Lasik Financing
So once I had completed my research regarding lasik surgery and determined how much it was going to cost me, next I had to figure out how to pay for it. Financing lasik was the last major hurdle I faced after I learned about the procedure, weighed the risks versus the rewards and had my questions answered by my doctor.
Like most health insurance plans, mine considered vision correction surgery an elective operation and would not cover any part of the cost. Luckily, I did have options. The options that were available to me will more than likely be available for you so if you want to have lasik eye surgery the fact that your insurance won’t cover it is no reason to give up.
The lasik center I chose did offer a payment plan so that was one option. Their payment plan required a small down payment, but interest was not charged on the balance. I have heard of offices in my area that offer nothing down, no interest financing so make sure you discuss financing options with your doctor as you may be eligible for one of these offers.
My doctor also offered to put me in touch with outside finance companies as well if for some reason I did not want their payment plan. I did not have any dealings with them, but in looking into my options I found that down payment requirements and interest rates varied. Most of the companies I encountered required a credit check so the terms would be based on credit rating and history.
Every lasik provider in my area that I visited or called accepted credit cards. This, for me, was the least desirable option. While I did have enough available credit to charge the cost of lasik surgery, the interest rate on my cards plus their aggressive late fees made me leery of using a credit card. The third party finance companies I checked out all had better rates than my cards anyway.
Another option was to save until I had enough to cover the cost. I had been researching and planning my surgery for a fairly long time so this is what I ultimately did. I started saving once I decided I was going to have lasik surgery. The money I was able to save plus my tax refund were enough to pay for my surgery.
My employer at the time offered a flexible savings account, which allows workers to set aside some of their pay to cover medical expenses, but the amount I had earmarked for my account was not sufficient by itself to cover my lasik eye surgery cost. If your employer offers an FSA, it would be a relatively hassle free way to pay for lasik.
As I mentioned before, it is not the end of the world if you decide on lasik surgery, but your health insurance does not cover it. Most insurance will not. You can save up or you can opt for one of a few lasik financing options. There will be an option that makes sense for you.