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Does Your Insurance Plan Cover Lasik?

Do you wear glasses and/or contact lenses? Ever wish you could get rid of them and be able to see without them? Imagine the freedom of waking up and not seeing the world as a blur until you put on your glasses or pop in your contacts! That’s why people opt to get Lasik surgery – to live this dream – but is this surgery covered by your health insurance plan?

Glasses/Contacts Wearing by the Numbers

According to the Vision Council of America, approximately 75% of adults require some sort of vision correction. Around 64% of them wear eyeglasses, and around 11% wear contact lenses, either exclusively, or with glasses. Some other stats to consider:

Over half of all women and around 42% of men wear glasses. Similarly, more women than men, 18% and 14% respectively, wear contacts. Of those who use both contacts and eyeglasses, 62% wear contact lenses more often.
Approximately 30% of the American population is near-sighted and needs to wear glasses for activities like driving. In general, though, these people have no trouble with activities that require seeing things up close, such as reading.
Around 60% of Americans are far-sighted, and have trouble reading or sewing without glasses, but can focus well at a distance.
The majority of young people who wear glasses are near-sighted.
As people age, they are more likely to need vision correction for far-sightedness.
Around 25% of people who wear glasses to see distances will end up needing reading glasses or bifocals as they grow older.

Lasik Surgery

If you’re tired of wearing glasses or contacts, Lasik surgery could be an option for permanent vision correction. Lasik is a type of eye surgery during which a surgeon uses a laser to create a flap in the cornea, then raises the cornea and reshapes it.

Around 700,000 Lasik surgeries are performed each year, and the surgery has a good track record, often helping people achieve 20/20 vision or better! Certain side effects, particularly dry eyes and temporary visual disturbances (such as glare), are fairly common. But these usually clear up after a few weeks or months, and very few people consider them to be a long-term problem.

Does Health Insurance Cover Lasik?

Unfortunately, most insurance plans don’t cover Lasik or other types of corrective eye surgery because they view it as an elective, or voluntary, procedure. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you will have to pay full price. Your insurance company may offer discounts on Lasik as a policyholder perk, and if you would like to find a plan that offers this, EZ can help!

We work with the top-rated insurance companies in the nation and can compare all available plans in your area within minutes. That means we’ll be able to find you a more comprehensive health insurance plan that offers great vision care! It is possible to find a great plan that will help with the cost of Lasik surgery, if you would like to have it. To get free instant quotes, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to a licensed agent, call 888-350-1890. No obligation!

12 Things to Know About Children’s Eyes and Vision

As children grow, their eyes go through a lot of changes, including a lot of growth and development. In fact, their eyes will grow rapidly after birth and then will continue to grow during puberty until age 20 or 21. At this point, they will stop growing in size but will continue to increase in weight, as well as undergo age-related changes.

It is important to pay careful attention to your children’s eyes as they grow so you can catch any problems that might arise, and deal with them immediately. August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, so to raise awareness this month, we have 12 things you need to know about children’s eyes and vision.

Smoking can harm an unborn baby’s eyes; in addition, if a baby is born premature, as many babies born to smokers are, they are more likely to have permanent vision loss or even blindness.
By 3 months old, babies’ eyes should focus and follow objects; by 5 months old, babies are seeing in three dimensions and developing perception.
At around 9 months old, a baby’s eyes have nearly turned their finalized color.
Strabismus, also known as hypertropia and crossed eyes, occurs in around 4% of children in the US. This condition is a misalignment of the eyes, which causes one eye to deviate inward (esotropia) toward the nose, or outward (exotropia), while the other eye remains focused. If you suspect your child has this condition, seek evaluation so it can be corrected.
Young children are more likely than adults to get eye damage from chemical burns, because these burns can permanently damage the external and internal eye structures as they are developing. That means there are multiple reasons why it’s important to make sure that children don’t have access to any cleaning products or chemicals. If an accident does happen, flush their eyes with plenty of water and go to the nearest emergency room.
Looking at a TV screen or tablet too much can cause myopia (nearsightedness), and digital eye strain. In order to prevent myopia, it is important to have your children follow the 20-20-20 rule: make sure they look up from the screen every 20 minutes and focus at least twenty feet away for at least 20 seconds.
There are some more subtle signs of childhood vision problems you should be aware of, including loss of interest in activities that they used to enjoy, losing their place when reading, and turning their head to look at something in front of them.
Many people think that only older adults get cataracts, but children can get cataracts, too- they can either be born with them or develop them after birth.
Taking photos of your children can help to diagnose certain eye problems. If you see what’s known as a “red reflex” on their eyes in a photo (a reflective phenomenon that creates a reddish-orange glow when light passes through the pupil and is reflected back off the retina to a viewing aperture) this is a warning sign that something might be wrong with your child’s eyes. Also, if there is a reflection of the camera flash off the retina that is white, yellow, or black in one or both eyes, this is also a sign that something is wrong.
Color blindness is more common in boys than in girls, but it can be harder to detect. One of the signs to look out for is the inability to tell the difference between shades of the same or similar colors.
Eye injuries are the most common cause of vision loss in children, and most often occur when they’re playing sports. Eye injuries can be prevented by having your child wear protective goggles when they are playing sports such as baseball, basketball, football, etc.
Eyes can get sunburned just like skin can – a condition called photokeratitis – which causes pain, redness, and tears. Make sure your children (and you) wear sunglasses to protect their eyes from harmful UV rays.
It is very important to get your children’s eyes checked as recommended by The American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Getting Checked Regularly

Eye health is very important for your children, especially as they are physically developing, and learning in school. That’s why you should never skip their regular vision screenings; these screenings can help detect and correct any eye problems early before they get worse. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends vision screenings for children when they are in preschool and elementary school, as well as if they are experiencing any vision problems.

Taking your child to the eye doctor can help catch any conditions that your child’s pediatrician or school nurse cannot, but some health insurance plans don’t cover vision care – so if you are interested in a more comprehensive health insurance plan that does offer great vision care, EZ can help! Our agents work with the top-rated insurance companies in the country, and we can compare all available plans and find the best, most affordable plan for your family’s needs. To get free instant quotes, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to a licensed agent, call 888-350-1890. No obligation!

What Are Oral Clefts and Can They Be Prevented?

Approximately 1 in 1,000 babies in the United States each year is born with an upper lip and mouth that doesn’t form completely, a condition known as cleft lip or cleft palate. This malformation often happens early in pregnancy, generally between the 6th and 10th weeks of gestation, and can range from mild to severe. July is National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month, so to bring awareness to this issue, we want to look at what causes oral clefts and how to help prevent them.

What Causes Cleft Lip & Palate?

During the first 6 to 10 weeks of pregnancy, the bones and skin of a baby’s upper jaw, nose, and mouth normally come together to form the roof of the mouth and the upper lip. A cleft palate happens when parts of the roof of the mouth do not fuse together completely.

Unfortunately, doctors and researchers are not 100% sure what causes oral clefts, but some believe that there are factors that can increase the risk. In general, male babies are more likely to develop an oral cleft; the other factors are usually genetic and environmental, and can include:

A family history of oral clefts
Substance use during pregnancy
Nutrient deficiency, specifically of folic acid
Having diabetes before pregnancy
Use of certain anti-seizure medications
Obesity during pregnancy
Certain infections
Asian, Hispanic, or Native American descent

What Other Conditions Are Associated with Cleft Lip & Palate?

If your baby is born with an oral cleft, there could be some other complications that go beyond the physical appearance of the cleft lip and palate. Babies born with this condition can also experience:

Hearing difficulties
Speech difficulties
Difficulty feeding
Ear infections
Dental issues

Are Oral Clefts Preventable?

Cleft lip and palate are typically not preventable, but there are things you can do to help lower the risks of your baby developing this condition. These things include avoiding alcohol and smoking during pregnancy, maintaining a healthy weight before pregnancy, and taking at least 400 micrograms of folic acid a day before conception. It is important to note that, even if you do follow all of the recommendations for preventing oral clefts, and you still find out that your baby has developed one, it’s not your fault: this condition can happen regardless of the choices you make.

Treatment for Cleft Lips & Palates

Children born with cleft lips and palates will need several treatments as they grow. Generally, the cleft is treated with surgery, followed by speech therapy and dental care. But before your child has surgery, there are a few techniques that can improve the outcome of the repair, including:

A lip-taping regimen, which can narrow the gap in your child’s cleft lip.
A nasal elevator, which is used to help form the correct shape of the baby’s nose.
A nasal-alveolar molding (NAM) device, which can be used to help mold the lip tissues into a more favorable position in preparation for the lip repair.

Around 30-40% of children with a cleft palate will need further surgeries to help improve their speech, usually after their speech is assessed between ages 4 and 5. Repairing a cleft might seem like a long process, but most children will end up being able to talk and eat without any issues with the help of surgeries and therapies.

Finding Health Insurance Coverage

One of the most important factors in getting the help your child needs for their cleft is your health insurance plan. Before purchasing a plan, make sure you understand what coverage it offers, and make sure it will cover evaluation and treatment for a cleft.

If you’re not sure what plan is right for you, speak to an EZ agent! EZ agents are highly trained and knowledgeable, and will sort through all available plans to make sure that you’re completely covered throughout the lengthy process of repairing your child’s cleft.

We offer a wide range of health insurance plans from top-rated insurance companies in every state. And because we work with so many companies, and can offer all of the plans available in your area, we can find you a plan that saves you a lot of money – even hundreds of dollars – even if you don’t qualify for a subsidy. There is no obligation, or hassle, just free quotes on all available plans in your area. To get free instant quotes, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to a local agent, call 888-350-1890.

What Are We Doing about Health Equity in the US?

One of the good things about the Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) is that it has led to a reduction in racial, ethnic, and other disparities in the healthcare system in America. But, unfortunately, it seems that it has not been enough to create health equity for everyone. We are still seeing high rates of uninsured or underinsured people in this country: in a survey released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 9.6% of U.S. residents, or 31.1 million people, lacked health insurance when surveyed in the first six months of 2021, and the numbers have not gotten much better since then.

So now, to reduce uninsured rates and help increase access to healthcare coverage, some states are taking matters into their own hands: California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, and Massachusetts are implementing strategies in an attempt to improve health equity for all. In addition, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services is trying to step up efforts to get everyone equal access to care.

What Is Health Inequity?

black scale with one side lower than the other — *Health inequity is still an issue in America.*

What do we mean when we say health inequity? This term refers to the non-clinical factors (often called the social determinants of health) that can affect health outcomes for people. Some examples of things that can affect health inequity include, but are not limited to:

Redlining, which can still be seen in limited financial, educational, or health resources
Limited career opportunities
Income disparities
Neighborhood safety
Access to nutritious food

According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, “Health equity means that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. This requires removing obstacles to health such as poverty, discrimination, and their consequences, including powerlessness and lack of access to good jobs with fair pay, quality education and housing, safe environments, and health care.”

And while health inequity is different from health disparity, which refers to differences between health and healthcare between different groups, it is health inequity that leads to health disparities. So how can we address this issue, and are we actually doing so effectively anywhere in the country?

Addressing Health Equity

Researchers have found that health equity goals are similar in every state, but after collecting data, the above-mentioned states are the ones that are taking further steps to apply financial incentives to improve healthcare equity among different racial and ethnic groups. Each state tracked the health equity for underserved populations using the data to identify goals to help insure these populations, and these states came out on top.

But these states and Washington D.C. have come up against federal regulations regarding healthcare that have slowed some of their progress: federal law restricts deviation in plan design to an extent. For example, when the District of Columbia attempted to create an equity-based insurance design, the district was restricted on the changes it could make to cost-sharing due to federal regulations.

CMS Involvement

But, on the other hand, in order to try and create more health equity in the entire country, and not just these four states, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is stepping up their efforts to get healthcare to those who need it most. CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure has charged each CMS office with building health equity into their core work, with the aim of better identifying and responding to inequities in health outcomes, barriers to coverage, and access to care.

According to cms.gov, this includes:

Promoting culturally and linguistically appropriate services to ensure respectful care and services in people’s preferred languages, as well as to promote health literacy.
Building on outreach efforts to enroll eligible people.
Expanding and standardizing the collection and use of data, including race, ethnicity, preferred language, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, income, geography, and other factors across CMS programs.
Evaluating policies to determine how CMS can support safety net providers caring for underserved communities.
Ensuring engagement with, and accountability to, the communities served by CMS in regards to policy development and the implementation of CMS programs.
Incorporating screening for, and promoting broader access to, health-related social needs, including greater adoption of related quality measures, coordination with community-based organizations, and collection of social needs data in standardized formats.
Ensuring CMS programs serve as a model and catalyst to advance health equity through the nation’s healthcare system, including with states, providers, plans, and other stakeholders.

“Advancing health equity is the core work of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. We can’t achieve our health system goals until everyone can attain the highest level of health. That’s why I am inviting the healthcare industry to work alongside CMS as we transform the way patients are cared for in our country,” says CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “Health equity will be embedded within the DNA of CMS and serve as the lens through which we view all of our work. Our vision is clear and our goal is straightforward — we will not stop until every person has a fair and just opportunity to attain their optimal health.”

Let’s hope that we can achieve those goals!

How to Balance Health Insurance Costs

Health insurance is a necessity, but it can be a big expense for a lot of people. That means that some people go without it in order to “save” money. But going without insurance can backfire, and end up costing you a lot in medical bills. We get it, though, the cost of some insurance plans can be surprising, or seem out of reach – but we’re here to tell you that it is possible to find affordable health insurance without breaking the bank. The best way to get started balancing your healthcare costs is to understand your plan and know what your options are.

Get Familiar with Your Expenses

There are a lot of expenses associated with your health insurance plan, and you need to know what you’ll be paying for when it comes to your plan. Here’s a breakdown of what you should be looking at:

Premiums– The amount you pay monthly for your plan.
Deductible– The amount you have to pay before your insurance company begins to pay for services. For example, you might have a $5,000 deductible, meaning you’ll have to reach that amount in out-of-pocket healthcare expenses before your coverage kicks in.
Copay– A set dollar amount that you pay when you visit a healthcare provider or emergency room, or for prescription medications. For example, you might have to pay $20 upfront to see your primary care physician, $30 to see a specialist, etc.
Coinsurance– The percentage of costs that you will have to pay after meeting your deductible. For example, some plans will require you to pay 20% of a covered service, meaning if your health insurance plans’ allowed amount for an office visit is $100, you’ll pay 20% of $100, or $20 (if you’ve already met your deductible).
Out-of-pocket maximum – Health insurance plans now have a maximum amount that you will have to pay out-of-pocket for your healthcare expenses, so if you reach that limit in a calendar year, your insurance company will begin to cover your services in full.

Once you know how much you are paying for each of these parts of your healthcare plan, you can do some comparison shopping, and make sure that you have the right plan for you.

Know How to Save

Even if you’ve got a plan that works for your budget, you can still find more ways to cut down on some of your healthcare expenses. For example, there are ways to save in the following situations:

When You Are in an Emergency

If you have a minor medical emergency, stop and think before you go to the emergency room, since a visit to the ER can be very pricey. For things that aren’t serious, try a telemedicine visit with your primary care physician, or visiting urgent care instead of waiting for an in-person appointment, or heading to the emergency room and being hit with a big bill. Depending on the situation, telemedicine or urgent care could be sufficient, and cheaper, if the issue isn’t life-threatening.

When You Need Blood Work

hand in purple gloves holding tubes of blood — *Before getting blood work done, make sure the place you go to is covered under your insurance plan!*

If your doctor orders blood work, make sure you find out which lab your insurance company requires you to use. Each insurance plan will cover certain labs, and some plans might require a referral or prescription, while others will not. If you go to the wrong lab, you will be stuck with a big bill for going to an out-of-network provider.

When You Need Outpatient Care

If you have to have minor surgery or a minor procedure, such as an ACL repair or a colonoscopy, you can save money by going to an ambulatory surgery center instead of the hospital. These centers will conduct same-day surgeries that cost less and are more convenient.

Know What You Need

What exactly are you looking for in a plan? Do you have a family you need to cover? Do you have kids who play sports, who will require a little extra coverage? Or are you single and need the bare minimum for the what-ifs? Whatever the case may be, take the time to determine what kind of plan and coverage you need. With all of the subsidies now available, there is no better time to reconsider getting a health insurance plan, or to look at your current one to make sure it covers your needs.

And if your plan doesn’t cover everything you need it to, it’s time to find a plan that does, so you can save as much money as possible. If you’re shopping for a plan, your best bet is to speak to a licensed EZ agent. Our agents work with the top-rated insurance companies in the nation, so we can compare plans in minutes. We will not only find a plan that has all the benefits you’re looking for, but we will also make sure the plan fits your budget. To get free instant quotes, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to a local agent, call 888-350-1890. No obligation.

Stats About Health Insurance

Everyone knows they need health insurance, but it’s one of those things that people will often put off getting, for a variety of reasons. Some people think they don’t need it because they’re healthy, or that they won’t be able to afford it, since the cost of insurance has been on the rise. Not only that, but the pandemic caught everyone off guard and caused hardships for many people, including the loss of jobs and health insurance plans. In fact, we’ve got some very eye-opening stats on the state of health insurance in our country today that you need to see – some of them might just convince you that now is the time to finally find your plan!

Millions Of People Lost Coverage Because of Covid

Millions of Americans lost their jobs in the early days of the pandemic when so many businesses were forced to shut down for months. And when these people lost their jobs, they also lost the health insurance provided by their employer, and many remained without health insurance because it was too expensive to purchase their own individual plans.

Over 70% of Uninsured People Say The Cost is Too High, but There’s Something They Don’t Know

One of the main reasons people decide not to purchase health insurance, or to even look into purchasing a plan, is that they think the price is going to be too high. But what some people might not know is that President Biden has made health insurance cheaper and more affordable for people with low to no income by opening up subsidies to more Americans. The Biden administration estimates that ACA premiums will decrease by about $50 per month, with one administration official emphasizing that 4 out of 5 people enrolling “will be able to purchase a plan for $10 or less per month.” This could make a huge difference in the lives of the 14.9 million people who are currently not insured in the U.S.

Over 40% of Those Who Are Insured Don’t Have Enough Coverage

For those who do have health insurance, almost half of them are underinsured, and unfortunately don’t find this out until they receive big bills after getting treatment. Some people don’t review their plan or assume the plan they’ve had for years will be sufficient, when in reality it might not be adequate for their needs. If you think this might be the case for you, or you think that you can only afford the coverage you have and nothing more, it’s worth looking into other plans and speaking with an agent.

overdue bills stacked on top of each other — *Many Americans have overdue medical bills that lead to bankruptcy.*

Around 20% of Households Have Outstanding Medical Bills

Studies show that around 20% of Americans have bad credit reports because of outstanding medical bills. Because wages are low, inflation is rising, and medical services are extremely expensive, people are choosing to put their money towards other necessities, instead of paying their medical bills.

Medical Bills Are the Leading Cause of Bankruptcy

Over 60% of bankruptcies in America are caused by high medical bills! But what many people are unaware of is that you can have your medical debt forgiven: hospitals do have medical debt forgiveness programs, so if you are struggling with bills, speak to them about ways to have your bill reduced, or even waived completely.

Get Affordable Coverage

Health insurance can be expensive, but with professional, highly-trained agents on your side, you can find an affordable plan with the right coverage for your needs. We know it can feel like there are endless things to think about when looking for a health insurance plan for you and your family. Do you want more flexibility? Supplemental insurance? Cheaper prescriptions? But the easiest way to find the right plan for you and get the answers to these questions is to work with an EZ agent. We will compare plans, go over every option, discuss your needs, and help you sign up for the plan you need, all at no cost to you. Our services are completely free, with no hassle and no obligation. Get free health insurance quotes by entering your zip code in the bar above, or to speak with a local agent, call 888-350-1890.