Eye Doctor That Accepts Medicaid in Brooklyn: What You Need to Know
Nostrand Optical in Crown Heights accepts Medicaid for eye exams, contact lens fittings, and glasses — and Dr. Alexander Shlivko, OD is currently accepting new patients. If you've been putting off an eye exam because you weren't sure your coverage would work here, you don't have to keep waiting.
Finding an eye doctor that takes Medicaid in Brooklyn can feel harder than it should be. A lot of practices either don't accept it at all or have such limited availability that you end up waiting months for an appointment. At Nostrand Optical on Nostrand Ave, Medicaid patients are seen the same way every other patient is — no different tier of care, no awkward conversation at the front desk.
Here's what Medicaid covers for vision in New York, what to expect at your visit, and how to get started.
Key Takeaways
- Nostrand Optical at 1018C Nostrand Ave in Crown Heights accepts Medicaid and Medicare for eye exams and vision care
- New York Medicaid covers one eye exam per year for adults and children, plus glasses when medically necessary
- Dr. Shlivko sees patients of all ages, including children ages 7 and up
- Medicaid patients can also get contact lens fittings and prescription glasses through the practice
- Not sure if your specific plan is covered? Call the office and we'll check before your appointment
What Medicaid Covers for Eye Care in New York
New York Medicaid provides solid vision benefits compared to many other states. Here's what you're actually entitled to:
For adults, Medicaid covers one routine eye exam per year with a participating provider. If Dr. Shlivko identifies a medical condition during your exam — elevated eye pressure, early signs of glaucoma, or retinal changes — that visit may be billed as a medical service, which Medicaid also covers. You're not limited to just a prescription update.
For children, Medicaid covers eye exams and glasses under the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit. Kids are entitled to vision screenings as part of their regular care, and if a prescription is needed, glasses are covered.
Glasses are covered for both adults and children when medically necessary. The covered selection at participating providers includes standard frames and lenses. If you want to upgrade to a designer frame — Gucci, Versace, Prada, or Dolce & Gabbana, all of which we carry — you can pay the difference out of pocket.
Contact lenses may be covered under Medicaid in specific circumstances, such as when contacts are medically necessary rather than just a preference. Dr. Shlivko will evaluate your situation and let you know what applies to your case.
The New York State Department of Health publishes full details on Medicaid vision benefits if you want to review what your specific plan includes.
Which Medicaid Plans Does Nostrand Optical Accept?
Medicaid in New York runs through several managed care plans, and patients often aren't sure which one they have or whether it's accepted at a given practice. Nostrand Optical accepts Medicaid and several of the plans that manage Medicaid benefits in Brooklyn, including Health First and Fidelis Care.
If you're not certain whether your specific plan is covered, just call the office before your appointment. We'll verify your coverage so there are no surprises when you arrive. That's a straightforward ask, and it's exactly the kind of thing we're happy to sort out on your behalf.
Beyond Medicaid, the practice also accepts:
- Medicare (for patients 65 and older, or those with qualifying disabilities)
- UnitedHealthcare (UHC)
- Anthem
- Union plans
- CareCredit (for out-of-pocket costs, with 0% interest options)
You can check the insurance we accept on our website, or call us directly if your plan isn't listed and you're not sure.
Why So Many Brooklyn Patients Have Trouble Finding a Medicaid Eye Doctor
This is a real problem in Crown Heights and the surrounding neighborhoods. Medicaid reimbursement rates are lower than commercial insurance rates, so some practices choose not to participate. Others technically accept Medicaid but have very limited appointment slots for those patients, which means a wait of several weeks or longer.
The result is that a lot of people in Flatbush, Bed-Stuy, Lefferts Gardens, and Crown Heights skip their eye exams entirely — not because they don't want to go, but because navigating the system is frustrating and they're not sure where to start.
That's not how it works at Nostrand Optical. Medicaid patients aren't managed differently. You book an appointment, you come in, and Dr. Shlivko does the same exam he does for every patient. If you're overdue for an eye exam and you have Medicaid, book an appointment online or call us on Nostrand Ave.
What to Expect at a Medicaid Eye Exam With Dr. Shlivko
A routine eye exam at Nostrand Optical takes about 45 minutes. Here's what actually happens during that visit:
Visual acuity: The standard letter chart test most people recognize. This measures how well you see at distance and near, and it's the basis for your glasses or contact lens prescription.
Refraction: Dr. Shlivko will determine your exact prescription using a series of lenses. This is what gets you to your clearest vision.
Eye pressure check: Eye pressure is measured as part of every exam. Elevated pressure can be an early sign of glaucoma, which often has no symptoms until damage has already occurred. This screening matters, especially if you're over 50 or have a family history of glaucoma. You can read more about glaucoma screening in Brooklyn on our blog.
Internal and external eye health: Dr. Shlivko examines the front and back of your eyes. This includes looking at the retina, optic nerve, lens, and cornea. Conditions like early cataracts, macular degeneration, and diabetic eye changes can show up here before you notice any symptoms. Our cataract screening in Brooklyn post covers what that part of the exam looks like.
Prescription and next steps: At the end of your visit, Dr. Shlivko will explain what he found, give you your updated prescription, and let you know if any follow-up is needed.
If you need glasses, same-day glasses are available for most standard prescriptions. You won't have to wait a week.
Patient story: Marcus, Crown Heights
Marcus came in last fall after not having an eye exam in nearly four years. He has Medicaid through Health First and had been told by another office that they couldn't see him for two months. He called Nostrand Optical and got an appointment within the week.
During the exam, Dr. Shlivko found that Marcus's prescription had changed significantly — he'd been straining to read at work and assumed it was just screen fatigue. He also had slightly elevated eye pressure that warranted monitoring. Marcus left with a new pair of glasses the same day and a follow-up scheduled for six months out to recheck his eye pressure. He'd put off that exam for years because he didn't know where to go. Now he comes in every year.
Medicaid Eye Care for Kids in Crown Heights
If your child has Medicaid, they're covered for eye exams and glasses — and early exams matter more than most parents realize. The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends that school-age children have their eyes examined annually, not just screened at school. School screenings catch obvious problems but miss a lot.
Conditions like amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (eye turn), and early myopia can affect how a child learns to read and perform in school. Many kids don't complain about their vision because they don't know it could be any different. A proper exam catches what a hallway screening won't.
Dr. Shlivko sees children ages 7 and up at Nostrand Optical. The exam is adapted for kids — it doesn't feel clinical or rushed. If your child needs glasses, we'll fit them that day. Our pediatric eye exam in Brooklyn post explains what the exam covers and how to know when your child is ready for their first visit.
Patient story: A Crown Heights family
A mother from Crown Heights brought in her nine-year-old daughter after the school sent home a note about a failed vision screening. She was on Medicaid and nervous about whether it would be accepted and how much it might cost. The front desk confirmed her coverage before the appointment.
Dr. Shlivko found that the girl had moderate myopia in both eyes — she'd been squinting at the board for months and her teacher had assumed she wasn't paying attention. She left that afternoon with her first pair of glasses. Her mother said within two weeks her daughter was reading more on her own and her teacher noticed the difference.
Does Medicaid Cover Dry Eye Treatment?
This is a question that comes up often, and the honest answer is: it depends on how the visit is classified.
If your dry eye symptoms are significant enough to be treated as a medical condition rather than a routine vision concern, Medicaid may cover the evaluation and management visit. Dr. Shlivko will assess your symptoms, look at the surface of your eyes, and determine whether clinical treatment is appropriate for your situation.
Dry eye is more common than most people think, and it's not just uncomfortable. Untreated dry eye can make contact lenses unwearable and blur your vision even with a correct prescription. If you've been dealing with burning, grittiness, or fluctuating vision, mention it when you come in. Our dry eye treatment in Brooklyn post covers what treatment typically looks like.
How to Book a Medicaid Eye Exam at Nostrand Optical
Booking is straightforward. Here's how to do it:
- Book online at nostrandoptical.com/book — select a time that works for you
- Or call the office and we'll get you scheduled
- Before your appointment, have your Medicaid card ready (or just your member ID if you have it saved)
- If you're not sure whether your specific plan is covered, call us first — we'll verify it
Nostrand Optical is at 1018C Nostrand Ave in Crown Heights, between Empire Blvd and Eastern Pkwy. We're easy to get to on Nostrand Ave by bus, and we see patients from across Crown Heights, Prospect Heights, Flatbush, Bed-Stuy, and Lefferts Gardens.
Patient story: A senior patient on Medicare and Medicaid
One of our regular patients, a 72-year-old woman from Flatbush, has both Medicare and Medicaid (a combination called dual coverage). She came to Nostrand Optical after her previous eye doctor retired and she wasn't sure who would accept both plans.
Dr. Shlivko has been seeing her annually for three years. During her most recent exam, he identified early cataract changes in one eye. He explained what that meant, what to watch for, and when a referral to an ophthalmologist would be the right next step. She wasn't rushed, she wasn't alarmed, and she left with a clear picture of where her eye health stood. That's what a neighborhood practice should feel like.
You Shouldn't Have to Skip an Eye Exam Over Insurance
The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recommends that adults get a baseline eye exam by age 40 and annual exams by age 65. But vision problems don't wait for the right age, and coverage shouldn't be a barrier to basic eye care.
If you have Medicaid and you're in Crown Heights or anywhere nearby in Brooklyn, Nostrand Optical is a real option. Dr. Alexander Shlivko, OD is accepting new patients, the practice accepts your insurance, and you won't be treated differently because of how you're covered.
Schedule your eye exam at Nostrand Optical and find out exactly where your vision stands. We're at 1018C Nostrand Ave in Crown Heights, and we're here to see you.