Does EyeMed cover Costco? Not directly. Costco Optical is an out-of-network provider for EyeMed vision plans, so you cannot have your benefits applied at the register the way you would at LensCrafters or Target Optical.1EyeMed Vision Care. JNJ Vision Highlights You pay Costco in full, keep the itemized receipt, and submit an out-of-network claim to EyeMed for reimbursement. How much you get back depends entirely on your employer’s plan.
Why Costco Is Out of Network
EyeMed’s own provider locator tells members to “contact Costco, Sam’s Club and Walmart to confirm availability for in-network exams,” which signals that the optical sales counters at these retailers do not process EyeMed at checkout.2EyeMed Vision Care. Find an Eye Care Provider – Cigna Costco’s website says it accepts “most major vision insurances” but names no carriers.3Costco. Costco Optical In practice, EyeMed members buying glasses or contacts at Costco pay the full price up front.
How to Get Reimbursed
You have two ways to file an out-of-network claim after a Costco purchase. Online, log in to the EyeMed Member Web portal at eyemed.com, open the Claims tab, fill out the out-of-network form, and upload your itemized paid receipt.4EyeMed. Member FAQ By mail, print the out-of-network claim form from eyemed.com and send it with your receipts to First American Administrators in Mason, Ohio.6EyeMed Vision Care. Out-of-Network Vision Services Claim Form
Your receipt must be itemized and show your name. For contact lenses, it also needs to list the brand and type. You generally have 15 months from the date of service to file.5EyeMed Vision Care. Out-of-Network Vision Services Claim Form Processing takes about 14 calendar days, and the reimbursement check or explanation of benefits follows within roughly another seven days.7New York State Civil Service. EyeMed Out-of-Network Claim Form
How Much You’ll Get Back
Reimbursement varies widely by employer plan, and this is the number that decides whether using Costco makes sense.
Some plans treat Costco favorably. One Johnson & Johnson plan document states that Costco purchases receive “reimbursement equivalent to in-network benefits” for exams, frames, and lenses.1EyeMed Vision Care. JNJ Vision Highlights Microsoft’s EyeMed plan reimburses up to $350 for out-of-network materials and up to $75 for an out-of-network exam.8Microsoft US Benefits. EyeMed Vision Plan Others are far leaner. The State of Texas plan reimburses up to $75 for frames, $30 for single-vision lenses, $45 for progressive lenses, and $40 for exams.9EyeMed Vision Care. State of Texas Vision Plan Year 2026
The only reliable way to learn your own numbers is to pull up your EyeMed plan summary or call EyeMed member services before you buy.
The Eye Exam Is a Separate Question
Optometrists inside Costco stores are independent practitioners, not Costco employees. The doctor can accept EyeMed directly for an exam even when the Costco optical counter next door cannot process EyeMed for materials.10Ventura County Community College District. EyeMed Costco FAQs Whether a specific Costco doctor participates depends on that individual’s contract with EyeMed.
Search “Costco” by zip code in EyeMed’s provider locator after choosing your network (Access, Insight, Select, or Advantage) to see if the optometrist at your local store is listed.11EyeMed Vision Care. Find an Eye Care Provider You can also call the store and say you’re an EyeMed member when booking. A Costco warehouse membership is not required for the exam itself, though you do need one to buy glasses or contacts from the optical department.10Ventura County Community College District. EyeMed Costco FAQs
What You Give Up by Going Out of Network
Going to Costco means skipping the extra EyeMed discounts tied to in-network providers:1EyeMed Vision Care. JNJ Vision Highlights12Lehigh Valley Health Network. EyeMed Vision Flyer
- 40% off a second complete pair of glasses and 15% off conventional contact lenses after the main benefit is used.
- 20% off items not covered by the plan, including non-prescription sunglasses.
- 15% off retail LASIK (or 5% off promotional pricing) through the US Laser Network, plus a free consultation.
- 40% off hearing exams and discounts on hearing aids through Amplifon.
In-network providers also apply benefits at the register, so you pay only your copay plus any overage instead of fronting the entire bill and waiting for a check.
Is Costco Still the Cheaper Option?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Costco’s pricing is competitive on its own: a complete pair of glasses usually runs $100 to $250, frames generally $50 to $80, single-vision lenses around $65 to $70, and progressive lenses $150 to $200.13Arizona’s Vision. Average Cost of Glasses at Costco Costco also bundles anti-reflective coating, UV protection, and scratch resistance into the lens price at no extra charge.14Arizona’s Vision. Average Cost Progressive Lenses Costco
Whether that beats an in-network visit depends on your plan. Members with a plan that reimburses Costco at in-network rates, or with a high out-of-network allowance like Microsoft’s $350 for materials, often come out ahead at Costco because of the low base prices and included coatings. Members on leaner plans may find that even after Costco’s lower sticker price, the small out-of-network reimbursement leaves them paying more net than they would with copays at an in-network store. Contact lenses tilt differently: a year’s supply of Biofinity monthlies at Costco runs about $74 for two six-packs,15Costco. Biofinity Contact Lenses which may fall entirely within a typical out-of-network contact allowance.
Before you buy, pull your plan’s out-of-network reimbursement amounts, call your local Costco to confirm what the optical counter and the optometrist can each process, and run the math on your specific purchase.
Buying Contacts Online From Costco
Costco sells contact lenses at contacts.costco.com but does not accept vision insurance for online orders. You would pay in full and submit an out-of-network claim with the itemized receipt. Whether EyeMed accepts an online Costco receipt depends on your plan, so call EyeMed before placing the order if reimbursement matters to the decision.