Health insurance for laser eye surgery

Health insurance that covers laser eye surgery

Only a handful of health insurers cover you for laser eye surgery. We've listed them below.

Fund	Policy	Laser Eye Surgery	Limit	Monthly Price	Apply
	Super Extras	Yes	$900 per eye	$102.40	Go to site
	Lifestyle Extras	Yes	$600 per eye	$61.20	Go to site
	Premier Extras	Yes	$1,500	$82.79	Read review
	Premium Extras	Yes	$1,500	$94.90	Read review
	Healthy Living Extras	Yes	$1,200	$59.31	Read review
	Premium Extras	Yes	$600 per eye	$139.70	Read review
	High Extras	Yes	$500 per eye	$90.50	Read review

*Quotes are based on single individual with less than $105,000 income and living in Sydney. Prices accurate as of April 2026.

How does health insurance cover laser eye surgery?

Extras

Only a handful of extras insurance policies cover laser eye surgery. There's no requirement for funds to offer cover – which means it's usually only available with very comprehensive policies. In some cases, like Medibank, you'll need to take out a combined hospital and extras policy to be covered.

Hospital

Hospital insurance doesn't usually cover laser eye surgery because it's generally not considered 'medically necessary'. However, all bronze policies cover other eye-related treatments including tear duct conditions, eye infections, retinal detachment and trauma to the eye. You'll need a gold policy if you want health insurance for cataract surgery.

What's the difference between laser eye surgery and other eye surgery?

• Laser eye surgery. These are all different ways of reshaping the cornea to correct vision and remove the need to wear glasses. These procedures vary in cost and aren't always covered by either hospital or extras cover.
• Other eye surgery. This encompasses a wide variety of medically necessary surgical procedures such as glaucoma. It's covered by hospital insurance. Some insurers pay for any major eye procedure recommended by an ophthalmologist, others will only cover specific treatments or parts of the eye.

Eye surgery in the public and private systems

Public

Medicare, Australia's public health system, only covers essential procedures like cataract removal surgery. It does not cover optionals like corrective laser eye surgery.

What does Medicare cover you for?

• Costs of treatment as a public patient in a public hospital
• Partial costs of being treated as a private patient in a public hospital
• Essential eye procedures required for the patient to maintain their sight

What doesn’t Medicare cover you for?

• Corrective surgery
• Unessential elective or optional procedures done for cosmetic purposes
• Procedures carried out to prevent a patient from needing to wear glasses or contact lenses

Private

Private health insurance can cover essential major eye surgery procedures through hospital cover and in some cases, corrective laser eye surgery, through extras cover.

How much does laser eye surgery cost without insurance?

Without health insurance, you'll need to pay the full cost of laser eye surgery yourself. The final bill will depend on the type of surgery you have, and will vary based on which provider you ultimately choose. Here is a summary of some of the price ranges of common surgery types.

What should I look for when comparing laser eye insurance policies?

When comparing health insurance policies for laser eye surgery, keep the following in mind:

• Waiting periods. This is the minimum amount of time you must wait between taking out a policy and claiming benefits with it. For laser eye surgery, this is often 24 months, while in-hospital major eye surgery is typically two months.
• Excess. This is a fee you must pay when claiming benefits. Not all health insurance policies include excesses, but some do. You may be able to opt for a higher excess and lower premiums, or a lower excess and higher premiums. It's good to make sure that your excess is not so high as to prevent you from making any claims.
• Limits. All private health funds have annual limits, which are the maximum amount you can claim in benefits per year. Limits for laser eye surgery on the policies we compared range from $1,200 to $1,500, or $500 to $900 per eye.

FAQs

• What is the typical waiting period for laser eye surgery on health insurance?

  Typically you will face a waiting period of 24 months before you can claim benefits for laser eye surgery through your extras policy. It is crucial to check the specific waiting period with your chosen health fund as it can vary.

• Does health insurance cover all laser eye surgery procedures like LASIK, PRK and SMILE?

  Not all health insurance policies cover every type of laser eye surgery. While some comprehensive extras policies may offer benefits for common procedures like LASIK, PRK or SMILE, it depends entirely on your specific policy and health fund. Always confirm the exact procedures covered directly with your insurer before proceeding.

• Are there age limits or other eligibility criteria for laser eye surgery insurance?

  While health insurance policies do not typically impose age limits for claiming laser eye surgery benefits, clinics may have their own age restrictions for the procedure itself, usually recommending it for adults over 18 whose vision has stabilised. You should consult with an ophthalmologist to determine your medical eligibility for surgery. Always check your policy's terms for any specific criteria you must meet before claiming.

• How do I make a claim for laser eye surgery with my health insurance?

  To make a claim, you will typically need to provide an itemised invoice or receipt from your laser eye surgery provider. Many health funds allow claims to be submitted online through their member portal, via a mobile app, by mail or in person. Just double check you have completed any necessary waiting periods and your policy covers the specific procedure you had.

• Will health insurance cover the full cost of my laser eye surgery?

  No, health insurance generally will not cover the full cost of laser eye surgery. Extras policies that include this cover typically offer a benefit or a set annual limit, which helps reduce your out-of-pocket expenses. You should be prepared to pay a significant portion of the cost yourself even with insurance.

• Does my health insurance cover follow-up consultations after laser eye surgery?

  Some comprehensive extras policies may offer benefits for post-operative care and follow-up consultations related to your laser eye surgery. This coverage is not universal so you must check your policy details or contact your health fund to confirm if these services are included and what limits may apply.

Written by

Gary Ross Hunter

Journalist

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Gary Ross Hunter has over 6 years of expertise writing about insurance, including life, health, home, and car insurance. Having reviewed hundreds of product disclosure statements and published over 800 articles, he loves simplifying complex insurance topics for everyday readers. Gary has contributed to major outlets like Yahoo Finance, The Sydney Morning Herald, and news.com.au, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Literature from the University of Glasgow, along with a Tier 2 General Advice certification, ensuring his work adheres to ASIC’s RG146 standards. See full bio

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