Has your ophthalmologist prescribed LASIK eye surgery? LASIK is a refractive eye surgery that corrects vision problems such as farsightedness (hyperopia), near-sightedness (myopia), and astigmatism.
LASIK eye surgery costs around Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 1,50,000 in India. With reliable health insurance, you can reduce this huge financial burden. Read on to learn more about health insurance for LASIK eye surgery, its benefits and which coverage to choose.
What is LASIK Eye Surgery?
LASIK, or Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis eye surgery, fixes blurry vision to help you see clearly. Doctors recommend LASIK eye surgery to change the shape of your cornea to improve how light hits the retina. In this procedure, laser beams correct refractive errors so your eyes refract light the way they should.
The following are the four types of LASIK eye surgery available in India:
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Wavefront Guided LASIK
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Wave Optimised LASIK
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Topography-guided LASIK
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All-Laser LASIK
What is Health Insurance for LASIK Eye Surgery?
LASIK eye surgery is a secure procedure that lasts a maximum of 45 minutes or 1 hour. A person between the ages of 18 and 40 years can undergo this procedure. People beyond this age range can also opt for this surgery depending on their visibility requirements and health conditions.
This surgery requires no surgical instruments and can be done easily at an outpatient department in a day. You can opt for OPD health insurance plans to avoid any out-of-pocket charges during the surgery.
However, health insurance for LASIK eye surgery involves a waiting period of 30 days to 2 years, and usually, not all health plans cover it. It is best to consult with your insurer beforehand to have clarity.
Why Do You Need Health Insurance for LASIK Eye Surgery?
Multiple factors influence the cost of LASIK surgery, including laser technology, high-end instruments, highly trained professionals, and the eye clinic's location. If you opt for a conventional treatment method, it will cost less than the advanced method. However, the recovery process will take more time.
A high-value health insurance plan not only helps you decrease significant financial burdens by covering surgery expenses, but it also offers reimbursement and the opportunity to opt for a cashless hospitalisation if necessary.
What are the Benefits of Health Insurance for LASIK Eye Surgery?
The following are some significant benefits of having OPD health insurance for your upcoming LASIK surgery:
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High Insured Sum Amount
A high-insured sum refers to a policy with significant coverage. It gives you the chance to cover expensive treatments, such as LASIK eye surgery. A policy with a lower sum amount might not cover this type of surgery.
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Wide Coverage
Opting for a LASIK eye surgery health insurance plan from different types of health insurance will help you avail yourself of the benefits of an OPD cover. This coverage enables an insurance policyholder to receive coverage for doctor-patient consultations, medicines expenses, minor medical procedures, and diagnostic tests.
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Cashless Hospitalisation
Besides offering cashless hospitalisation benefits, an OPD health insurance plan allows insurers to choose a network hospital for treatments. So, even though minor surgeries like LASIK do not require a hospital stay, you can choose a network hospital for the surgery and avail of cashless benefits.
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Hassle-free Claim Settlement
Choosing the right health insurance for LASIK eye surgery will offer you the chance to claim in a hassle-free manner. You only need to notify your insurer of your requirements and fill out the claim form. The rest will be taken care of by the insurer.
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24/7 Customer Support
An efficient insurer offers its customers 24/7 customer support. Whether it is providing the names of network hospitals or claim settlements, they are ready to serve their customers at all times.
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Alternative Treatments
Having a reliable health insurance plan allows policyholders to opt for alternative treatments, such as Ayurveda and Homoeopathy. For example, if you buy health insurance for LASIK eye surgery, you can choose Ayurvedic treatments for other health conditions.
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Automatic Restoration
If your medical expenses exceed the sum insured amount, you do not have to worry. Owning reliable health insurance coverage will help you restore 100% of that amount automatically, so you can utilise it after full and partial exhaustion.
How to Buy a Health Insurance Plan for LASIK Eye Surgery?
To buy a LASIK health insurance plan, you need to follow these steps:
- Step 1: Compare different plans and check with your preferred insurer if they cover LASIK eye surgery.
- Step 2: Read the policy terms and conditions carefully before purchasing.
- Step 3: Some insurers ask for pre-authorisation before allowing LASIK eye surgery.
- Step 4: Once you know the requirements, apply for a quote by filling in the necessary information, such as your name and phone number, on the official website of your insurer.
- Step 5: Choose the plan, specify your age, and fill in your email ID.
- Step 6: Select the sum insured amount.
- Step 7: Go to the payment portal to make the payment.
Please note that these steps are generic and may differ from one insurance company to another.
Bottom Line
Buying health insurance for LASIK eye surgery is a great idea if you want to reduce surgery-related expenses. However, since this type of plan has a waiting period, you must get it sooner. Select an insurer that provides broad coverage at an affordable price. Finally, reading all the policy terms beforehand will save you from tons of confusion that might arise in the future.
