LASIK Financing

LASIK financing

At The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, we make LASIK affordable. With free consultations, all-inclusive pricing and several financing options, LASIK is no longer a luxury. It’s a realistic, affordable, safe, hassle-free solution for a lifetime of clear vision.

How much does LASIK cost?

There are two common LASIK pricing models — tiered pricing and physician-based practice pricing.

At discount providers, tiered pricing is the norm. That simply means that services are provided à la carte. Tiered pricing providers often have multiple lasers and charge more based on your prescription and the recommended laser. Providers might also have different prices depending on the method used to create your corneal flap. Follow-up care may also be priced separately.

Tiered pricing allows providers to advertise an extremely low cost, so it’s important that you look through all the fine print. The vast majority of patients don’t qualify for the advertised rates.

With physician-based practice pricing like at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, patients are normally quoted a single, all-inclusive rate. No hidden fees, no surprises.

What are your options when financing your LASIK procedure?

At the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, we offer several financing options to match your budget. We provide patient financing and no-interest payment options with Care Credit. With Care Credit, you have the option to make monthly payments with interest over 60 months, or interest-free payments over an 18-month period. Patients can visit carecredit.com or call 1-800-365-8295 to be pre-approved.

Typically, patients receive a response immediately. There is no down payment required and no pre-payment penalty. Patients usually receive the first monthly statement three weeks following their treatment.

You can also take advantage of your Healthcare Savings Account (HSA) or a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), both easy ways to reduce the costs of LASIK surgery.

Most FSAs allow you to use your selected amount for the year as soon as your benefits are effective (usually Jan. 1). HSAs are similar, but the remaining money can roll over to the next year, as these accounts don’t expire.

Our LASIK providers will discuss the benefits of all your financing options during your consultation.

Does insurance cover LASIK procedures?

LASIK is considered an “elective” procedure, so most insurance providers view LASIK as not medically necessary. In some cases, companies may offer enhanced insurance benefits to their employees that include procedures like LASIK, so it’s always a good idea to check your benefits to see what’s offered.

How does LASIK compare cost-wise to a lifetime of contact lenses or eyeglasses?

Your LASIK eye surgery cost can vary based on the specifics of your procedure, but a cost of around $2,000 per eye is average. Today, a year of contacts can cost about $250 — sometimes more if you require special lenses for conditions like astigmatism. Add in the contact lens solution your optometrist recommends, and the annual costs approach $400.

According to vision insurance provider VSP, the average price for eyeglasses is $196. Add in the designer frames you might prefer and features like polycarbonate lenses, scratch-resistant coatings and anti-glare, and you could be paying much more.

Also, many people like to have both contacts and eyeglasses, but insurance often only covers one type of lens each year.

Under these circumstances, it’s easy to see how LASIK could begin to pay for itself in about 10 years.

Hassle-free vision, though, begins the moment your procedure is complete.