PEOPLE: Optical Community CareCredit’s Visibility Grows in The Vision Care Market By Staff Monday, August 27, 2012 12:00 AM COSTA MESA, Calif.—CareCredit, a health care credit card, is continuing its expansion in the vision care community. In 2010, the company began actively engaging optometry practices and the company now has more than 12,000 eyecare providers enrolled in the program, executives told Vision Monday. As part of its 25th anniversary, CareCredit has introduced a new brand image, which consists of a new logo, icon and tagline: “Making care possible…today.” With input from consumers, providers, and cardholders, CareCredit’s logo, icon, and tagline were enhanced to retain the qualities of trust, strength, and dependability, the company said, “to reflect cardholders’ perception of the benefits the brand brings to their everyday lives.” Established in 1987 and a part of GE Capital, CareCredit ( www.carecredit.com) is now accepted at more than 150,000 enrolled practices nationwide including veterinary, ophthalmology, cosmetic, audiology, podiatry, chiropractic, optometry and other specialties. The card has helped more than 20 million patients receive care over the past 25 years. “Our 25th anniversary provided us the opportunity to reach out to our providers and cardholders and ask why they chose to use CareCredit,” said Cindy Hearn, senior vice president, CareCredit. “Through this process, we gained a clear understanding of the experience they have with our brand, which benefits they valued most and how our brand fits in their lives.” CareCredit works similarly to a department store credit card, but can only be used for health care expenses. Patients apply for CareCredit online or by phone, either at home or while they are at the practice. Practices that accept CareCredit as a payment option will receive a complimentary, comprehensive kit of materials for their practice and patients in June including new patient educational and display materials. At Vision Expo West, CareCredit will be offer a sweepstakes where visitors can enter to win a $500 Apple gift card; the company will be at Booth #18911. ■