Those Expensive Frames

When my husband lost his job in September, we lost our benefits. That meant that I had to sign up through my work or we'd have to go on COBRA. When I met with the human resources director to go over the information she told me that vision was covered by the health insurance company. She's the director of human resources. She's part of the decision-making team for the firm. Who was I to question her or call the insurance company to confirm that this was good information?

Yesterday was my last day working at this firm, which means that we will be uninsured until December 1. I decided to get my eyes examined and get new glasses before leaving because it has been a number of years since I've been to the eye doctor. I went on Tuesday with the understanding that I wasn't going to have to pay anything.

Well, how wrong was I? While I was waiting to see the doctor, the eyeglasses sales person suggested that I pick out my frames, with her help, of course. So I start trying on frames. I wasn't paying attention to the prices of the frames. Then I picked the frames I liked the best. I'm still thinking that I'm not going to have to pay any money and that all of this is covered by my health insurance.

I was very wrong. None of my $688 frames, coating, and prescription is covered. In fact, the $135 eye exam itself isn't covered. The doctor's office is going to submit the bill to the insurance company. It's not going to matter. When I got home, I pulled out the paperwork, and it's not covered.

Then I thought to myself I should cancel the glasses, ask for the prescription and then go to the big W or the big T for frames. Here's where you know I am still in denial...but I really, really like the frames that I picked out. So I'm going to let this ride. I do have an HSA that I can use to pay for those expensive frames.

Becoming financially healthy is a challenge. I know now that I have to be sure of what my benefits are before I go to the doctor. The eye doctor said he wants me to have three tests. I made the young woman at the desk write down the names of these tests because when I get my insurance at my new job I'm going to ask if they are covered expenses. If they aren't covered, I'm going to call the doctor's office to see how much they cost so that I can budget the money.

Some frugal hacker I am. Will I ever learn?