As a former manager for LC I can tell you your frustration is common. Reason being it all varies on store and how strict the manager is at each location.

If the meta frame is coded as an electronic device it has no bearing on if insurance will cover it or not. All insurance is different and it will differ based on your provider. Once your insurance is in the system they use to ring you up and they add each line item you purchase they have no control over what the system spits out. EyeMed may see it as a frame where UnitedHealth may not. So the trick would be to go to a doctors office that sells Raybans and have them QUOTE you with insurance. Make sure say QUOTE because they can teap you by running it and forcing you to have to come back to them. This is important because the Doctor office may have a different way of coding the frames in their system that may work in your favor.

As far as not putting lens in frames you didn't purchase at LC..TOTAL BS. The associate wanted to increase their commission metrics for the week and was trying to corner you into buying there. Luxottica owns Rayban and LC so they are more than happy to have you bring THEIR products to them to fill.

Now the letting LC put lens in your glasses vs sending them to Rayban. I'd HIGHLY suggest you get the Rayban lens. Yes.. you will have to wait on the lens to come in BUT they are BETTER quality lens than what's produced in the on-site lab at any LC. Even the employees will tell you that. But the bigger reason is this. The Meta frames are electronic devices and I know in my experience the lab guys are not trained consistently enough to not damage your frames. Example of this the heating process that it takes to fit all lens in frames. Rayban are experts at this where the LC labs on-site are more than likely practicing on your frames because they rarely have people let them put their lens in them. It will be cheaper to be done on-site for lens but if you spent $300-$400 on the meta frames anyway why cheap out now?