Does insurance cover LASIK?
LASIK is a popular eye surgery that can correct people’s vision problems, such as astigmatism and people who are farsighted or nearsighted. The surgery consists of reshaping the cornea so that light focuses on the retina in the back of the eye.
Why is LASIK done?
When light does travel through different parts of your eye, focusing on the retina in the back of your eye, your vision becomes blurry. Three specific refractive error types are:
- Astigmatism: blurry vision, especially with certain lighting
- Nearsightedness: you see things more clearly when they are farther away
- Farsightedness: you see things more clearly when they are closeup
You should avoid LASIK surgery if you:
- Are younger than 18 years old
- Are pregnant or nursing
- Take certain medications
- Have very thin corneas
- Have an eye condition such as glaucoma
Always talk to your doctor and ask questions in order to figure out if LASIK eye surgery is what’s best for you.
The cost of LASIK
The cost of LASIK surgery varies depending on your vision care facility. On average, it ranges anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000. Unfortunately, most insurance providers consider LASIK to be an elective or cosmetic procedure, meaning it’s not medically necessary.
Many vision care facilities allow you to set up a payment plan or other types of financing options, which can sometimes include a down payment or require you to pay it off within a certain amount of time.
Research your different options and have a consultation before deciding whether or not to get LASIK. Although it can be costly, the procedure can be very beneficial when it comes to correcting your vision changes. If you fit the criteria for LASIK and hate wearing glasses or contacts, consider looking into the procedure.