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Vision Care, Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Benefits Program

Through Salus at Drexel University

Drexel University eligible participants have the option to participate in Vision Care, Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) benefits available through Salus University clinics. The Vision Care benefit also provides a discount which is applied to certain types of lenses, the Value Wall frame, and a designer frame upgrade. For more information on the discounts available, please refer to the Salus Vision Discount Package [PDF].

Eligibility

All active University benefits-eligible full and part-time faculty, professional staff and immediate family (see below definitions), Stationary Engineers, Salus Union staff members and Salus Retirees (excluding family members) are eligible to participate in the program. Professional Staff members affiliated with a collective bargaining agreement should refer to their bargaining agreement for applicability. Drexel University retirees are not eligible for this program.

  • Immediate families for married employees include the employee’s spouse and any child(ren) of the employee considered a qualified dependent* (up to age 26).
  • Immediate family for non-married employees includes the employees’ domestic partner, parents and any children of the single employee (up to age 26).
  • *Qualified dependent includes biological children, legally adopted children, stepchildren, a child living with you for whom you are appointed the legal guardian by court and for whom you are financially responsible (up to age 26).

How the Program Works

  1. Schedule an Appointment
    • Call to schedule an appointment at the appropriate Salus clinic (The Eye Institute: 215.276.6000; Pennsylvania Ear Institute: 215.780.3180; Speech Language Institute: 215.780.3150).
    • When scheduling the appointment (for self and/or family member), inform the representative that the Salus employee benefit will be used.
    • Insurance information, including both Vision and Medical, will be collected during appointment scheduling.
    • Access to services is based on appointment availability at all clinics.
  2. For Family Member(s): Employees must complete the Dependent Affidavit [PDF] on behalf of the immediate family member(s) planning to utilize the benefit through the Salus Clinics. This printed affidavit is required for each visit and will be valid for up to six months from date of signature, or the date of employee’s separation from Drexel, whichever is first.
  3. Day of Appointment
    • Employees – Bring Drexel ID to the appointment
    • Family Members – Bring printed Affidavit (completed by the employee) to the appointment. Without the printed affidavit, family members will be charged the full amount for services rendered.
    • There will not  be any printed forms available on site to complete.
  4. Verification
    • Drexel employees will be verified.
    • Immediate family member(s) will be verified along with utilizing the Affidavit.
    • All demographic and insurance information will be verified.

Covered Vision Services

Comprehensive Vision and Ocular Health Examination: One comprehensive vision and ocular health examination per fiscal year is provided. Students present in the clinic will be conducting the exam under the supervision of licensed provider..

Specialty Consultation and Diagnostic Testing: In most cases an employee’s medical insurance will cover specialty consultations (retina, glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmology, cornea external disease, emergency care), specialty diagnostic testing (visual field study, ultrasound, HRT, GDX, OCT), or specialty care provided in the binocular vision service at the Eye Institute. Authorization for specialty testing or consultation typically requires a referral from the employee’s primary care physician. Available medical insurance will be billed for the above specialty services.

The individual is entitled to one specialty consultation or specialty diagnostic test per fiscal year, at no cost to the employee or family member. If more than one specialty consultation or diagnostic test is required in a fiscal year, additional services will be provided at 50 percent of the prevailing charges.

Eyewear: One pair of glasses, including frame ($40 allowance toward the wholesale cost of the frame) and single vision, bi-focal lenses, or basic progressive lenses will be provided to each eligible individual at no charge. See the Salus Vision Discount Package [PDF] for pricing/discounts for subsequent purchases. There is no limit to the number of glasses that can be purchased under the discounted structure.

Contact Lenses: Employees and dependents are entitled to annual contact lens care. Contact lens care includes contact lens fitting, lens dispensing, and associated follow up visits. Contact lenses (daily wear soft, rigid gas permeable, frequent replacement, extended wear) for any given fiscal year will be provided at the Eye Institute’s wholesale cost. (If contact lens orders are placed more than once per fiscal year, a $10 service charge will be added to the wholesale cost of additional orders. An annual comprehensive examination is required to continue to place contact lens orders.

No additional services are included under this vision care benefit. Payment for all additional services is required at the Eye Institute’s prevailing charges.

Payment/Responsibility

The University requires the application of any available insurance benefits which the employee, their family members or retirees may have. Insurance information will be collected and insurance companies billed for services as applicable. If insurance is available, there will be no additional charge for the covered benefit.

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Covered Audiology services

Consultation/Examination: An initial office visit, necessary testing, and follow-up visits are provided during times students are in the Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI) clinics.

Aural Rehabilitation: One package of rehabilitation sessions will be provided during the times students are in PEI clinics.

Hardware: Hearing aids, assistive listening devices (ALDs) and other communication-support items will be provided at a 30 percent discount on normal PEI pricing.

Payment/Responsibility

The University requires the application of any available insurance benefits which the employee, their family members or retirees may have. Insurance information will be collected and insurance companies billed for services as applicable. If insurance is available, there will be no additional charge for the covered benefit.

No additional services are included under the audiology plan. Payment for additional services is required at the prevailing PEI charges.

Covered Speech-Language Pathology Services

Evaluation: One (1) routine evaluation of speech, language, voice, fluency, cognition and/or swallowing per year.

Follow-up: Treatment and/or re-evaluation will be determined based on the initial evaluation, not to exceed 52 visits per year without prior written authorization.

Payment/Responsibility

The University requires the application of any available insurance benefits which the employee, their family members or retirees may have. Insurance information will be collected and insurance companies billed for services as applicable. If insurance is available, there will be no additional charge for the covered benefit.

No additional services are included under the Speech-Language Pathology benefit.

Clinic Locations

The Eye Institute (TEI)
1200 W Godfrey Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19141
215.276.6000
The Eye Institute Chestnut Hill
7630 Germantown Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19118
215.276.6000
Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI)
8380 Old York Rd, 1200
Elkins Park, PA 19027
215.780.3180
Speech-Language Institute (SLI)
8380 Old York Rd, 2100
Elkins Park, PA 19027
215.780.3150