Members and their dependents are provided an enhanced optical benefit once a year, administered by General Vision Services, or GVS. All CSA Members may elect to use a GVS provider, or request an out-of-network claim form for maximum reimbursement of up to $150 per year on any combination of eye exam, frames, lenses or contact lenses.
Please be reminded that the maximum reimbursement of $150 must be used during a single visit. (The plan doesn’t allow members to receive an eye exam at one location and then visit a different location for glasses or contact lenses.) If you choose an out-of-network provider, send an itemized receipt, indicating that all services occurred during a single visit, to GVS with a Claim Form for reimbursement.
CSA Retirees may go here to find an approved provider: https://generalvision.com/benefits/?benefitid=6025
All Members may utilize the GVS App, available on App Stores. All you need is the following code to register: #6025 for Retirees
Click here for the GVS Benefits Breakdown
Click here for the GVS 2-Page Flyer
Click here for the GVS Reimbursement Form
The CSA Retiree Chapter will also supplement the GVS-managed reimbursement with up to an additional $65 per year for retired members and their spouses (if also covered).
Visual Aid Machine
The CSA Retiree Welfare Fund offers a covered expense reimbursement of up to $500 for the cost of a visual aid machine to assist members with severe visual loss. This benefit is available to members with severe vision impairment, and it must be attested to by an ophthalmologist, who will justify the necessity for the device.
To apply for this once-in-a-lifetime benefit, the member must submit the following documents:
- An itemized bill for the device purchased.
- A printed description of the device.
- A letter from a physician justifying the need for the device based on the member’s visual deficiency.
Once these documents are provided and eligibility is verified, the CSA Retiree Welfare Fund will process the reimbursement for the visual aid machine up to the maximum benefit amount of $500.
Laser Vision Corrective Surgery
The CSA Retiree Welfare Fund offers a covered expense as a once-in-a-lifetime benefit of up to $500 towards the cost of laser vision correction surgery. The CSA Retiree Welfare Fund maintains a list of participating providers who have agreed to reduce their fees for CSA Retiree Welfare Fund members and will accept payment directly from the CSA Retiree Welfare Fund. Alternatively, members can choose to have their laser eye corrective surgery at a non-participating provider and receive a $500 reimbursement directly.
To obtain benefits for laser surgery, follow these steps:
- Write or call the CSA Retiree Welfare Fund office to request a laser surgery benefit claim form.
- If using a non-participating provider and seeking direct reimbursement, the member and the surgeon must complete portions of the claim form.
- Submit the completed claim form along with proof of payment, such as an itemized and paid receipted bill for the services provided, to the CSA Retiree Welfare Fund office for processing and payment.
By following this process, eligible members can access the covered benefit for laser vision correction surgery, either by using participating providers or receiving reimbursement for non-participating providers.
Multi-Focal Lenses After Cataract Surgery
The CSA Retiree Welfare Fund offers a supplemental reimbursement benefit of up to $500 per eye for multi-focal lenses inserted after cataract surgery.
To obtain benefits for this specific coverage, the member must follow these steps:
- Obtain an itemized and paid bill for the multi-focal lenses inserted after cataract surgery.
- If applicable, provide the Medicare Explanation of Benefits (EOB) related to the cataract surgery.
- Submit the itemized paid bill and, if applicable, the Medicare EOB to the Fund for processing and reimbursement.
By completing these steps, eligible members can claim the supplemental reimbursement for multi-focal lenses after cataract surgery as provided by the CSA Retiree Welfare Fund.
