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VISION USA is a year-round program started in 1991 by doctors of optometry who are members of the American Optometrist Association. VISION USA can help low-income working people in the USA that can’t afford the cost of routine eye care or the health insurance that covers it. And, as income earners they don’t qualify for government aid and private health care assistance. The VISION USA program can help the above people, who have no other means of obtaining care, by providing free of charge basic eye care health and vision care. The program is open to children and adults of all ages who qualify.
The GERNERAL ELIGIBILITY requirements to recieve free services, although they may vary by states, are:
- have a job or live in a household where there is one working member;
- have no vision insurance (this may include Medicare/Medicaid);
- have income below an established level based on household size; and
- not have had an eye exam within 2 years.
If an individual or family is eligible, they will be matched with a volunteer doctor of optometry who will provide a comprehenseive eye exam at no charge. The doctors are donating their services and may be limited in some areas.
APPLICATIONS can be obtained by writing to VISION USA. Additional information can also be obtained at: VISION USA, 242 North Lindberg Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63141
Fax : 314-991-4101 E-mail: visionsusa@aoa.org Website: www.aoa.org.visionusa/
ON-LINE: A mail-in application can be obtained on-line in English or Spanish in Word document format at: www.aoa.org/visionusa/index.asp or by phone at: 1-800-766-4466, 7 a.m. - 9 p.m., CST, Monday through Friday.
SCHOOL NURSES: You may also obtain applications through their National School Nurses Association by mail or on-line at NSNA.
STATE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM (SCHIP) provides affordable health insurance to children and youth in working families. Vision exams and glasses are provided. A toll-free hotline will connect parents of potentially eligible children directly with people in their state who can assist them in enrolling. This program is known as HAWK-I in Iowa. 1-800-257-8563 (TDD 1-888-422-2319) or www.hawk-i.org.
In 1999, VISION USA joined forces with America’s Promise, The Alliance for Youth, founding chariman General Colin L. Powell. With over one million children in this country not getting basic eye care, VISION USA hopes to help these childrem, families and individuals by providing eye examinations and doctors willing to help.
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