Covering the Costs of LASIK Surgery

The cost of LASIK is probably the only deterring factor to your decision. What complicates matters is that there is no standard cost of LASIK – it differs from clinic to clinic. This is because the FDA (Food and Drug Association) of America is not authorized to regulate prices. However, because of its popularity prices are quite competitive.

The cost of LASIK can range from $499 to $2500 per eye. The cost will differ depending on the surgeon’s credentials, the location of the clinic, and what type of equipment is used for the surgery. For example using a laser keratome instead of mechanical microkeratome or technology like wavefront or custom LASIK can cost up to $500 more. Along with this many other components are part of the cost of LASIK and affect the price. Mainly the components are:

• Any royalties that the surgeon might be paying to the company that manufactures the lasers.
• Cost of purchasing and maintaining the equipment.
• All disposable materials used only for your surgery (gloves, masks, etc)
• Medications (including anesthesia) that you will be given pre and post surgery
• Rent/Lease charges
• Additional staff salaries.
• Charges of evaluation before and for 1 year after the surgery.
• Any enhancement you might require after the treatment

The other matter of concern is that LASIK is classified as a cosmetic procedure by most insurance companies and hence they will not cover it (grossly unfair, we know). However, LASIK can still become affordable with financing options. You can check with your surgeon the facility of paying in installments. You could also look for healthcare financing companies that offer loans for procedures like LASIK. There are companies that offer financing especially for LASIK through a variety of plans in which you can pay over three months to five years. However, before applying to such a company for a LASIK loan, ensure that you check with your surgeon. Not all companies work with all surgeons and it is best to clarify this beforehand.

You might have to submit certain personal details like age proof, driver’s license number and at times medical history. Ensure your papers are in order and read the fine print before signing any forms. If you are filling up an online form, ensure that the website is credible by checking with people who might have used it before. Also check the URL for ‘https’ as opposed to ‘http’ which means you are on a secure server and your personal information has been encrypted.