Letters to the editor

Yes, really, fourth grade

I received an e-mail from an OD friend in Wisconsin, who read Dr. Katherine Mastrota’s article (“Chronic ocular diseases and patient psyche,” April 2014) and of course noticed my name. This reminded me to actually read the article, which I had not yet done.

That said, thank you very much for the kind words and comments. Working with you has been my pleasure as well.

Charles Klein, OD

New York City

P.S.  Fourth grade? Really?

Vision benefit, ACA children’s exams

There is no such thing as vision insurance! It is a vision benefit!

Dr. Bowling in his article about Google Glass (“Google Glass: The next frontier?” March 2014) referred to VSP as “nation's largest optical health insurance provider.” We all know VSP is not a health insurance provider. It is the largest vision benefits company.  

Insurance is the transfer of risk of loss from one entity to another. If you need glasses, there is not risk of unforeseen loss because you do not have a vision benefit. One will simply be out of pocket a couple hundred bucks (or less), and the individual knows he/she/child will need new glasses and exam every so often. Ever hear of anyone filing for bankruptcy protection because they did not have a vision benefit? Joe next door lost his house because he needed glasses? 

So there are no surprises like cancer or breaking a hip or house burning to the ground.

While I am on this rant, I cannot believe the AOA fought for the “essential child benefit” in the ACA. Are they purposefully trying to take away the most profitable patients from our practice, the cash payers?!

They brag  X million children now have vision benefit who did not before and will rush to our offices.

How many of those millions were already in our offices paying cash? Now our staff will have to do more clerical work to see same patient for us to make less money. It takes on average 2.5 to three vision benefit patients to make same profit as one cash or health insurance patient.

Just remember when stuff is free, it gets more expensive.

Marc R. Ardoin, OD

Houma, LA

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