Can I Use my HSA or FSA for LASIK, PRK, or SMILE Eye Surgery?

The answer is “YES”. The beauty of using your Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is that you are receiving laser vision correction for about 20-30% less then if you paid cash; the range depends on your tax bracket and income range.

Now, your total won’t be 20-30% less, but considering the money you set aside is “tax free”, you are paying a considerably less amount for a procedure that on average, can cost around $4,000.

Health Savings Accounts and Laser Vision Correction

The best advantage to a Health Savings Accounts is that it doesn’t expire, however you must meet a high deductible before you can use your funds. Health Savings Accounts offer a way to save for (and pay for) elective healthcare expenses such as LASIK, PRK and the revolutionary ReLex SMILE that is bladeless flapless and gentle. If you don’t have the funds available, others (such as family or friends) can actually contribute to your HSA, making laser vision correction more accessible for you.

If you receive healthcare through your employer and you want to learn more, discuss your current plan with a representative from your HR department.

Flexible Spending Accounts and Laser Vision Correction

Flexible Spending Accounts can be vary by plan, however one of the main advantages is that they are “pre-funded” by your employer and the entire amount of funds are accessible at the beginning of the year. There is a $2,500 cap on FSAs, however the set aside funds can get you more than half of the way there to a life without glasses and contacts, if you choose to pursue laser vision correction.

The biggest disadvantage to a Flexible Spending Account is that the funds must be used by the end of the year, or you will lose them. What does this mean for your journey towards LASIK, PRK or SMILE? It means you must have your procedure paid for by the end of the year. At Laser Eye Institute, we can schedule your procedure into the new year, but if you pay by December 31st, you will be able to use your funds.

Bottom line: If you are aspiring for a life without glasses and contacts, and you have an FSA or HSA account, now is the time to schedule a consultation to learn if LASIK, PRK, or SMILE eye surgery is for you!