Does Insurance Cover LASIK Surgery?
Here at LaserCare Eye Center, we are often asked by our patients if LASIK surgery is covered by their standard medical insurance cover. Unfortunately, there is no straight answer to this question, as coverage can vary when it comes to elective surgery.
If you are looking for innovative and effective LASIK eye surgery in Dallas, we offer some of the most advanced treatment available in the country, all at affordable prices if your health insurance does not cover this kind of procedure.
We want all of our patients to have access to affordable LASIK eye surgery solutions, and we work with a wide range of insurance providers who assist with coverage for a number of surgeries and treatments. Please speak to us or ask your insurance provider to see if we are participating in their network, or you may have out of network coverage that you can utilize for your procedure.
In most cases, your regular health insurance will only help to protect you against financial losses incurred as the result of unexpected injuries or diseases. It is possible, however, that vision insurance may be able to help you with the cost of LASIK surgery.
What Is Vision Insurance?
Vision insurance is an umbrella term used to describe health and wellness plans that are designed to reduce the cost of routine eye exams and prescription eyewear such as eyeglasses and contact lenses. Some vision plans also offer discounts on elective vision correction surgery, such as LASIK and PRK.
Health Insurance And LASIK
Most medical insurance providers will not cover the cost of LASIK surgery in Dallas. This is because they consider LASIK to be an elective, cosmetic procedure, and not one that is medically necessary.
While there are cost benefits associated with LASIK, there are no immediate medical benefits that will allow your insurer to qualify it as a beneficial medical treatment for your own health and wellbeing. The LaserCare Eye Center does, however, participate in some vision plans which offer a discount on laser vision correction, which could make the surgery more affordable to you, even if your insurance will not pay.
How Can I Pay For LASIK Without Health Insurance?
If you are looking for options to help to cover the cost of your LASIK surgery in Dallas, there are some other payment options that you may be able to consider:
Vision Insurance
Some health insurers have special arrangements in place with local LASIK practices that will provide LASIK surgery at a discounted price. Others may have outsourced their vision benefits to one of the major standalone vision care plans meaning you could receive $1000’s worth of discounts for your LASIK surgery.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
If your employer offers an FSA, your surgery could count as an eligible expense. With the maximum contribution for an FSA currently standing at $2,500 per year, budgeting your full FSA amount towards LASIK surgery in Dallas will result in significant savings, and save on paperwork.
Medicare and Medicaid
Medicare and Medicaid will not pay for LASIK surgery unless it is medically necessary. In some cases, however, Medicare and Medicaid providers contract with an outside company to cover vision benefits. This will be an external company that will recommend preferred ophthalmologist and surgeons for a discount.
Out-of-Pocket
You are always welcome to pay for your LASIK surgery using your own savings. We can even offer payment plans to help you spread the overall cost across a period of months if you would rather not pay all at once.
If You Have a Serious Eye Condition
If you have serious vision problems that would be best treated using LASIK surgery then your health insurance provider may be willing to pay towards the surgery. You will, however, need to be able to provide a comprehensive report from a qualified physician or ophthalmologist, that can adequately explain to the insurance provider why glasses or contact lenses would not be a suitable treatment solution for you.
Are Re-Treatments or Complications from LASIK Covered By Insurance?
Most doctors will provide surgical follow-ups free of charge within the first year of your LASIK operation. Payment for other complications will be handled by your doctor on an individual basis. If you need to be seen again by your physician as the result of traumatic injuries following your LASIK surgery, you should be covered, even if your health insurer wasn’t involved in your LASIK surgery.
Affordable, Effective LASIK Surgery From The LaserCare Eye Center
At LaserCare Eye Center we offer the latest Blade free Intra LASIK procedures, as well as affordable finance options and some of the most experienced surgeons in Dallas. If you would like to find out more about LASIK eye surgery from the LaserCare Eye Center, call us today on 214.328.0444.
