Employment and Income Assistance Facts
Eyeglasses Assistance for Participants
Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) can cover the cost of a necessary eye
exam and eyeglasses. EIA is a program of last resort. If you
have coverage from a another program or from private insurance,
you must use that coverage first.
How to qualify
You must be enrolled in EIA for a certain
period before you can use EIA coverage for eye care. The waiting
period is:
- three months for all children
- three
months for single parents or persons with a disability
- six
months for single adults or couples without disabilities
No waiting period in emergency situations
How to pay for eye exams with EIA
EIA will pay for an eye exam once every
two years for participants who are between 19 and 64 years
of age. Manitoba Health
pays for an eye exam for participants who are under age
19 and over age 65. To get EIA's help in paying for an
eye exam you must do the following:
- Make an appointment to see an
optometrist, an ophthalmologist or a medical doctor who
performs eye exams.
- Show your health card if you have one,
or mention that you receive EIA.
- Ask your eye care provider
if services are provided within EIA's fees. EIA will NOT
pay higher fees.
- The eye care providers will telephone
EIA to get confirmation that EIA will pay the bill, and
will then send the bill
directly to EIA.
How to pay for eyeglasses with EIA
EIA will pay for a set of eyeglasses
once every three years, and will pay for new lenses without
new frames more often,
if your eyesight changes significantly. When getting eyeglass
services, you must:
- Show your service provider your
health card, if you have one, or say that you receive EIA.
- Ask your eye care provider if services are provided within
EIA's fees. EIA will not pay higher fees.
- Most eyeglass
service providers know what services are covered, what
the approved fees are, and where to get
more information.
- The eye care provider will call EIA
for confirmation that EIA will pay the bill and will then
send the bill
directly
to EIA.
Please note that if you choose an item
that EIA does not cover, or choose a more expensive item,
you will have to pay for it. This includes contact lenses,
which EIA will cover only if medically required and specifically
approved by EIA.
Making appointments for eye care
You must keep appointments that you
have made with your eye care provider. When you make the appointment,
ask about
their policy on missed appointments. EIA does not pay
for missed appointments.
How to pay for eye care if not on EIA
If you cannot afford an eye exam or
eyeglasses but do not qualify for EIA because your income
supports your basic
needs, you may be eligible for a one-time payment to help
you with eye care costs. To apply, you must do the following:
- Call your EIA intake worker before
you receive eye care services.
- Provide your intake worker
with information about your income for the last six months.
- Tell your intake worker about the eye care services you
think you need.
Your intake worker will then determine
if you are eligible for help.
To make an appointment to apply for
eye care services, call the Intake line in Winnipeg at 948-4000,
or outside Winnipeg, call the EIA office in your area.
Return to the Employment and Income Assistance Facts main page.
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