Can you use FSA for LASIK 2024?
Asked by: Mrs. Audrey Gutkowski IV | Last update: March 3, 2025Score: 4.2/5 (17 votes)
Is Lasik Eye Surgery FSA eligible?
Under IRS guidelines, vision correction procedures (including LASIK eye surgery) are an eligible FSA expense. This tax-free Flexible Spending money can be used for eligible medical expenses such as LASIK, thereby reducing your out-of-pocket costs by thousands of dollars.
Can you use FSA for laser?
Common Questions about Using an FSA
FSA money can be used for many eligible health care expenses, including prescription drug co-pays, eyeglasses, laser vision correction and other elective surgeries.
What makes you not eligible for LASIK?
You have a disease or are on medications that may affect wound healing. Certain conditions, such as autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis), immunodeficiency states (e.g., HIV) and diabetes, and some medications (e.g., retinoic acid and steroids) may prevent proper healing after a refractive procedure.
Should I use my HSA to pay for LASIK?
Over time, the IRS has allowed individuals to contribute more to these savings accounts. Raising contribution limits each year for HSAs and FSAs helps more people afford medical costs for procedures. So, can you use HSA for LASIK? Absolutely!
FDA re-evaluates Lasik eye surgery
What are FSA eligible expenses?
Allowed expenses include insurance copayments and deductibles, qualified prescription drugs, insulin, and medical devices. You decide how much to put in an FSA, up to a limit set by your employer. You aren't taxed on this money.
Is LASIK surgery a qualified healthcare expense?
As LASIK is a treatment to correct defective vision, it is a medical expense which can be deducted from a patient's taxes.
Why do doctors not recommend LASIK?
Unresolved Vision Problems
Other eye diseases that affect the cornea or infections must be resolved before you can get LASIK. In some cases, you may find that because of eye diseases or another procedure, you cannot get LASIK. If this occurs, you may be a better candidate for a procedure like PRK.
How long after LASIK can I see 20/20?
While most folks reach 20/20 vision within a few weeks or months, it might take longer for others. Your vision can even improve up to six months after LASIK!
What disqualifies someone from LASIK?
- Your Eyewear Prescription Has Changed in the Past Two Years. When you undertake LASIK surgery, you want a stable eye to work with. ...
- You Take Certain Prescription Medications. ...
- You Have Certain Diseases. ...
- You Play Contact Sports. ...
- You Have Other Eye Conditions.
Can you use FSA for gym membership?
But that's not all a Letter of Medical Necessity can do for you. You can even pay for your gym membership with FSA/HSA funds, making it easier than ever to access top-of-the-line equipment like the models we have in our studios.
Can you use FSA for vision therapy?
Medically necessary treatments and routine eye exams are all part of FSA eligible vision care.
What can FSA not be used for?
You can spend FSA funds to pay deductibles and copayments, but not for insurance premiums. You can spend FSA funds on prescription medications, as well as over-the-counter medicines with a doctor's prescription. Reimbursements for insulin are allowed without a prescription.
Can you use FSA for laser treatment?
Skin treatments that aren't covered with your FSA
These types of treatments are not considered medical care and therefore not eligible for reimbursement with an FSA. Examples of cosmetic skin treatments include laser hair removal, facelifts, acid peels, chemical peels, laser resurfacing, and microdermabrasion.
How long does LASIK last?
While the effects of LASIK surgery are permanent, the benefits can decrease over time. For most patients, the results of this surgery will last a lifetime. About 10-12% of patients nationwide will need enhancement surgery because of anatomical changes to the eye/eyes.
Why is my vision blurry 5 years after LASIK?
There are times that blurry vision a few years after LASIK is absolute because the treatment has “worn off.” In those cases, the epithelium (that covers the surface of the eye) increases in thickness where the laser treated the cornea.
What vision is too bad for LASIK?
These are the FDA limits for LASIK surgery as outlined by the American Refractive Surgery Council: Up to +6.00 diopters of hyperopia (farsightedness) Up to 6 diopters of astigmatism. Up to -12.00 diopters of myopia (nearsightedness)
How many days rest is required after LASIK surgery?
On average, Lasik treatment recovery time for some people may go from 1 week to 10 days while some others may take up to 6 weeks to get completely healed. You will have a follow-up consultation with the Doctor the next day of your surgery, and you may be able to get back to work on the second day.
Is there a better alternative to LASIK?
Refractive lens exchange
RLE is a good alternative for patients with severe nearsightedness, farsightedness, presbyopia or astigmatism, or if the surgeon believes laser surgery is not the best option. In both younger and older patients, RLE has a high success rate.
What prescription is too high for LASIK?
So what prescription is too high for LASIK? Many eye doctors will set their limits to +6 for farsightedness, -12 for nearsightedness, and 6 diopters for astigmatism. But there are other factors that can make some patients good for LASIK while others are disqualified from the procedure.
Why is LASIK on the decline?
These include market saturation, overexposure of LASIK's complications by the media and government agencies, and changes in demographics and culture. The combination of these factors has sullied the image of LASIK, and as a result, the market will never return to the same level of procedures as in 2007.
Does FSA cover LASIK?
Lasik: FSA Eligibility. LASIK is eligible for reimbursement with flexible spending accounts (FSA), health savings accounts (HSA), health reimbursement accounts (HRA) and limited-purpose flexible spending accounts (LPFSA). Lasik is not eligible for reimbursement with dependent care flexible spending accounts (DCFSA).
Can I use HSA for LASIK?
You can use an HSA for LASIK and other laser vision correction procedures. Like the FSA, the IRS sets limits on what procedures can be covered by an HSA. Laser vision correction procedures including LASIK, SMILE, and PRK are eligible expenses.
Does insurance ever cover LASIK?
Most insurance plans don't cover the cost of Lasik eye surgery. But there are a few rare exceptions where some insurance plans might consider a Lasik procedure to be medically necessary, not elective.