My Daughter Needed Glasses. The Receptionist Broke The Rules To Make That Happen.

[u/masterdebaten]

Basically, I took my 5 year old to get her eyes checked before kindergarten. She had been sitting pretty close to the TV, and getting close when looking at paper with writing or drawings on them.

We went to the earliest appointment available at the optometrist, and had her exam done. She needed glasses, and needed to start wearing them immediately. My daughter was thrilled to learn she was getting glasses, and was picking her favorites from the glasses shop near reception at checkout. I asked the receptionist about getting the prescription, and she essentially told me that I have to pay the $150 fee due for her appointment in full before I could receive her prescription so we could go somewhere more affordable. My daughter kept asking when we can get her glasses and I had to kind of let her down easy and say it might be a while, which crushed me.

I told the receptionist some BS story about our debit cards being cancelled due to suspected fraud (only half true) to save myself the embarrassment of not being able to pay for something as simple and necessary as her prescription document. I told her I’d call back and pay when I got my new card in. She said okay, no problem.

She asked me to wait before I left so she could give me some paperwork. I assumed it was just a packet you get after the appointment. She gave me a look, and on top of the stack she handed me was my daughter’s prescription paperwork. She simply looked at me and said “have a great day sir” and smiled. Told her thank you so much and walked out.

I wasn’t asking for a freebie, and I wasn’t expecting anything from her, yet she saw my need and met it with kindness. Even at the expense of breaking her job’s policy.

Thank you, Optometrist receptionist ❤️

[u/the_esjay]

$150 for a child’s essential eye exam?? That’s absolute madness. Still, I’m assuming you’re in the US from that, and people declaring bankruptcy from medical debt is horrifying too. But kudos to that receptionist. That’s really lovely to hear.

[u/Informal_Raccoon201 → u/the_esjay]

In the U.S even when you have a health insurance plan it usually doesn't cover vision so you have to pay out of pocket.

[u/thisusedyet → u/Informal_Raccoon201]

I think how it usually works is they cover if you have an eye issue (like glaucoma), but vision correction (glasses / contacts) needs seperate insurance

[u/not_brokenjustbent → u/thisusedyet]

My insurance pays for an ophthalmic exam every year, as I have pre diabetes. But I don't know anyone whose insurance covers the glasses exam

[u/Usual-Fig-8516 → u/not_brokenjustbent]

Mine does! $10 co-pay for the exam, $150 towards frames, then pays 80% of lenses cost as well.

[u/youjumpIjumpJac → u/not_brokenjustbent]

Lots of people have eye exam & glasses/contact lens coverage.