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 | $93.55 | Get quote |
| Lifestyle Extras | Yes | $600 per eye | $57.40 | Get quote |
 | Premier Extras | Yes | $1,500 | $82.26 | More info |
 | GMHBA Top Extras 75% Benefits | Yes | $250 | $108.15 | Get quote |
| GMHBA Top Extras Set Benefits | Yes | $250 | $75.10 | Get quote |
 | Premium Extras | Yes | $1,500 | $92.43 | More info |
| Healthy Living Extras | Yes | $1,200 | $57.77 | More info |
 | High Extras | Yes | $500 per eye | $82.70 | More info |
| Premium Extras | Yes | $600 per eye | $128.90 | More info |
*Quotes are based on single individual with less than $97,000 income and living in Sydney. Prices accurate as of November 2024.
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 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.
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?
What doesn’t Medicare cover you for?
Private health insurance can cover essential major eye surgery procedures through hospital cover and in some cases, corrective laser eye surgery, through extras cover.
| Health insurance policy type | What can it cover? |
|---|---|
| Hospital Cover |
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| Extras Cover |
|
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.
| Procedure | Typical price (per eye) | Details |
|---|---|---|
| LASIK | $2,200 - $3,400 | In LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis), a surgeon uses lasers to create a flap in the cornea and reshape the underlying tissue before replacing the flap. |
| PRK | $2,000-$3,400 | For PRK (photorefractive keratectomy), a surgeon uses a topical solution to remove the top layer of corneal cells, and a laser to reshape the exposed corneal tissue below. |
| SMILE | $3,300 - $3,700 | In SMILE (small incision lenticular extraction), a surgeon make a small incision in the cornea with a laser and then removes a small disc of underlying corneal tissue. |
| ICL | $4,700 - $6,200 | An ICL (implantable contact lenses) is a custom lens, similar to a contact lens, that is created by a surgeon and implanted directly into the eye. |
When comparing health insurance policies for laser eye surgery, keep the following in mind:
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