Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

Our 80,000 qualified print subscribers—and 130,000 12-month engaged online audience—trust us to dive in and provide original journalism you won’t find elsewhere covering key emerging areas such as laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, lasers in space, integrated photonics, chipscale lasers, LiDAR, metasurfaces, high-energy laser weaponry, photonic crystals, and quantum computing/sensors/communications. We cover the innovations driving these markets.

Laser Focus World is part of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

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Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology

Need affordable vision care? How Medicare Advantage can help

(BPT) - The end of the Medicare Open Enrollment Period (OEP) is fast approaching. By Dec. 7, it's important that eligible adults choose a plan that fits their needs, especially when it comes to vision care benefits.

Not all Medicare plans provide vision care. Some require beneficiaries to pay 100% of the cost for routine eye exams, eyeglasses or contacts. To ensure you can afford vision care in 2025, it's crucial that you carefully review your plan's benefits.

Why vision care matters

Vision difficulties are common among Medicare beneficiaries. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), 35% of beneficiaries reported difficulty seeing in 2019.

Seeing clearly isn't the only reason older adults need vision care. Routine eye exams can also help detect signs of over 270 health conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, autoimmune diseases and cancers.

Does Medicare Advantage cover vision?

Original Medicare does not cover vision. You'll be on the hook for the full price of a routine eye exam, which can range from $75-$200 for patients without vision insurance.

Luckily, Medicare Advantage (or Medicare Part C) plans often do, which can significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs for seniors. In fact, KFF found that beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans spent less out-of-pocket on vision care than beneficiaries in traditional Medicare in 2018.

Because Medicare Advantage plans are offered by Medicare-approved private insurance companies, vision care benefits may vary. If you qualify for Medicare Advantage but have not signed up, consider doing so this year.

If you're on a Medicare Advantage plan, make sure to review your vision care benefits in case of changes. It's also a good idea to compare Medicare Advantage plans to make sure you're getting vision care that you can afford and that meets your vision needs.

You have options

If your Medicare plan doesn't cover all your vision needs, you still have options for vision care benefits. Separate vision insurance, like a plan through VSP® Individual Vision Plans, can help complete your coverage at an affordable price.

VSP vision insurance offers coverage for routine eye exams, glasses and lens enhancements, which are not covered by Original Medicare. Because VSP doesn't have open enrollment or waiting periods, you can purchase and use your vision insurance plan at any time. You'll also have access to a large doctor network, so you don't need to stress about finding an eye doctor near you.

Benefits include 20% off additional glasses or sunglasses, including lens enhancements, from a VSP network doctor within 12 months of your last exam.

Whether you have Medicare Advantage or not, you can make sure you have access to vision care you can afford with the benefits you need to keep your vision healthy.

Visit VSPDirect.com to find the best vision plan for you. While you're there, you can also compare insurance plans and see which one meets your needs.

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