Eye glasses? Where can I get a pair? Student discount?

I looked everywhere around here for new glasses, but I'm pretty picky.  I ended up finding a pair I loved at Specs on 9th Street.  The service was wonderful.  They don't take insurance, which is fine since you just get $100 reimbursed anyway (I never had any problems with that, by the way.  I just faxed in the form with my receipt, and I had my check in a few weeks.).  Definitely make a trip to Specs - perhaps a little pricey, but well worth every penny.

Just wanted to confirm the experience of dmp23...

In theory you should get $100 reimbursed. Really, though, they are a crooked insurance company. You can get the money if you have a few hours to fight them. I chose to fight them and they eventually sent me a check, but the hourly rate for fighting them probably wasn't worth my time. But that's how they work. I think you have to annoy them out of principle, even though it ends up just costing productivity.

PS. I ended up getting mine at Sams club.

coastalcontacts.com has exceptional deals, if you don't mind buying glasses without trying them on. They also have a no hassles return policy if you get them and hate them.

You can go to a local department store (Walmart, Target, Sears) and try pairs on.  Find a pair you like a write down the size information (usually written on the inside of the left arm) - its given as three numbers, which are measurements eye width, bridge width, and arm length in mm, respectively.  Then find a frame online with a similar style and size.

You can then file for up to a $100 reimbursement from UH.  I've done this every year without running into any problems.

Go to the the Student Health webpage (http://healthydevil.studentaffairs.duke.edu/insurance/) and keyword search or scroll down to "File a Reimbursement Claim for Eyeglasses/Contacts (doc)". Just follow the directions. Every year our insurance is supposed to reimburse $100 toward any contacts or glasses.

In response to a previous post, there is a $100 benefit that can go towards eye-glasses or contacts. There is a form letter on the student health website that you should send with a receipt to UHC if you do this. However, in practice, you may have a rough time getting reimbursed for glasses.  I went to Duke Private Diagnostic Clinic (which is in network) for an eye exam and a contact prescription.  UHC initially refused my claim for contact lenses, based on the fact that I had no procedural  code associated with getting the prescription.  I called to clarify and pointed out that  there shouldn't be a procedural code associated, as a contact prescription is not a procedure.  They agreed that there had been a mistake, and said it would be fixed.  It took four more phone calls before I finally received a check for $65.  Each time, someone had lost the claim or made a mistake.  When I got the check for $65, they claimed the amount was less because I had been given contacts in the doctor's office and this had been reported on my eye exam claim.  I called my provider and they said that this was not the case and they would clear it up.  Five months later, I have heard nothing more about the claim.  I got sick of following up and cashed my $65 check. 

I don't know about a student discount, but be sure to ask if they give a discount based on what kind of insurance you have.  A few years ago when Duke was still Blue Cross Blue Shield, most places (Optix, place in Northgate Mall, place in Erwin square, NOT Specs, I think) were giving a 30% discount if you had BCBS.  I don't know if it works for UHC, but it's worth asking.  30% is a lot!  Also, I was surprised to learn that my insurance had an eye plan with $200 I could apply towards eye wear.  Don't know if that applies to the student insurance plan nowadays, but worth checking out.