Health expenses are the costliest affairs. With the rise in multiple health problems and expensive treatments, it becomes crucial for people to have health insurance. Health insurance plans are intended to provide financial assistance to policyholders in case of medical urgency. When an individual has a medical insurance plan, most of his medical expenses incurred during hospitalization due to a medical emergency are compensated by the respective medical insurance company. There are numerous medical insurance companies in India. However, not all ailments are covered under health insurance policies.
Many people wonder whether or not their Lasik eye surgery cost in India is covered under health insurance?
Well, with the sharp rise in healthcare inflation, the cost of basic treatment in private hospitals has increased exponentially. Most government hospitals lack even basic facilities, and the ones that have everything are not easy to get admission in. In such a situation, people are left with no choice except to opt for a private hospital. Thankfully, a health insurance facility is there that people can use. In order to protect individuals from draining their finances, health insurance providers offer comprehensive and affordable health insurance plans that various groups in society can purchase.
Most health insurance policies cover a variety of medical expenses such as hospitalization, domiciliary expenses, inpatient costs, room rents, and so on. People can purchase policies that cover a specific disease to get coverage for pre-existing conditions or a plan for any medical emergency. The increase of eye-related issues in people has made insurance providers include Lasik eye surgery in the plan.
What is Lasik Eye Surgery?
Lasik eye surgery is a process in which individuals undergo surgery to improve their vision. It is used to correct people’s vision who have myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), or Astigmatism.
The surgery is performed using advanced techniques. The best thing is that this procedure takes only 30 minutes to complete. Lasik is regarded as one of the most effective treatments for better vision. Most people end up regaining their perfect vision after Lasik eye surgery.
People who suffer from myopia, hyperopia, or Astigmatism should undergo Lasik surgery. Not only does it improve your vision, but also it improves the overall quality of life by allowing people to see more clearly.
The first step in the process is a medical examination of the eye condition by experts, followed by eligibility verification. It is recommended to seek medical advice regarding the process’s eligibility before undergoing surgery. Following surgery, a few days of rest and aftercare is advised to ensure complete healing. There is no hospitalization in Lasik eye surgery. Individuals’ health insurance plans cover the cost of the surgery along with medicines and pre-surgery tests.
Why should you opt for Lasik Eye Surgery or Refractive Correction?
Your ability to see is determined by how your eyes bend (refract) light. A refractive vision problem occurs when your eyes do not bend the lens perfectly. This situation prevents your eyes from adequately focusing light. Usually, refractive problems are addressed transiently with glasses and contact lenses.
However, LASIK eye surgery improves them permanently. Some of the factors that can cause refractive errors:
- Eye Length: When the shape of your eye is too long or too short, it impairs your vision. If it is too long, you may have nearsightedness; if it is too short, you may have farsightedness.
- The curvature of the Cornea: In order to refract an image properly, the lens in front of your eye must be completely spherical. Irregular cornea shapes lead to Astigmatism (blurry vision), leading to imperfect vision.
- The curvature of the Lens: A too flat lens causes farsightedness, and a too steep lens leads to nearsightedness.
Whatever be the case, LASIK eye surgery is an effective way to have clear vision. It permanently improves your vision and allows you to get rid of your glasses, contact lenses, and eye drops.
Cost of LASIK Eye Surgery in India
Before surgery, an expert will first examine your eyes thoroughly to understand the kind of refractive error you’re struggling with. The precise cost is determined after carefully examining both eyes and an understanding of your medical history.
The complexity of your refractive error will influence the Lasik treatment cost in India. However, the average cost of Lasik eye surgery in India is somewhere between INR 60,000 to INR 80,000 for both eyes.
This cost of surgery can vary depending on the reputation and location of the hospital you’re visiting.
Does Health Insurance cover Lasik Eye Surgery?
Of course, the eyes are the most important part of the human body. Not only do our eyes help us to see this beautiful world, but they also help us to lead a happy life.
Healthcare inflation increased to 8.4% and 7.7% in 2021. The rapid rise in inflation in the healthcare sector has led to increased costs of treatment in private hospitals, including Lasik eye surgery. At times arranging for this cost becomes a task for people. Health insurance comes to the rescue in such a situation.
Some health insurance companies include the cost of Lasik surgery in their regular health insurance plans. It provides individuals with financial security at an affordable price. More often than not, the cost of surgery, pre-surgery tests, post-surgery medicines, and other costs associated with surgery are covered in the insurance plan.
The average cost of Lasik surgery ranges from INR 60,000 to INR 1,35,000 and even more, which is prohibitively expensive for common people. Investing in a health insurance plan that covers Lasik eye surgery costs allows people to have smooth surgeries without having to worry about the cost.
But the thing is, you have to be really vigilant while you purchase a medical insurance plan. Some insurance companies play a bad game after selling their products. Therefore, it is crucial to research various plans online carefully. Compare all the plans, see what all benefits you’re getting. Also, don’t miss reading reviews and feedback of the insurance company’s clients. Make sure the company you’re considering is good at settling medical claims on time. If they have too many negative reviews, it’s a red flag. Look for another. Also, it is crucial to read the policy documents of the purchased plan.
Eligibility Criteria for Lasik Eye Surgery
The ideal age for LASIK is above 18 years. Aside from that, the state of your vision determines whether or not you can undergo Lasik eye surgery.
The other conditions under which you can obtain Lasik eye surgery coverage through your purchased health insurance plan are as follows:
- Refractive error caused due to accident or an injury necessitates eye surgery.
- Refractive error caused by another surgery necessitated eye surgery.
- Severe refractive error in the eyes.
Make sure to carefully read the policy terms and conditions, along with exclusions, beforehand to have no surprises during the claim settlement process.
Wrapping it up…
Yes, most health insurance companies cover the Lasik treatment cost in India. If you wish to buy an insurance plan for your LASIK eye surgery, make sure to conduct extensive research online. Read about different insurance plans. Ask for a reference from people who have already bought insurance plans for Lasik or have undergone Lasik using a medical insurance plan.
There are numerous policy terms included with the basic coverage. Make sure you read all of them to benefit from the Lasik eye surgery cover under your health insurance plan.