Yes. We accept CenCal/Medi-Cal at Vision Center of Santa Maria for patients of all ages, and CenCal eyewear benefits may also apply depending on your eligibility and plan coverage.
That second part is where most questions come from, so here is how it actually works.
Exams and eyewear are handled separately
It helps to think of them as two questions rather than one.
The exam. Your eye exam is billed according to your plan and the reason for the visit. A routine vision exam and a medical eye visit are billed differently, which we explain in medical eye care.
The eyewear. CenCal can cover glasses for eligible patients. What is covered, how often, and which frames and lenses qualify depend on your specific benefits.
We cannot promise that a particular frame, lens option, or treatment is covered. What we can do is check before you commit to anything.
Call ahead if you want to know first
If you would rather not be surprised, call us at 805-925-9575 before your appointment and our team can look into your benefits.
This is worth doing if you are expecting glasses from the visit, if it has been a while since your last exam, or if your coverage recently changed.
What to bring
Bring all of it, even if you think we already have it on file:
- Your CenCal/Medi-Cal card, and any other insurance cards including Medicare
- Photo ID
- A list of your current medications
- Your current glasses
- Your contact lenses or the boxes, if you wear them
If you have both CenCal and another plan, bring both cards. Which one applies can depend on the reason for the visit.
What to expect at the visit
- Check in. Our front desk confirms your coverage and answers benefit questions. Ask here rather than at the end.
- Pretesting. A technician takes preliminary measurements, including auto-refraction.
- Your exam. Dr. Prewett refines the prescription and examines your eye health, and explains anything he recommends before it happens.
- Optical, if glasses are part of the plan. Our optical team can show you which frames and lens options your benefits cover.
A fuller walkthrough is in what to expect at your first visit.
Everyone here speaks Spanish
Our entire staff is bilingual in English and Spanish, so you can ask about coverage, understand your options, and get your questions answered in whichever language is easier. That includes the front desk and the optical.
Common questions
Do you accept CenCal for children?
Yes, for patients of all ages. If your child has not had an exam before starting school, see when children should receive an eye exam.
Contact lenses involve a separate exam and fitting, and coverage varies. Call the office and we can check what applies to you.
How long will my glasses take?
That depends on your plan and the lab it requires. See how long it takes to get new glasses.
Do you accept Medicare too?
Yes. See what Medicare covers for eye exams and glasses.
What if I am not sure whether my coverage is active?
Call us. It is easier to sort out before your appointment than during it.
Schedule an appointment
We have accepted CenCal/Medi-Cal for a long time, and our staff is used to these questions.
Request an appointment or call 805-925-9575.
