Are you considering LASIK eye surgery? LASIK can improve your eyesight whether you have myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), presbyopia (the gradual loss of your eyes’ ability to focus on nearby objects), or astigmatism. LASIK is typically considered an elective surgery, which means insurance may not cover its cost. However, an important factor to consider when thinking about LASIK is the potential long-term savings. Over 20 years, LASIK could cost less than the total cost of purchasing and maintaining eyeglasses, contact lenses, and any necessary supplies. Not to mention you also get the convenience of improved vision without the need for hardware.
While LASIK has become more widely available since it was first introduced years ago, there are still many people who think they can’t afford this procedure. The good news is that there are now a variety of programs and benefits in place to help you pay for LASIK. One such program, the Flexible Spending Account (FSA), is one of the most underutilized benefits offered in the U.S. and it can help you save on LASIK.
Here’s a quick rundown of what a Flexible Spending Account is and how it can help you pay for your LASIK procedure:
- An FSA is a tax-free way to save for LASIK.
- FSA’s are an employer-provided flexible spending program that helps individuals use pre-tax dollars from their paychecks to fund qualified medical procedures.
- Each year, employees decide how much they would like to deduct from each paycheck to set aside for eligible medical expenses, co-pays or deductibles.
- Laser vision procedures like LASIK are eligible FSA expenses.
When you use your FSA on LASIK, you’ll be saving hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. The one downfall to this program is that it has a “use it or lose it” stipulation. Any money set aside that isn’t used up by the end of the year is lost and won’t roll over to the next year. For that reason, it is important to plan how you will use your dollars.
Now at Illinois Eye Center you can receive $750 off the cost of LASIK when you complete your free consultation by December 31, 2015. Sign up online today for your free consultation and we’ll be in touch to set up a time that works best for you. You can use your FSA dollars towards a procedure this year or begin planning for next year.