Frequently Asked Questions – Qualsight LASIK Benefit Plan

1. Who is Qualsight?
Qualsight specializes in providing a managed Laser Vision Correction Benefit (LASIK) to Plan Sponsors (Employers, Unions, Managed Care Organizations, and other providers of health benefits). As one of the first managed health care organizations in the nation to specialize in Laser Vision Correction, Qualsight provides access to quality refractive care through a network of credentialed Board Certified Ophthalmologists. You can now improve your vision and work safety by removing the burden of contact lenses and glasses.

2. What is LASIK?
LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileus) is an outpatient treatment that uses an Excimer laser (cool beam of light) to gently reshape the front surface of the eye (the cornea). This reshaping of the cornea changes the angle of light that enters the eye to refocus correctly on the retina. This allows images to be more sharply focused. Vision recovery is rapid, and there is little or no postoperative pain. With refractive procedures, your dependence upon glasses and contact lenses should diminish significantly.

3. Can LASIK be done if I have astigmatism?
Yes, the LASIK procedure has been approved to effectively treat astigmatism as well as myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness).

4. What does it cost?
Through the Qualsight network, traditional LASIK surgery is priced at $945 per eye, and Custom LASIK is priced at $1350 per eye. This equates to savings of 40-50% off the national price for LASIK!

5. What’s the difference between standard and custom LASIK?
Standard LASIK treats moderate to severe refractive disorders, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. With a Custom procedure, physicians tailor the LASIK procedure according to each individual patient’s unique vision correction needs. The treatment is unique to each eye. Custom LASIK accounts for approximately 40% of all LASIK procedures. Depending on your prescription and eye shape your doctor will be able to tell you which type of treatment is right for you at your evaluation.

6. What about the ads I have been seeing that claim to charge $499 for LASIK?
That price is usually an introductory price that is available to only a small subset of the population (usually less than 5%). Many offices will charge separately for initial evaluation appointments as well as follow up visits. They typically charge significantly more for higher levels of corrections. The national average price for LASIK is over $2000 per eye. The Qualsight plan is all inclusive with no hidden fees and represents a savings of 40-50% off the national average charge for traditional LASIK.

7. How do I get started?
You will need to schedule your initial appointment with Qualsight toll-free at (877)507-4448 so we can verify which doctors are available for the preferred pricing schedule. After we schedule the initial pre-operative appointment, you will be dealing directly with the doctor through the remainder of the process.

8. Is a deposit required to book the appointment?
Yes. Qualsight will collect a fully refundable deposit of $490 per eye, payable by credit card (Visa, Mastercard or Discover) or by personal check. This deposit will be deducted from the total amount due, and the remaining balance will be collected on the day of the procedure by the doctor’s office. In the event you do not proceed with LASIK, for any reason, it is 100% fully refundable through Qualsight.

9. Why do I need to put down a deposit?
The deposit holds your appointment and confirms your eligibility in the plan for your doctor’s office. Also, it will be deducted from the total payment you owe the surgeon for your procedure. If you don’t qualify for LASIK, or choose not to have the surgery for any reason, it is fully refundable.

10. I don’t have a credit card. Can I use another form of payment besides a credit card?
Yes, we accept personal checks. We also have a financing program available with a nationally recognized bank which will enable you to finance the payment at 0% interest for the first four months (with a minimum payment due of approximately $42 each month).

11. How do you select the doctors?
All of our doctors are Board Certified Ophthalmologists that operate with FDA approved lasers. They have been credentialed by an impartial third party called Credentialing Solutions. Qualsight has also collected their professional and educational history for you. When you call Qualsight, you will be given a choice of approved doctors that participate in your area.

12. I wear contacts. Will I have to revert to wearing glasses before the surgery?
Yes. Contact lenses can change the shape of your cornea for up to several weeks after you have stopped using them depending on the type of contact lenses you wear. Not leaving your contact lenses out long enough for your cornea to assume its natural shape before surgery can lead to inaccurate measurements. We recommend you remove your soft contacts two weeks prior to your initial appointment, and at least four weeks for hard contact lenses.

13. What can I expect at the first pre-operative appointment?
Expect to be there about an hour and a half to two hours. They will be testing your eyes for your prescription and reviewing for any medical problems. Your eyes may be dilated and they will scan your eyes to get a topographical image of the shape of your eyes.

14. What can I expect during the actual procedure?
The entire procedure will take approximately two hours. Your laser treatment is specifically designed by your surgeon based on measurements gathered at the pre-operative evaluation. Make sure you schedule a one-day follow up appointment. Remember to ask any additional questions or concerns to your doctor or technician regarding the procedure. You are required to have a person drive you home from the procedure. Patients will not be allowed to drive themselves home after their procedure. Please consult www.qualsight.com for more detailed information.

15. What if I need enhancements / additional post-operative care?
Your total charge will include a pre-screen appointment, the LASIK surgery, up to four post-operative appointments (usually one day, one week, one month and three months) and a one year Retreatment Warranty. After the first year, an annual Retreatment Warranty is available for $80 a year and includes an annual exam. Under the warranty, should you need enhancements, or “touch-ups,” after the first year, your co-pay for enhancements will be between $110 - $300 per eye, depending on the procedure. Note that during the first year of your procedure, your enhancements are covered at the reduced rate of $110 - $300 per eye.