Is Keratoconus Treatment Covered by Health Insurance?

Treatment Can Be Expensive

As a medical condition, many of the available interventions and services for keratoconus care may be covered under general health coverage as a medical necessity. Your insurance company is best equipped to answer your inquiries about what coverage you are entitled to. 

Keratoconus is diagnosed following a comprehensive eye exam and topographic modeling of the cornea. With advanced medical technology today there are many options to treat this condition by preventing further corneal damage and improving vision. Unfortunately, many of these treatments are expensive. 

Without medical coverage, the lifetime costs to manage and maintain keratoconus can be exorbitant. The following are approximate figures for common procedures to treat keratoconus:

• Cross-linking: Approximate costs in the U.S. for this outpatient procedure ranges from $2500 to $4000 per eye.
• Corneal transplants: Can cost as much as $18,000.
• Accumulated Cost: Another factor to consider is the lifetime cost of managing and maintaining this condition through the use of contact lenses, glasses, and exams. As keratoconus advances, more expensive speciality contacts are often required.

Depending on your ocular health, you will also have to consider if you need an additional vision plan. The following section will discuss the kinds of interventions that are commonly covered either in full or in part by many insurance plans.

Speak With Your Provider

Every insurance plan is different. For specific information about your benefits and to determine what lenses and treatment may be covered by your policy, speak with your provider.