How to Pay for Lasik Surgery
May 13th, 2009
If you are thinking about having lasik surgery, there is a lot to learn and a lot to think about. One consideration that cannot be overlooked for most people is paying for the procedure.
Nearly all health insurance providers consider lasik surgery an elective or cosmetic procedure. As such, the cost of lasik surgery is highly unlikely to be covered by your health insurance plan. There are, however, a number of other ways to pay for your surgery.
In order to win your business, many lasik providers offer a payment plan. Some offices may require no down payment or charge no interest or both. Make sure you discuss and fully understand the terms of the payment plan before you sign anything.
Third-party financing is also an option if the lasik center you choose does not offer a payment plan. Companies such as CareCredit will finance your lasik surgery. Having bad credit could be an obstacle if you are considering using a finance company, though. Your doctor may be able to recommend or provide you with a list of outside financing companies so ask if you are interested.
If you have enough available credit, your lasik provider most likely will accept credit cards. Many patients end up just using their credit card as it requires no additional paperwork or qualification. Before you hand over your credit card, though, compare the interest rate, late fees and minimum payment to those offered by the outside finance companies you doctor can recommend. You may find that your credit card is not the best deal.
Putting aside money until you have enough to cover the cost of your surgery is another way you can cover the expense. It may not be the fastest way, but it is as effective as any other. For some people, saving until they have enough may be the only way to meet the cost. If you know you will not be having surgery until a later time, it makes sense to start saving until you are ready.
If you participate in a flexible savings account offered by your employer, the money in your FSA can be used to pay for part or all of the cost of your lasik surgery. Flexible savings accounts are convenient and easy to set up so if you are not sure if your company offers them, ask at work.
As you can see, if you decide on lasik surgery, but your health plan does not cover it, you are not simply out of luck. You can save until you have enough or you can finance. There is a payment option that makes sense for everyone.
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Posted in Health and Fitness | 
Tags: eye care, Health and Fitness, lasik, lasik surgery, surgery, vision
