Specialties School
Published Jun 6, 2014
schoolnurse64
15 Posts
What type of programs/resources are available in NJ for children with vision problems and having difficulty with insurance coverage? I think I read an old post somewhere asking the same question, but can't seem to find it now that I need it...
JustBeachyNurse, LPN
13,952 Posts
Have you checked with the commission for the blind or Wills Eye Hospital? I believe both have mobile complimentary vision screening depending on area of the state
Commission for the blind (will screen all students regardless of income or insurance status and refer as needed)
http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/cbvi/services/prevention/index.html
VSP has free resources for qualified children: http://www.sightforstudents.org
If the child has NJ family care (technically a students must have health insurance) annual exam and glasses are covered at low/no cost
If no other option:
http://neweyesfortheneedy.org/apply-for-assistance/who-is-eligible/
Thanks for such a quick response! I believe the problem is that the family has insurance but not for eye care, and so they probably won't qualify for some of these programs. Will bring it up with the mother, though.
Many of the programs will pay if the commercial insurance does not cover vision. I know some places offer 2 pairs for $99 like VisionWorks and both pairs don't have to be for the same person. (So if two kids need glasses, one pair for each)
You could always make arrangements with CFBVI to do a school wide mobile screening with parental consent (I think they even offer a consent form) you would be surprised how many academic behavior issues can be fixed by enabling a child to see clearly.
Flare, ASN, BSN
4,431 Posts
i've gotten the lion's club to come in to do mass vision testing for my school before. They use a special photo technology which is a then analyzed and results are sent directly to the parent.
RNlove17
168 Posts
I'm in NY and we use the Lion's Club "One Sight" program. They give a $100 voucher towards glasses but the family still has to pay for the exam at Lenscrafters. If the kid doesn't use it within a certain time frame then we have to take it back and send it back to the Lion's club because they don't have a big budget for it.
rbytsdy
350 Posts
The local food bank where I am in NJ will cover eye exam and eye glasses from Walmart. This program is only for children without insurance so we seldom use it since most kids should have NJ Family care.