How much does LASIK cost with medical?
Asked by: Juliana D'Amore | Last update: May 24, 2025Score: 4.5/5 (16 votes)
Does Medicaid cover LASIK?
The most common reason people choose to have LASIK eye surgery is so they will no longer have to wear glasses or contact lenses to correct vision problems. Because this is considered cosmetic, or elective surgery, Medicare or Medicaid does not offer coverage for the procedure.
How much should I expect to pay for LASIK?
On average, the life-changing procedure costs around $4,500 for both eyes, with costs determined by several factors. At Los Angeles Vision Institute in Los Angeles, CA, our surgeons perform industry-leading LASIK at a comparably affordable price.
How much of LASIK is covered by insurance?
In most cases, no. LASIK is considered an elective procedure, which means it typically isn't covered by insurance.
Does LASIK count as medical expenses?
The IRS defines medical expenses as, "the costs of diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, and the costs for treatments affecting any part or function of the body." As LASIK is a treatment to correct defective vision, it is a medical expense which can be deducted from a patient's taxes.
How Much Does LASIK Cost?
Can LASIK be considered medically necessary?
While LASIK is often considered an elective procedure, there are times when it may be medically necessary. These include: Surgery to correct vision problems caused by an injury. LASIK for patients that can't wear glasses or contacts.
Is it worth claiming medical expenses on taxes?
The medical expense deduction covers a wide variety of expenses. However, because of the high Standard Deduction and the 7.5% of AGI threshold requirement, it can be difficult to benefit unless you have a lot of out-of-pocket costs.
How to get free LASIK?
Many disreputable operations will advertise free LASIK, and it's essentially a scam. As the saying goes, nothing in life is free. For your vision's safety, it is better to find methods like flexible spending accounts (FSAs), health savings accounts (HSAs), or other health insurance benefits to reduce the cost.
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.
How much is LASIK payment plan?
Thankfully, there are a number of LASIK financing options available to make LASIK affordable for people who cannot pay the full price of the procedure up front. Monthly payments for LASIK surgery using a financing plan can be less than $200 per month.
Is LASIK worth it financially?
The national average cost of LASIK surgery is $2,436 per eye. Understandably, prospective patients may find the price of LASIK unsettling, however, most people will save money over time by having the procedure, especially those who wear contacts.
Does Blue Cross Blue Shield cover LASIK?
To sum up, the Blue Cross Blue Shield plans' coverage for LASIK eye surgery differs based on the particular insurance policy, the policyholder's region, and their plan type. While some BCBS plans might provide LASIK patients discounts or partial coverage, others would not.
Is LASIK painful?
LASIK eye surgery offers a nearly pain-free experience for most individuals, thanks to anesthetic eye drops, advanced laser technology, and minimally invasive techniques.
Who is not eligible for LASIK?
A patient may not be a good candidate for LASIK if they have thin corneas, an irregular shaped cornea, corneal scarring, or other unusual findings. In those cases, your eye doctor may recommend photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) surgery.
Is laser therapy covered by Medicaid?
Patients often have to return to the doctor for treatments at least 2 to 4 times per week. Old injuries may be aggravated for a few days after treatments, but for most patients this sensation is short term, lasting for a couple of days. Medicare and Medicaid do not cover cold laser therapy expenses.
Can you get free laser eye surgery?
Yes, laser eye surgery is available on the NHS, but it is only provided for certain conditions that could lead to vision loss. Conditions covered by the NHS include: Diabetic Retinopathy.
What is the best age to get LASIK?
LASIK: 25-40
Generally speaking, most LASIK eye surgeons agree on 25-40 as the ideal age range for LASIK eye surgery candidacy for a few reasons. By the age of 25, eyeglasses and contact lens prescriptions have most likely stabilized. A stable prescription is one of the hallmarks of a good LASIK candidate.
Does LASIK give you 20/20 vision?
LASIK is a type of refractive eye surgery. In general, most people who have laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) eye surgery achieve 20/20 vision or better, which works well for most activities. But most people still eventually need glasses for driving at night or reading as they get older.
Are you awake during LASIK?
Short Answer: Yes. The vast majority of patients are awake during LASIK and other forms of laser eye surgeries. General anaesthesia, which induces sleep, is not used in these procedures. Instead, patients are typically given numbing eye drops and may be offered a mild sedative to help them remain calm.
Can you really get LASIK for $250?
First of all $250 per eye is a scam. No one ever qualifies to have LASIK for that low of a price. Those candidates have a prescription that is negligible and does not affect their vision. The power they need is so small they wouldn't even buy a pair of glasses to correct that, nor would they have LASIK.
What is the lowest price of Lasik eye surgery?
The cost of laser eye surgery can range from as low as $1,499 per eye to up to $2,499 per eye.
Does LASIK fix astigmatism?
LASIK is a vision correction procedure that treats refractive errors. These include nearsightedness, farsightedness, and, yes, even astigmatism. If you have a refractive error or combination of refractive errors, you may be a good candidate for LASIK.
What cannot be claimed as a medical expense?
Medical care expenses must be primarily to alleviate or prevent a physical or mental disability or illness. They don't include expenses that are merely beneficial to general health, such as vitamins or a vacation.
Are gym memberships tax deductible?
The IRS typically does not allow taxpayers to deduct gym memberships or other costs associated with general health and wellness. The main reason is that these expenses are considered personal, even if they contribute indirectly to improved work performance, stress reduction, or overall well-being.
Are braces tax deductible in 2024?
In simple terms, if braces are deemed a necessary medical expense, they can be tax deductible. However, if they are purely for cosmetic reasons, they are not.