Editor's choice: LendingClub personal loans
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Paying for contacts, new glasses, yearly visits to the optometrist — it adds up. Getting laser eye surgery can save you a pile of money in the long run. But getting together the money to cover the immediate cost isn’t always that easy. Almost all insurance providers consider it an elective procedure so it isn’t always covered. And even if it is, it’s usually only partial.
We break down your financing options and costs of LASIK eye surgery to make your payments more manageable.
Yes. A common reason borrowers take out personal loans is to pay for medical procedures that aren’t covered or only partially covered by insurance.
Some personal loan providers also offer financing specifically designed to cover the cost of medical procedures. Often healthcare providers have partnerships with lenders to offer financing packages to patients. When looking for a loan, check with your LASIK center to see what types of financing they offer in addition to other personal loans.
Typical LASIK procedures can cost anywhere between a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars per eye, though the average cost ranges from $1,500 to $2,500 per eye. This generally depends on what type of procedure you have. Here’s how they break down:
LASIK with blades | $3,000 |
Bladeless LASIK | $4,000 |
Custom LASIK | $4,000 |
PRK | $4,000 |
Lasek | $3,000–$5,000 |
EpiLASIK | $3,000–$5,000 |
Some insurance companies partially subsidize the cost of LASIK surgery, however. Large vision providers like Blue Cross Blue Shield, Davis Vision, EyeBenefits, Aetna and VSP often offer discounts of up to 50% off the procedure.
You don’t necessarily need to take out a personal or medical loan to cover your LASIK costs. Here are some of your other options:
The last thing anyone wants is to have their LASIK procedure botched by a surgeon with a poor track record — or no track record at all. But you might wind up paying more than necessary if you go by reputation alone. Consider these key factors when deciding on a surgeon.
Did you know LASIK stands for “laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis”? That’s the medical name for this vision-correcting eye surgery procedure.
LASIK eye surgery doesn’t have to be a huge one-time expense. Personal loans and financing from your medical provider can make paying for your eye surgery a lot more manageable. While you might spend a little extra in interest, the amount you save on contacts and glasses might make it worth it. Get started by asking your surgeon about financing options and checking out our personal loans guide.
Check with your eye surgeon to get a medical opinion on what to expect with this procedure. Generally speaking, LASIK can temporarily cause dry eyes for the first six months after surgery. For the first few days or weeks after surgery, you might also have trouble seeing at night, get double vision or see halos around bright lights. You might also have trouble seeing things in dim light.
No, but it’s not common for people younger than 18 or older than 80 to get LASIK. You might want to wait until you’re at least 21 to get the procedure because that’s when your eyes have completed most of their normal growth, according to medical professionals.
Yes, performing eye surgery on a sleeping patient can be risky. Surgeons typically give you anesthetic eye drops and a mild sedative to help you relax during the procedure, which typically takes less than 10 minutes per eye.
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Can my husband and I apply for my cataract LASIK HD surgery together as his credit score is a little higher than mine? Can we include the coinsurance portion in the loan amount or is that portion required to be paid in cash separately?
Hi Sandra,
Thank you for reaching out to finder.
If you are considering taking out a personal loan to finance your LASIK HD surgery, you and your husband can apply for a joint personal loan. The lenders will consider both of your credit scores in assessing your eligibility. You can also include the amount you need to pay for coinsurance in deciding the loan amount you want to borrow however, it is still up to the lender to decide how much loan amount they will approve you for.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Charisse