Does Insurance Cover LASIK?

Will Insurance Cover the Cost of LASIK Surgery?

Most insurance plans don’t cover 100 percent of the cost of LASIK surgery. Some plans offer discount programs and other perks to help you cover the cost, but few will cover all the fees outright.

LASIK is a surgical procedure that reshapes the cornea and permanently alters vision. It’s a good choice for people older than 18, in good health, with a stable vision prescription. The cost of LASIK ranges between $1,500 and $3,000 per eye. 

Two main types of insurance exist, including the following:

• Health: Private companies and Medicare fall into this category. Policies cover medical procedures, sometimes with a slight copayment.
• Vision: These policies cover only vision-related issues.

Some insurance carriers offer discounts or benefits to make LASIK procedures more affordable. Financing options could be combined with these discounts or benefit plans to help cover the cost.

Why Isn’t LASIK Covered by Insurance?

Insurance companies don’t consider LASIK a medical necessity. These companies are likely to consider LASIK a cosmetic or elective procedure you might use to eliminate the use of glasses and contacts — not a vital source of regaining your vision.

Insurance companies can be wary of offering coverage for an expensive form of care when there is another less expensive option. Glasses cost hundreds, while LASIK costs thousands.

There may be rare exceptions when LASIK is deemed medically necessary. If you’re injured or can’t wear glasses or contact lenses due to allergies or deformities, you could apply for an exception with your insurance company. This is very rare, but it could help you determine if you’re eligible.

What Types of Insurance Benefits Are Offered for LASIK?

While insurance plans typically won’t cover the entire cost of your LASIK procedure, there are methods you can use to maximize the benefits offered. These are good choices:

Partnerships

Some insurance companies work with LASIK providers, offering members a lower price on LASIK. Your insurance policy unlocks the savings, as long as you work with doctors who participate with the partnering company. 

Partnerships could save you 20 to 50 percent off the typical LASIK surgery price.

In-Network Doctors

Some insurance companies use networks — partnerships between an insurance company and a provider. They agree on set fees to charge for procedures. If you stay within the network, you could get a lower price.

Using an in-network doctor could save you money on medications and aftercare but not surgery.

Discounts

A discount program is very similar to a partnership. Your insurance policy comes with an agreement that caps your LASIK fee at a certain level or amount. You must follow the discount rules carefully.

Partnerships could save you 35 percent or so off the typical LASIK surgery price.

What to Do Next

Use your insurance coverage to cover the cost of your initial LASIK screening exam. Your surgeon can use the results in your LASIK consultation to prepare for your surgery.

LASIK Benefits Offered by Top Insurance Providers

To help provide some clarity on how plans differ, we will explore LASIK benefits offered by several different insurance companies. This is not an exhaustive list of all health insurance companies and all plans, but it provides some examples of how some major insurance plans work and what is typically covered and what is not.

2025 LASIK Benefits by Insurance Provider

Company	LASIK Benefit	Cost to You
Aetna	Partnership with LASIK vision centers	15% off retail prices or 5% off promotional prices
Anthem	Discount through a partnership through LasikPlus	Free exam and a price 20% below the national average
Blue Cross Blue Shield	Discount through a partnership with QualSight	40% to 50% off national average price
Cigna	Discount through a partnership with providers	$695 to $1,895
Davis Vision	Discount through a partnership with QualSight	Less than $1,000 per eye
Emblem Health	None available	You pay the entire cost of surgery, which can vary by location and procedure type
EyeMed	Discount through a partnership with the U.S. Laser Network	Free LASIK exam, 15% off standard prices and 5% off promo prices
Humana	Discount through a partnership with providers	$1,295 to $1,995
Kaiser Permanente	Network providers offer surgery, but no discounts available	You pay the entire cost of surgery, which can vary by location and procedure type
United Healthcare	Some plans offer discounts	Discounts up to 35%
United Healthcare Vision	Vision members are eligible for discounts through QualSight LASIK	Savings up to 35%
VSP	Discounts through in-network benefits	$1,500 per eye

We recommend using this table to get a feel for what your insurance provider may offer and call them to confirm what your options are.

Can LASIK Be Covered by an FSA or HSA?

An FSA or HSA could help you cover the cost of your LASIK surgery. 

A flexible spending account (FSA) is a special account you can use to cover healthcare costs, including your deductibles and medications. You contribute the money and must spend it within the same year. In 2025, you can contribute $3,300 to an FSA.

A health savings account (HSA) is a special account to collect money you can use to cover healthcare costs. Unlike an FSA, the money you put into an HSA can build indefinitely, so you don’t have to spend it within the year. In 2025, you can contribute $4,300 as an individual and $8,550 as a family. 

Money you’ve collected in your FSA or HSA can be used to cover the cost of your permanent vision correction. And you could save up to 30% on eligible expenses by enrolling in accounts like this.

How to Maximize Your FSA & HSA

If your FSA or HSA don’t contain enough money to cover the full cost of your LASIK surgery, there are ways to change that. By taking a few simple steps, you could close the gap and get the funds you need. 

Good options include the following:

• Combine: Use funds from both your FSA and HSA. Most providers allow payments from multiple sources.
• Grace periods: A standard FSA comes with a grace period of 2 months and 15 days. You can incur and be reimbursed for medical claims during this period at the end of your plan year. 
• Rollovers: FSAs may also include a medical rollover of $550 of unused funds at the end of one year while allowing you to contribute the full amount the next.

Many FSAs and HSAs are set up by employers, and rules can vary. Check with your employer and insurance company to see how your plan works.

LASIK Eye Surgery at NVISION Eye Centers

At NVISION, we believe that costs shouldn’t be an impediment to clear vision. If you’re interested in improving your vision for life, let us help. Book a free LASIK consultation to go over your insurance coverage and find out about LASIK specials at NVISION to keep the costs down.

Frequently Asked Questions About Insurance Coverage for LASIK

We’ve compiled the most frequently asked questions about insurance coverage, along with answers from our experts.

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