Public Employee Press

More optical providers for your convenience

The DC 37 Health and Security Plan expects more members to use their optical benefit thanks to an expansion of the panel of participating providers.

“We hope the larger panel will make using the benefit more convenient for members,” said Jean Thoens, the plan’s associate administrator. By doubling the number of panelists, the plan is particularly interested in helping members get service in their neighborhoods for their family, according to Cynthia Chin-Marshall, the plan’s administrator.

The plan introduced the new providers in April, raising the number of participating providers to 325 from 165 by adding a new vendor, General Vision Services.

The other vendors include Vision Screening Inc., Comprehensive Professional Services and Empire Vision, which serves members who live and work upstate.

To help members know whether a vision center accepts the DC 37 benefit, the Health and Security Plan recently provided participating providers with logos to be displayed at entrances or other highly visible spots in their locations.

Members and retirees can get a list of providers when they call the plan’s Inquiry Unit at 212-815-1531 to request a voucher for their standard optical benefit.

The list of participating providers is also on the union’s Web site, www.dc37.net.

The standard vision benefit is available to members and retirees, as well as their spouses and children, every two years.

The benefit includes eye examinations and, if needed, eyeglass frames and lenses. The exams are for cataracts, glaucoma and detached retinas, in addition to special care for diabetics.

Covered participants can also receive a supplemental eye exam and change of lenses, if required, one year from the date they last used the standard benefit. This supplemental benefit is only available at the DC 37 Vision Center at 115 Chambers St. in Manhattan.

Members who do not use a participating provider or the DC 37 Vision Center for services and eyeglasses need to submit a claim to be reimbursed according to the plan’s fee schedule.