How Do I Use My AISH Card for Glasses or an Eye Exam?
AISH is a provincially provided program for Albertans who have a health condition and need medical and financial support. You may already be using your AISH benefits to pay for prescription medications and to see the dentist. Did you know that AISH also provides coverage at the optometrist for routine eye exams, glasses and in some cases, contact lenses?
Who:
Vision coverage for comprehensive eye exams and optical products are available to those who have active coverage through AISH. Coverage may also be available to cohabitating partners of an active AISH client as well as their dependent children who are 18 or 19 years of age.
How do I access these benefits?
The first step is to book your appointment. This is easy. You can book your appointment online through our website.
After selecting the day and time you would like to schedule your eye exam, you can select AISH as your active coverage in the drop down menu.
You can also call our office at 780.628.6855 and speak to a team member directly.
To use your AISH vision and optical coverage at Helio Optometry, you only need to bring your active AISH card and government-issued photo identification to your appointment. There are no other forms or signatures needed; everything else is handled by our team.
A pre-authorization is required. This is a step we take care of for you, although we may contact you before your appointment to ensure that check-in for your appointment runs smoothly.
What is covered?
Eye Exams.
AISH will completely cover the entire cost of a comprehensive eye examination every 24 months (2 years) for an AISH client and cohabitating partners with active coverage. Eye exams for all children 18 years of age and under are covered annually by Alberta Health.
An eye examination at Helio Optometry that is covered by AISH is in no way different from an eye exam that is covered by a different insurance plan or paid out of pocket.
Every eye exam always includes a thorough history, a detailed examination and a discussion about the results of the visit. We use all of the same tools and equipment, including our Optomap Ultra-Widefield retinal camera. Accessible eye care is one of our core values.
Medically necessary vision or eye health concerns are covered by Alberta Health and Wellness. We always have same-day appointments available for eye urgencies and emergencies.
Glasses.
AISH will cover the complete cost of a pair of glasses every 24 months (2 years) for an AISH client and their cohabitating partners, if prescription glasses are required. AISH clients who are under 18 years of age are eligible for a pair of glasses every 12 months.
The optical coverage through AISH will provide a client with a pair of single vision, bifocal or trifocal prescription glasses depending on what is required for that patient's individual vision needs.
We believe your eyewear should provide excellent vision but should also be beautiful. At Helio Optometry, all of the eyewear covered by the AISH vision benefit program includes an upgrade to anti-reflective coating at no additional cost. We carry a diverse range of frame styles that are covered by your plan to get you looking, seeing and feeling great.
If you do require bifocal or trifocal lenses, we also offer a no-charge upgrade to our Aperture no-line progressive lenses to keep you seeing your best up close and far away.
Aperture collection frames.
What about Contact Lenses?
Contact lenses are a convenient and comfortable way to get you seeing clearly without wearing glasses. Unfortunately, AISH benefits do not provide coverage for contact lenses in all cases. For AISH to pay for your contact lenses, you need to be diagnosed with one of the following medical conditions by your optometrist:
Aphakia.
This is a condition where the eye does not have its natural lens and likely has a significant visual impairment.
Corneal irregularities.
These are generally due to trauma, injury or hereditary conditions.
Astigmatism that is inadequately corrected by glasses.
This occurs in diseases of the cornea such as keratoconus.
Prescriptions greater than -7.00 or +7.00.
Wearing contacts requires you to routinely clean and disinfect the lenses. AISH does not cover the cost of contact lens care products and solutions at this time. To get your contact lenses covered, we are required to verify that they are medically necessary with AISH program administrators. This requires some paper work and a few extra steps.
Even if you are eligible, you may not get your contact lenses at the time of your examination.
Contact lenses cannot be worn continuously. To prevent infections and maintain good eye hygiene, contacts must be removed for sleeping and in other instances. AISH optical coverage will still apply to obtain a backup set of glasses in the same 24 month time frame.
AISH provides glasses and routine eye exam coverage for eligible clients. Booking your eye appointment is easy and simple, either through our website or by speaking with one of our team members by calling (780) 628-6855.
