwork or required reimbursement procedures. The participating retail optical location gives you a discount at the time of the purchase.

Q. Can I use CTC if I already have vision insurance?
A. In most cases CTC can be utilized to eliminate or reduce the deductible and to buy additional pairs of glasses or contacts once the insurance benefit has been exhausted.

Q. How many times may I use my CTC membership?
A. There is no limit on the number of times you and your family may take advantage of the savings provided by CTC throughout the year.

Q. Does the CTC discount include my family?
A. It includes you, your spouse and all your legal dependents.

Q. What is included with CTC membership?
A. Prescription glasses are discounted 20% to 60% in most cases. Contact lenses are discounted 10% to 20% at retail locations and eye exams and surgery are discounted 10% to 30% where available. Members may also utilize the mail order program to order contacts at a 10% to 40% savings.

Q. Why does the discount vary from 10% to 60%?
A. Many variables go into the calculation of the discount such as market demographics, location, hours of operation, one-hour service capability and level of retail mark-up.
Example – a chain provider in a major metropolitan mall, open seven days a week, 10 hours a day with an on-site lab, will more than likely have a different mark-up than an independent practitioner in a rural community. However, members will pay almost exactly the same price for the exact same materials regardless of where the purchase is made. Only the percentage of discount off retail will vary.

Q. Is the discount the same at different locations?
A. The discounted price for the exact same pair of glasses at any of our locations should vary only slightly. The discounted Coast to Coast price should be very close to the same at each location.

Q. How can I get LASIK for 40% to 50% off the overall national average?
A. Please call 877-307-4448 and ask about this savings as a Coast to Coast member. You may also visit www.coasttocoastvision.com to locate a provider near you.

Q. Can I go to any place that sells glasses to get the Coast To Coast Vision discount?
A. No, you must go to an optical location that is contracted with Coast to Coast Vision to get your discount. Our providers include national, regional and local chains as well as thousands of independent professionals. Members can call our toll-free number 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to access the names of participating providers nearest them.

Q. What is a dispensing fee?
A. The dispensing fee is the amount of money that is added to the provider’s wholesale acquisition cost of materials. It is generally the only profit made by the provider on your purchase.

Q. Is the eye exam discounted?
A. Yes, at approximately 4,000 of our 12,000 locations nationwide. Our member service representatives can tell you which locations discount eye exams in your area.

Q. What do I do when I get to the location to get my discount?
A. All you need to do to receive your discount is show the provider your membership card and tell them you are with Coast to Coast Vision. It is very important that you mention Coast to Coast Vision Plan to ensure a discount at the time of purchase.

Q. Do I get the discount if the store is running a sale?
A. The location will not combine our contracted discount with the sale price. However, in most cases, the Coast to Coast price will be better than the sale price.

Q. Do the retail locations mark up the merchandise to give me the discount?
A. No, you receive the discount because CTC brings the buying power of over 10 million members to the optical retailers participating with us.

Q. How do I get my eye doctor or optician on the Coast To Coast network?
A. If you wish to refer your doctor to the Coast to Coast Plan, just give us their name, address and phone number and we will contact them about becoming a provider. If your practitioner does not wish to join the plan, you can still use him/her for your eye exam. Simply take your prescription to one of our participating providers to receive your discount on glasses or contact lenses.

Q. How can I be guaranteed the greatest savings on contact lenses for me and for my husband?
A. Although members receive a 10% to 20% discount when purchasing replacement contact lenses at participating optical centers, the greatest savings & selection for contact lenses is often offered through the mail order program. Replacement contact lenses are discounted at 10% to 40% below retail.

Q. Can I purchase disposable contact lenses at a discount through a participating optical center?
A. No. Disposable lenses are generally priced as “loss leaders” at the retail stores. However, members can use the mail order contact lens program to receive discounts when ordering disposable lenses.

Q. What if my contact lenses are destroyed while I’m on vacation?
A. Simply call the toll-free number on the back of your membership card. The patient registration keeps your prescription on file until it expires and we can send your replacements overnight to you almost anywhere in the world.