Physicians are defined as a person qualified to practice medicine independently. This branch includes Doctors of Optometry; yet companies such as AT&T deny us the healthcare workers discount solely based on the fact that our degrees don't end with MD or DO. 

What is a doctor of optometry: as stated by the AOA:

Doctors of Optometry, America's primary eye health care providers, are the frontline of eye and vision care. Doctors of optometry are essential health care providers and are recognized as physicians under Medicare. They examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases and disorders of the eye. In addition to providing eye and vision care, they play a major role in an individual's overall health and well-being by detecting systemic disease, and diagnosing, treating and managing ocular manifestations of those diseases, and providing vaccinations. 

Doctors of optometry:

-Prescribe medications, low vision rehabilitation, vision therapy, spectacle lenses, contact lenses and perform certain surgical procedures.

-Counsel patients regarding surgical and non-surgical options that meet their visual needs related to their occupations, avocations and lifestyle.

-complete pre-professional undergraduate education in a college or university and four years of professional education at a college or optometry, leading to the doctor of optometry degree. Many doctors of optometry complete an additional residency in a specific area of practice. 

All of this and more qualify us as essential healthcare workers and therefore should be included in discounts given to our fellow healthcare workers.