Does Medicare Cover LASIK Eye Surgery?
Generally, Medicare doesn’t cover any vision care, including LASIK surgery. Most vision insurance plans also don’t cover LASIK surgery because it’s considered elective. Some Medicare Advantage plans provide vision coverage, and they may offer LASIK coverage too. If you’re interested in getting LASIK eye surgery, let your Medicare agent know. Your agent can then help you search for plans that include vision coverage and LASIK surgery coverage.
In this guide, we’ll dive into the details about what LASIK surgery is, how much it costs, and how Medicare coverage works for LASIK.
Key takeaways:
LASIK surgery can help correct vision impairments to reduce patients’ dependence on eye glasses or contact lenses.
Like most insurance plans, including. vision insurance plans, Original Medicare doesn’t cover LASIK surgery because it’s considered elective.
Some Medicare Advantage plans provide vision coverage, and may also provide coverage for Lasik eye surgery.
Medicare Supplement plans don’t cover additional services. They reduce your costs for services covered by Original Medicare.
Without insurance, LASIK surgery costs around $2,000 per eye.
What is LASIK eye surgery?
LASIK stands for laser-assisted in situ keratomileuses. It’s easy to see why most people just use the term “LASIK!” LASIK eye surgery is used to correct vision issues, reducing reliance on corrective lenses. The LASIK procedure involves using a laser to reshape the cornea’s curvature so it can better process light onto your retina.
Reshaping the cornea can help with:
Nearsightedness
Farsightedness
Astigmatism
The surgery is relatively quick and safe. Below, we’ll highlight the primary benefits and risks.
Benefits of LASIK surgery:
Improved vision
Short surgery time (usually around 20 minutes)
Quick results
Patients often don’t require any corrective lenses after the surgery
Results are generally permanent
Risks of LASIK surgery:
Can cause dry eyes or nighttime glare
Vision impairment caused by injury or issue
In some cases, you may need to get the surgery again
How much does LASIK surgery cost?
Without insurance, LASIK surgery usually costs around $2,000 per eye. Most insurance plans do not cover LASIK surgery.
What makes someone a good candidate for LASIK eye surgery?
Not everyone is a good candidate for LASIK eye surgery. You may be a good candidate if you meet the following criteria:
Your corrective lens prescription is consistent
Your corneas are thick enough
Your eyes should be healthy so they’re able to heal properly
Does Medicare cover LASIK?
Original Medicare doesn’t cover LASIK eye surgery. Like most insurance plans, Medicare considers LASIK surgery “elective.” Furthermore, Medicare doesn’t provide vision coverage, so it also doesn’t cover things like glasses, contact lenses, and eye exams.
Below are some vision services that Medicare will cover because they're considered medically necessary:
Medicare covers some tests and treatments for macular degeneration
Medicare will cover a prothesis if you lose an eye
Medicare covers eye exams for people with diabetes
Does Medicare Supplement cover LASIK?
Medicare Supplement plans don’t cover additional health services and equipment. Instead, they help cover the gaps in cost coverage left by Original Medicare. As such, Medicare Supplement plans do not cover LASIK surgery.
Does Medicare Advantage cover LASIK?
Many Medicare Advantage plans (also known as Medicare Part C plans) provide vision coverage as an extra benefit. Some Medicare Advantage plans cover LASIK surgery. If you’re interested in LASIK surgery, tell your Medicare agent that it’s a benefit you’d like to seek coverage for. Your agent can then look at plans that provide coverage. Keep in mind that not all Medicare Advantage plans that include vision coverage will cover LASIK. Furthermore, if LASIK is covered, your plan will likely only cover a certain amount for the surgery.
As always, with Medicare Advantage plans, we recommend you make sure your healthcare needs are met first. Once you’ve narrowed your plan options down to those that cover your doctors and prescriptions at the lowest cost, you can consider the extra benefits that matter most to you. We’re here to help you find the best Medicare insurance plan for your specific needs! ive us a call at (855) 900-2427 or schedule a time to talk to make sure your on the best Medicare plan today!