Comments on: Are You Covered for Lasik Eye Surgery?

By: bam

bam — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:56:04 +0000

Medical insurance covers medical problems (in most cases). Myopia / hyperopia/ astigmatism / presbyopia that requires spectacle correction is not a medical problem and hence no insurance company that I know of has ever covered laser eye treatment in this case. Laser eye treatment is considered an elective cosmetic surgery – hence the problems people have trying to claim damages when things go wrong. (unless you can prove negligence, you don't stand a chance – exhaustive consent forms, voluntarily having a surgical procedure on healthy tissue etc)

Prices seem to average around $2100 per eye.

By: Katherine

Katherine — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:15:33 +0000

Continuously deteriorating vision should exclude you as a candidate for LASIK. You prescription should be stable for several years before you have that kind surgery. Perhaps you have misunderstood that all laser surgery is LASIK and your doctor is talking about another type of laser surgery. There are several conditions not related to refractive error that lasers are used to treat like retinal detachments and some types of glaucoma.

By: W7

W7 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:25:44 +0000

I can only tell you what the Army standards are. The Army has a program through Walter Reed that does refractive surgery but it's a warfighter readiness program, not a general thing. A soldier must be in active, in a deploying unit or in a combat job. I'm not sure if the Air Force has an equivalent program.

I had 20/800 with astigmatism and put up with it for 16 months in Afghanistan, so you'll get no sympathy from me.

By: into_starry_skies

into_starry_skies — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:04:06 +0000

Into,
LASIK is considered cosmetic surgery/ elective surgery/ optional surgery and is therefore not curing a disease process and thus not covered by insurance.
Several insurance companies offer a discount for LASIK, 10 to 15%, at specific surgery centers. Check to see if you qualify for the discount known as TruVision.

By: trufflestomper

trufflestomper — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:31:00 +0000

Honestly, its better you consult a specialist to find out what's best for you. I really want to help but I don't think I can give better answers than specialist do. Sorry.

good luck

Love is omnipresence, Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

By: bo3z

bo3z — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:36:43 +0000

In my observation, I have noticed that the government is at least ten years behind medical "trends", for lack of a better word. I don't expect those two agencies to cover such a breakthrough any time soon.

By: Marcus

Marcus — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:41:09 +0000

Not sure that Care Source will cover any of the Lasik costs, perhaps a few percent? Ask them?

I have seen a colleague of mine save $2000 on his lasik in PA through 2020vision4less.