Will Insurance Cover LASIK - How to get Insurance for LASIK

Will insurance cover LASIK? Naturally, a lot of people considering eye correction surgery want to know if laser eye surgery procedures like LASIK are covered by insurance. The good news is that certain insurance plans do provide benefits to assist in defraying the expense of laser eye surgery; however, as is often the case, specifics matter.

It is the most common kind of eye surgery performed in the United States to correct eyesight. It can help those with various forms of astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness (however it can be tricky for those with presbyopia).

What is LASIK?

LASIK (Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis) is an eye surgery treatment that uses lasers to treat common visual problems such as astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. A tiny bit of tissue is removed from the cornea using two lasers to permanently alter its form.

The patient receiving LASIK is awake throughout the process, and eye drops are used to numb their eyes. The patient may feel some pressure and notice that their eyesight is becoming dim or completely black as the surgeon employs an eyelid holder to prevent them from blinking.

The cornea will be made into a very thin flap and then lifted back by the surgeon using a femto laser. The ultimate objective is to improve your vision by correcting your refractive error, which is the most prevalent kind of vision problem that impairs clarity of vision.

You may require fewer glasses or contacts or maybe have total vision correction. More than 90% of patients achieved 20/20 vision or greater, and 99% of patients had better than 20/40 vision after the treatment, according to research from 2016.

What is the Cost of LASIK?

LASIK surgery typically costs $2,600 for each eye and $4,200 for both eyes nationally.

What are the Factors that Affect the Cost of LASIK?

The factors affecting the price you pay include:

Where you live.
The type of surgery performed.
Type of laser used.
The surgeon’s level of experience.
Post-op prescriptions such as antibiotic eye drops.

Listed above are some of the factors that determine the price.

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Top Companies that Cover Insurance for LASIK

Some of the top companies that offer insurance for this procedure include the following:

VSP Vision Care.
Aetna.
UnitedHealth.
Humana.
Cigna.
EyeMed.
Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Anthem.
Emblem Health.
Kaiser Permanente.

Mentioned above are some top-rated insurance providers.

How to get Insurance for LASIK

To obtain this insurance, adhere to the guidelines provided below:

Visit the official websites of numerous insurance companies, including Cigna, Humana, Aetna, UnitedHealth, etc.
You can visit the official Cigna website at https://www.cigna.com/
Simply navigate down the page and select “Contact Cigna Healthcare” to obtain their contact details.

Give them a call for further details on how to put this policy into effect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some frequently asked questions.

Is LASIK Covered by Insurance?

LASIK is typically not covered by insurance since it is an elective procedure, indicating that it is optional and not medically necessary. Nevertheless, depending on your insurance policy and provider, insurance coverage can be feasible in specific circumstances.

What are the Eligibility Criteria to Meet for LASIK?

Typically, LASIK candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

You have to be at least eighteen years old.
Your eye prescription should remain the same for at least a year.
Your refractive error must be treatable with LASIK; to receive LASIK, you must first be assessed by a licensed and skilled refractive surgeon. Eye disorders such as corneal problems, abnormally dry eyes, and discrepancies in prescription and other measurement criteria are a few factors that can disqualify someone.
You are not taking any medications that could interfere with normal healing or you do not have an illness like an autoimmune disease.
You don’t frequently play contact sports.
You don’t suffer from any visual problems, such as dry eyes, blepharitis, big pupils, or thin corneas.
You’ve never had refractive surgery before.

What is the Cost of LASIK Surgery without Insurance?

The MarketScope 2020 research states that the average cost of LASIK is $2,632 per eye.

Conclusion

It is crucial to speak with a skilled physician who specializes in laser vision correction when thinking about LASIK eye surgery.

The medical necessity of the treatment can be determined with the use of a comprehensive eye exam that assesses the health of the eyes and measures vision performance.

Consult your employer or your personal benefits manager to check your policy and find out if you may receive coverage if you are a suitable candidate for LASIK.