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Laser eye surgery can drastically improve vision and relieve the day-to-day hassle of wearing glasses or contact lenses.

With this convenience comes at a cost, and it’s not something everyone can afford. Laser eye surgery can cost thousands of dollars per eye—we’ll go into more detail on cost in this guide.

Private health insurance can help with some or all of the cost of laser eye surgery, though. Ahead, we’ll explain the coverage options you have when shopping for laser eye surgery.

Is Laser Eye Surgery Covered?

The first question you’re probably asking is, “Does health insurance cover laser eye surgery?” The answer is both yes and no.

Medicare considers laser eye surgery to be elective, and won’t cover any benefits. That means those without private health insurance will have to pay out of their own pocket. The exception to this rule is when the surgery relates to correcting an eye disease.

The bulk of health fund policies don’t cover laser eye surgery either, but there are a few that do. Many of these policies provide rebates for laser eye surgery like LASIK as an incentive of sorts; providing a reason why you should choose them over the competition.

How Much is Covered?

The amount of laser eye surgery covered by your health fund depends on your policy. Only a select few funds cover the full cost of laser eye surgery, and this is dependent on the charge by the Doctor not exceeding the limit.

All policies have a limit of some sort. A few health funds have a lifetime limit, while others have per-person and annual limits. Chances are, only a portion of your laser eye surgery is going to be covered by your health fund.

Health Funds That Cover Laser Eye Surgery

There are only a handful of laser eye surgery private health insurance cover options available in Australia, and these are usually the top level of combined cover.

As we’ve stated, the health funds that offer coverage for these procedures usually do so as an incentive for you to pick their top plans.

Those that do offer coverage may only cover specific types of laser eye surgery. If they cover LASIK and you need SMILE, you’ll want to pick a different fund.

All funds that cover such procedures have waiting periods as well. These are at least one year and can be as long as three years.

Here’s a breakdown of some health funds that provide a benefit for laser eye surgery at the time of writing.

As you can see, the choices are relatively limited. Health funds are adding and removing items from their coverage all the time, though, so it’s worth checking with your health fund to see what they offer.

HBF, for instance, recently removed the Ultimate Cover option from their portfolio. This was the only coverage type that included laser eye surgery benefits.

What to Look For In a Policy

There aren’t an unlimited number of coverage options available to those interested in laser eye surgery. You probably won’t be able to be too picky here, but there are a few things you can look for to pick the right one.

Other Coverage Options

The first thing to look for in a policy that covers laser eye surgery is what other benefits are offered. Pick the policy that is most useful to you and your family.

Since all health funds that cover laser eye surgery only provide it with their comprehensive policy, get the most out of your dollar by looking for one that offers benefits you will use.

Amount Covered

If laser eye surgery is your primary concern, you probably want a health fund that covers all or most of the procedure. We’ll get into laser eye surgery pricing below, so you can better compare the general price vs. how much your health fund will cover.

As we’ve said, most health insurance policies don’t cover the entirety of the procedure. You’ll need to work within this budget to get the best value out of your health benefits.

Regardless of the laser eye surgery benefits provided, you’re going to have to wait at least a year before you can make a claim. This means you’ll either have to plan well in advance, or consider paying for the surgery entirely out of pocket.

How Much Will Laser Eye Surgery Cost?

Depending on where you receive your laser eye surgery, the cost generally costs between $1,500 and $4,000 per eye, though it can cost more or less depending on your surgeon and situation.

Having surgery on both eyes? You’ll be looking at $3,000 to $8,000 or higher. Most outlets charge per eye, and some health funds pay benefits on this basis as well.

The cost isn’t relegated to the surgery alone, though. There may be consultation fees before you’re able to receive the surgery, although this is sometimes included in the total cost.

As you can see, health funds that offer $1,000 to $3,000 for a lifetime limit won’t cover the full cost of laser eye surgery. However, many clinics will give you the option of a payment plan if the initial cost is too high.

You might be able to find someone who will give you a better rate, but this isn’t an area where you want to cut costs. Do your research on the surgeon, clinic, and type of surgery before you commit.

Different Kinds of Laser Eye Surgery

There are a few different kinds of laser eye surgery, and each is better for different eye problems. Here’s a brief overview.

• LASIK: One of the most common forms of laser eye surgery. This procedure reshapes the tissue of the cornea under the outer layer.
• PRK: Corrects nearsightedness. Only reshapes the surface of the cornea.
• RLE or PRLEX: Similar to cataract surgery. Surgeon replaces the natural lens with an implant. Used in extreme cases.
• Intacs: Treats nearsightedness. Surgeon places two plastic rings on the outer edge of your cornea to flatten it out.
• Phakic Intraocular Lens Implants: Treats more extreme nearsightedness than LASIK or PRK. Surgeon places an implant lens behind your pupil or attaches it to your iris.

Should You Get Laser Eye Surgery?

The decision of whether or not to get laser eye surgery is up to you. Very few health funds provide full benefits for the procedure. Most people are looking at a health fund that will only pay a small percentage of the total cost.

There are costs associated with having glasses and contact lenses as well, so you might be able to offset the cost of laser eye surgery by thinking about it as a replacement.

Laser eye surgery can make life easier for those who need it. It can be an expensive procedure, and requires careful consideration.

Want to get started shopping for laser eye surgery private health insurance cover? Take a look at our comparison tool below.