Does insurance cover Lasik?

On average, Lasik eye surgery in the U.S. costs around $2,200 per eye or $4,400 for both eyes.² Some Humana vision plans offer reduced fees for Lasik surgery with select network providers:³

• TLC Laser Eye Centers: $1,295 per eye or $1,895 per eye with IntraLase™
• LasikPlus^®: $1,895 per eye with IntraLase™ and LasikPlus free enhancements for life
• QualSight^® LASIK: $1,320 per eye or $1,995 per eye with IntraLase and the QualSight Lifetime Assurance Plan.

Most insurance plans don’t cover the cost of Lasik eye surgery. But there are a few rare exceptions where some insurance plans might consider a Lasik procedure to be medically necessary, not elective. These situations could include having vision problems because of surgery or an injury, or if patients aren’t able to wear glasses or lenses.⁴ Standards for Lasik coverage may vary between insurance plans, so be sure to check with your healthcare provider.

Lasik is a popular procedure for correcting vision problems. But like most surgeries, it can carry risks for some people. LASIK may not be a good idea for people with thin or irregular corneas, for people with glaucoma or autoimmune conditions like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, or for people who take corticosteroids.⁵ Talk to an eye care specialist to find out if you’re a good candidate for laser eye surgery.

Flexible spending account

If you can’t get a Lasik eye surgery covered through your insurance plan, there might be other ways to find savings. If you have a flexible spending account (FSA) through your employer, you could use it to pay for part of the cost of the procedure.

An FSA is an untaxed account that allows you to contribute money for health-related expenses within one calendar year. For 2023, the yearly limit for contributions into an FSA is $3,050. This may only be enough to cover one eye for Lasik eye surgery.

However, there are 2 ways you could possibly contribute more than the $3,050 annual limit from your FSA towards the procedure:

• 2 ½ month grace period—Sometimes, employers may allow you an extra 2 ½ months after the yearly expiration date to use your FSA funds. This means you could combine the funds from the previous year with contributions made within the 2 ½ month period and use it toward a Lasik procedure.
• $610 rollover—Your employer may offer a rollover of up to $610 of unused FSA funds from a previous year into your current year’s spending. With a rollover, you could add up to $610 onto your annual FSA fund limit.

Employers can offer one of these FSA options, but not both. They may offer neither one. Be sure to check with your employer about available FSA options before you plan your Lasik procedure.

Health savings account

Another possible way to save money on a Lasik procedure is a Health Savings Account (HSA). Like an FSA, an HSA is like a tax-free savings account you can use toward some health expenses. But there are some differences. To open an HSA, you must enroll in a high-deductible health insurance plan. However, unlike an FSA, the funds in an HSA roll over from year to year. The contribution limit for an HSA is also higher: $3,850 per year for individual accounts, and $7,750 for family accounts. Contributions made into this tax-free fund could be used towards a Lasik procedure.⁷

Humana vision plans offer discounts on Lasik eye surgery. Check out our Humana vision insurance plans now to find an affordable vision plan in your area!