Financing LASIK Surgery: 6 Options to Consider

Last updated on November 4th, 2022 at 12:20 pm

If having laser eye surgery would improve your life, but the cost seems daunting, financing LASIK surgery is possible. Let’s take a look at six options.

LASIK surgery (or laser eye surgery as it’s more commonly known) is a form of vision correction, designed to treat myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.  This surgery involves the use of very high-tech equipment, which can only be operated by trained, experienced doctors.

As you might expect, being such a specialized surgical procedure, laser eye surgery is not cheap. LASIK can be life-changing though, and well worth the cost to those who can benefit from it.  

If you don’t have the money to pay cash for this procedure or your healthcare plan doesn’t cover the cost, you may still be able to go ahead with LASIK. Here are some ideas when it comes to financing LASIK surgery.

6 Options for Financing LASIK Surgery

Your Healthcare Plan

Depending on who you work for, your employer might offer laser eye surgery as part of your healthcare plan. In order to determine if it’s an eligible expense, reach out to your company’s human resources department or request approval from your health insurance company or representative.

Healthcare coverage varies widely from plan to plan and from one company to the next, so the first step is to check to see if this is a covered benefit in your particular plan.

If this is covered, your health insurance company will need information such as where you will be having the surgery performed, as well as a breakdown of the costs, and the medical necessity of the surgery. Then they’ll determine how much they will pay toward the surgery (if approved) and how much you will be responsible for. 

And, if bumping up your insurance coverage is an option at open enrollment time, that might be worth a look. Weigh the cost versus benefit in choosing a plan that includes laser eye surgery coverage.

Taking on Extra Work 

If you have a job that allows you to work overtime, this can be an effective way of raising money to pay for laser eye surgery. While it will take a little disclipline and time to save, it’s an option that won’t put you in debt!

You might also think about a part-time side job. If you have a car, you might want to deliver for Door Dash or Postmates. Or, check out Fiverr – it’s a very popular site where you can sell your products or creative skills to earn extra cash.

Raising Money by Selling Items

Another option for financing LASIK surgery is to do some decluttering, and selling your unwanted items. There are lots of websites, like eBay, Poshmark, and ThredUP where you can sell things like clothing, baby gear, jewelry, books, art, and more.

Laser eye surgery can give people the gift of good eyesight again. And, for many, it’s worth significantly more than the unwanted items they might have lying around the house.

Borrowing Money

If your healthcare plan does not cover LASIK, another option that some may consider is borrowing money. Of course, the inevitable consequence of borrowing money is that you have to pay it back–with interest. So, when it comes to financing LASIK surgery, taking out a loan may not be the best option. 

Clinic Financing Plans

Some laser eye clinics give people the ability to finance their procedures. However, as with any credit agreement or financing plan, you will have to pay interest on the money you borrow.

That said, financing plans taken out directly with laser eye clinics are a great way of ensuring that you get the surgery that you need, without having to apply for a loan with a third-party provider. Make sure to research the clinic’s interest rates and terms, so you can be sure that this makes sense for you. 

Credit Card

Finally, a credit card is another option to pay for your laser eye surgery. As with any loan, think about how quickly you’ll be able to make the payments, the interest rate, and how a larger credit card balance may affect your credit score.

Laser eye surgery has the power to change people’s lives. Those unfortunate enough to have astigmatism or myopia can often achieve 20/20 vision thanks to LASIK. However, it is an expensive procedure. If you don’t have the cash on hand to pay for it, or your insurance company doesn’t cover 100% of the cost, you’ll need to consider your financing options.

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