Lasik Costs

For most people, cost will be a major factor in deciding when – or if – to get laser surgery. Costs can vary widely and it’s wise to thoroughly research this before deciding when and where to have your laser surgery performed.

Factors Affecting the Cost of LASIK Surgery

There can be wide swings in the cost of LASIK based on several contributing reasons. Here are the most common ones:

  • The skill of your surgeon. A LASIK surgeon who does many hundreds of procedures a year will almost always cost more than a less experienced surgeon. While they bring a higher level of experience to the table, that doesn’t necessarily mean a higher level of skill and successful results. This is why checking reviews and prior patients is so important.
  • The amount of vision correction required. LASIK surgery is more expensive for patients with very poor vision who need a large correction performed. A simple correction for mild nearsightedness will have the lowest cost.
  • The type of laser equipment technology used. The latest laser technology, or custom LASIK equipment may command a higher price. Be sure to find out what laser equipment your doctor will use and where it falls on the technology curve.
  • Where you are located. A study done by USA Today showed that health care costs commonly vary from location to location. For example, an MRI can cost from $500 to $6,000 based on where it’s done geographically. So it’s not surprising that LASIK surgery can also vary by region. Generally speaking, laser eye surgeons located in big cities (e.d. Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, New York, etc.) will typically charge more for laser surgery. This is due to higher rent and operating costs. Before you consider going to a lower cost area for your laser surgery, be sure to compare your travel costs with the money saved on surgery and the inconvenience of having to also travel for follow up appointments.

When researching locations, be sure to not depend solely on the LASIK ads you may see because they can often be deceptive. Many of the ads quote a price for LASIK that just includes the basic surgery cost for people who only need a small amount of correction. They may not include all costs, or use an inexperience surgeon, or outdated technology. Also, the surgery cost will be higher for patients needing a large degree of vision correction. 

To avoid surprises when comparing LASIK surgery costs between providers, these are the questions you should ask:

  • Is the quote for both eyes or only one?
  • Are all post-op visits included in the cost?
  • Are prescription medications included?
  • What type of LASIK technology is used?
  • Overall, exactly what other costs are included and excluded with the quote?
  • Can you get an itemized quote in writing?

Average Costs for LASIK Surgery

The cost of LASIK surgery in the U.S. today is between $1,500 to $3,000 per eye, with overall average being $2,200 per eye. As previously covered, this variance is due to location, surgeon experience and technology used. The breakdown by cost range is as follows:

  • Up to $1,500 per eye: 9%
  • $1,501 – $2,000 per eye: 37%
  • $2,001 to $2,500 per eye: 44%
  • $2,501 – $3,000 per eye: 10%

Be certain to ask your surgeon what is and isn’t included in that price. Just like in buying a car, what you want to know is the “out the door” price. The best time to ask this question is during your initial consultation. After all, this is a significant investment and you want to know exactly what you’re getting for your money. 

Insurance for LASIK 

Unfortunately, LASIK is typically not covered under insurance plans because it is usually considered an elective procedure that is not medically necessary, according to the American Refractive Surgery Council. They usually do not consider the desire to eliminate contact or glasses as a medical issue.

As such, insurance rarely covers the entire cost – or any cost – for LASIK. However, if your refractive error is serious enough, your insurance plan may cover some of the cost, so you should always check with your health insurance provider first.

All of this said, even though your insurer may not cover any costs directly, they may have connections with certain LASIK providers. You may then receive a discount for having your laser procedure performed at a location that has a connection with your insurer.

If you have health insurance through your employer, talk to your human resources or employee benefits department to see if your health care plan covers any LASIK costs. They can also tell you if the insurance carrier has negotiated a discount with any LASIK providers. You may find that you’re entitled to anywhere from a 5 to 15 percent discount if you are in a major carrier provider network.

Finally, there is a new kind of plan offered by some insurance companies, called “expanded vision insurance plan program”. This is a type of vision plan that, in addition to eye exams, glasses and contacts, can cover as much as 50% of the cost of LASIK. Be sure to check if your vision plan has this expanded benefit.

Other Ways to Cover the Cost of Your LASIK

Since insurance is seldom an option for covering LASIK costs, finding a way to pay for what can be an expensive procedure can be a challenge. Here are some options you can consider.

  1. Provider discounts. Many LASIC centers will offer coupons or seasonal promotions. Sometimes you can get a discount by simply asking (so be sure to ask!).
  2. Use Your Flexible-Spending Account, also know as a “ Health Savings Account (HSA). This is a tax advantage account that many employers offer. You fund them through payroll deductions, up to a maximum of $5,000. That money is tax free and be used for any medically related expense, including LASIK surgery. Since the money you contribute is tax free, it’s just like getting a discount equal to your income tax rate on expenses you pay from it. One feature many people don’t realize is that you may be able to get an advance on the entire amount of your annual contribution, which means you don’t have to wait to schedule a procedure.
  3. Use a credit card. This can be a good option if you have a card with an exceptionally low interest rate, or one that offers excellent rewards for purchases. While this relieves the financial burdon some by allowing you pay back the money over time, it’s usually not the best way to borrow money for your LASIK since interest rates on credit cards tend to be much higher than other forms of financing.
  4. Personal loans. You may consider taking out a personal loan from a bank or finance company. This will involve an application process and perhaps even collateral, but will almost have a lower interest rate than credit cards. If you already have a home equity line of credit established, that is likely you’re lowest cost method of financing your LASIK surgery.
  5. Health Care Credit Cards. Many LASIK centers, particularly the larger chains, offer free financing, usually for up to 24 months. They usually partner with a finance company to offer this by means of a credit line that is specific to health care. Examples of this are GE Money CareCredit and Chase HealthAdvantage. While they can appear attractive, there are potential pitfalls and aren’t a particularly good choice for elective procedures such as LASIK. If you are late with even one payment, the zero percent interest can suddenly become 25 percent or more and will accrue from the start of your loan. Your already expensive LASIK surgery then becomes even more expensive. This should be considered a last resort unless you are absolutely sure you can make every payment on time.

Before considering financing your LASIK surgery, be sure to ask if they offer a discount for paying cash.