How Much Do You Spend on Vision Therapy

You finally decided to get a thorough vision exam for yourself or your child, in order to address the

vision-related issues you have noticed. There are many questions that you might be asking yourself:

Will treatment work? Will the vision therapy expert be able to determine a proper course of action

for you or your child? Maybe you’re confident in your vision therapy provider. However, there is one

question which still nags in the back of your mind: Will my insurance cover this?

The unfortunate truth surrounding vision therapy is that many insurance providers do not, in fact,

cover for vision therapy services, or only cover under a very narrow set of circumstances. Usually,

the patient or the developmental optometrist has to demonstrate the medical necessity of the

procedure, which can be very difficult, particularly in cases where you or your child has already been

prescribed Ritalin or a similar drug for ADHD.

Even among those insurance providers who graciously include vision therapy services in their policy,

they may not cover the full amount for a vision therapy session, leaving you responsible for either

paying the difference, or going to one of the insurance company’s approved providers for your vision

therapy sessions. It is this insurance problem which leads many people to avoid seeking vision

therapy services, even when they or their child most needs it.

Many people, however, have made the investment in themselves or their child by paying for the

services out-of-pocket. Most vision therapy experts, including Dr. Tod Davis, have financing options

available for those who need help paying for the services rendered. The truth is, without the help of

insurance, vision therapy can be rather expensive. However, for many of those who suffer from a

vision disorder, the price seems small to pay in exchange for the improvement to their quality of life

that properly functioning vision provides.

Many vision therapists like to compare the cost of vision therapy to the cost of braces. In many

cases, an insurance company will not cover the full costs of the braces, leaving the family to pay the

rest out-of-pocket. The family gladly pays, because they want their child to have perfect teeth. The

difference is that in many cases, there was never even a medical reason behind the braces, but

rather the braces were decided on for purely cosmetic reasons! While we are not against braces, we

would strongly encourage those who are faced with a decision between vision therapy and braces to

consider their priorities carefully.

Vision therapy, unfortunately, can be difficult to find funds for, especially with many insurance

providers not covering the treatment, but the benefits far outweigh the costs for those suffering

with vision disorders. If you or your child suffers from a vision disorder, vision therapy experts like

those at Dr. Tod Davis Developmental Optometry & Vision Therapy Services want to help, and will

work with you to help you receive the treatment you need in an affordable manner. Visit us at

DavisVisionTherapy.com for more information.