Does blue cross insurance cover contacts?

What does the Blue Cross Shield insurance company cover?

• My family currently has this insurance co. and I was wondering what do they cover? (I'm only 15 and wondering about this.) I recently had to go to the hospital, E.R. and get my head scanned, I think it was the MRI and the bill was outrageous, it was $2,231. I was wondering does Blue Cross cover any of it?

• Answer:

  That bill is not outrageous. Actually, it is kind of low. An MRI usually costs a few thousand dollars, and anything done during an ER visit typically runs $10,000 more than the same treatment would cost anywhere that is not an ER. Blue Cross does cover most of it, if you have met your deductible. With any Blue Cross plan, there is a minimum amount, called the deductible, which you must pay each year before anything is covered for that year. That amount is not covered, and is usually $2500-$10,000 per year. After the deductible is paid, if you are admitted to a hospital later the same year, then Blue Cross pays 50-100% of the bill and you pay 0%-50%. The most common split is 80% paid by Blue Cross and 20% by you. 70/30 and 90/10 are also common. 100/0 and 50/50 also occur, but are rarer. If you are seen in the ER without being admitted to the hospital, then there is usually a fixed copay, such as $50 or $100; you pay that amount and Blue Cross pays the rest.