Insurance Reimbursement
Everything you need to file an insurance claim for your iCare HOME2 rental — step-by-step guides, interactive form helpers, and downloadable templates.
How to File an Insurance Claim
Follow these six steps to submit a reimbursement claim for your home tonometry rental.
Get Your Receipt from MyEyes
After your rental, we email you a detailed receipt with all the billing codes your insurer needs — CPT 92100, HCPCS E1399 (or A9279), and your diagnosis code.
Gather Your Documents
You'll need: your MyEyes rental receipt, a copy of your prescription from your ophthalmologist, and your insurance card (for member ID and claims address).
Write a Cover Letter
A cover letter explains to your insurer why the service was medically necessary. Use our Cover Letter Generator below to create one in seconds.
Fill Out the HCFA-1500 Claim Form
The CMS-1500 (HCFA) is the standard health insurance claim form. Our Form Helper pre-fills the MyEyes provider info — you just add your details.
Mail or Upload Your Claim
Send your cover letter, completed HCFA-1500, receipt, and prescription to the claims address on your insurance card. Many insurers also accept claims online.
Follow Up
Claims typically take 2-6 weeks to process. If your claim is denied, don't give up — see our FAQ below for tips on appealing.
What We've Learned
Practical advice from helping hundreds of patients navigate the reimbursement process.
Coverage varies — but more insurers are paying
Not all insurance companies reimburse for home tonometry, but we're seeing more approvals every year. Patients have received full or partial reimbursement from carriers including BCBS, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Tufts, Harvard Pilgrim, and Humana. Medicare does not currently cover the iCare HOME2, but some Medicare Advantage plans (such as Aetna MA) have approved claims.
Call your insurer before you file
Call the number on your insurance card and tell them you've rented (or purchased) an FDA-cleared durable medical device with a prescription from your doctor. Ask what documentation they need and how they prefer to receive claims — online portal, paper mail, or fax. If you have UnitedHealthcare, our UHC provider number is 009385773.
Be persistent — appeals work
If the first representative denies your request or says it's not covered, don't give up. File a formal appeal with a letter that includes your diagnosis, your doctor's prescription, and a description of the device. Several of our patients have had initial denials overturned on appeal — sometimes by using a different billing code (A9279 instead of E1399).
Start with E1399 — try A9279 on appeal
There is no specific HCPCS code for a home tonometer. Start with E1399 ("Durable Medical Equipment, Not Otherwise Classified") with modifier RR for a rental or NU for a purchase. If your insurer denies E1399 as too vague, try A9279 ("Monitoring Feature/Device, Not Otherwise Classified") on appeal — this code has been accepted by UnitedHealthcare and others.
Your doctor may need to provide additional documentation
Some insurers require a letter of medical necessity or your specific ICD-10 diagnosis code (such as H40.1 for open-angle glaucoma) from your ophthalmologist. If your insurer asks for these, request them from your doctor's office — they're usually quick to provide.
Ask about gap exceptions and rare disease benefits
Since no home tonometer distributor is in-network for most plans, you may be able to request a "gap exception" for out-of-network DME coverage. In some states (such as Minnesota), patients have successfully used rare disease benefit mandates to get coverage through their employer plan.
Every insurer has different submission requirements
Some companies require online upload through their member portal, others want paper copies mailed to a claims address, and some accept fax. Always ask when you call so your claim doesn't get lost or delayed.
Understanding Your Billing Codes
These codes are used when filing a claim for home tonometry.
Serial Tonometry
This code covers serial tonometry — multiple eye pressure measurements over a period of time. It's the primary billing code for home IOP monitoring with the iCare HOME2.
Used for the professional service of IOP measurement.
DME, Not Otherwise Classified
This code covers durable medical equipment that doesn't have its own specific code. The iCare HOME2 falls into this category as a home-use rebound tonometer.
Used for the rental of the iCare HOME2 device itself. Use modifier RR for rentals, NU for purchases.
Monitoring Feature/Device
An alternative code for monitoring devices not otherwise classified. Some insurers (including UnitedHealthcare) have accepted this code when E1399 was initially denied.
Recommended as a backup code on appeal if E1399 is rejected.
Cover Letter Generator
Fill in your details and we'll generate a professional reimbursement cover letter with medical necessity language, billing codes, and enclosures list.
What is a cover letter and why do I need one?
A cover letter is a one-page letter you include with your insurance claim that explains why the service was medically necessary. Without one, claims reviewers see billing codes and dollar amounts but have no context for why your doctor prescribed home tonometry.
A good cover letter significantly improves your chances of approval because it connects the dots: your diagnosis, your doctor's prescription, and the clinical value of home IOP monitoring. Our generator writes this letter for you using standard medical necessity language that insurance companies expect to see.
HCFA-1500 Claim Form Helper
Fill in your details and we'll generate a completed claim form ready to submit to your insurance company.
What is the HCFA-1500 form?
The HCFA-1500 (also called the CMS-1500) is the standard health insurance claim form used across the entire U.S. healthcare system. It's not just for Medicare or Medicaid — every insurance company accepts it, including private insurers like Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, and Humana.
Think of it as the universal "receipt and request" that tells your insurer exactly what service you received, who provided it, what diagnosis it was for, and how much it cost. Whether you have employer-sponsored insurance, a marketplace plan, Medicare, Medicaid, or TRICARE — this is the form you use to request reimbursement.
Our form helper makes this easy by pre-filling all the MyEyes provider information (name, address, NPI, Tax ID, billing codes, and place of service). You just fill in your personal and insurance details.
Downloadable Templates
Prefer to do it yourself? Download blank forms and sample documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about insurance coverage and reimbursement for home tonometry.
Need Help Filing?
Our Patient Ambassadors can walk you through the reimbursement process step by step.