Taking Steps to Insure Better Vision

About 1 million Americans have undergone the laser eye surgery known as Lasik, and those numbers would likely be even greater if not for one thing: The quest for perfect vision costs about $2,000 per eye.

Until now, patients typically have had to foot the entire bill for the surgery. That’s because most health insurance policies do not pay for elective--or medically unnecessary--procedures.

But the surgery has grown so popular that some insurers are beginning to offer limited coverage for Lasik, hoping that the extra benefit will be appealing to patients and employers.

One health plan, Superior Vision Services of Rancho Cordova, Calif., is offering a policy that provides a 20% discount off surgeon’s fees (which account for most of the cost of Lasik) with no increase in premiums.

Another large company, Vision Service Plan, also based in Rancho Cordova, expects to roll out a 25% discount program for Lasik early next year.

VSP also plans to begin marketing to employers a health policy that would provide full coverage for Lasik procedures.

Both Superior’s plan and the one proposed by VSP do not allow patients to select an eye surgeon of their choice. Instead, members would have to use a surgeon who has contracted with the insurance company, in much the same way HMO members must pick from an authorized list of doctors.

Wayne Muller, senior vice president of Superior Vision, said the surgeons are evaluated and required to meet the company’s standards for care.

But some doctors are concerned that the Lasik policies will steer patients to physicians who agree to sharply discount their fees. Dr. Charles Manger of the Saddleback Eye Center in Laguna Hills advises consumers to consider cost and quality separately.

“I think people realize that this is not like retail shopping, where you look for the lowest price,” he says. “Experience and the quality of the surgeon is going to be real important.”