Sadly, laser eye surgery is not covered by Medicare. Laser eye surgery is considered a cosmetic procedure and therefore; not covered under any Medicare scheme.
The medical expenses tax offset was phased out in 2019 and no longer available. All out-of-pocket expenses can no longer be claimed from the 2019-2020 financial year.
At personalEYES, your initial LASIK assessment is completely FREE. The actual cost of laser eye surgery ranges from $2,525 to $6,200 per eye in Australia, depending on the clinic and the type of procedure. The cost can also be based on surgeon experience, as the most accomplished surgeons often charge higher rates.
No, Medicare doesn't typically cover laser eye surgery since it's considered a cosmetic procedure (i.e. you want to remove your need for glasses). However, if you have a certain eye disease and require medically necessary treatment, the cost of your surgery may be covered or subsidised.
SuperCare allows individuals to access superannuation for eye treatments and related surgeries. It's an external service provider assisting individuals and Family Members in applying for the Government's Early Release of Super (ERS) Programme to cover surgery and medical costs.
Scarring from a previous eye injury or surgery can impede the surgeon's ability to perform the operation safely. Other eye diseases that affect the cornea or infections must be resolved before you can get LASIK. In some cases, you may find that because of eye diseases or another procedure, you cannot get LASIK.
Sadly, laser eye surgery is not covered by Medicare. Laser eye surgery is considered a cosmetic procedure and therefore; not covered under any Medicare scheme. But there are a few health funds that assist in the costs of laser eye surgery and there is also 0% finance for eligible applicants!
Most people still see the effects of their LASIK forever. However, some may need to have enhancement LASIK surgery after 10 years. The reason for this can vary depending on the age when getting LASIK and vision health.
Please note Medibank only pays benefits towards laser eye surgery under Medibank Gold Ultra Health Cover (subject to a lifetime limit and 36-month waiting period). Please check your product benefits to see whether Medibank will pay you benefits towards this type of treatment.
In the vast majority of cases, laser eye surgery is a permanent vision correction option for patients. However, with age, your eyes may change and you may experience other vision problems. While the changes made by laser eye surgery are permanent, this will not prevent these age-related changes from occurring.
Fortunately, LASIK eye surgery is not painful. Right before your procedure, your surgeon will place numbing eye drops into both of your eyes. While you may still feel a little bit of pressure during the procedure, you should not feel any pain.
Most people who undergo LASIK surgery will have good to excellent vision in most situations, for many years or decades. You'll be able to play sports and swim, or even just see the clock first thing in the morning, without having to worry about your glasses or contact lenses.
In previous years, you were able to claim out of pocket expenses for certain medical expenses in your tax return. As of 1 July 2019, the ATO has stated that medical fees are no longer claimable as a tax deduction. However, you may still be able to claim expenses for previous tax years between 2015-2016 and 2018-2019.
The Bad. The bad news is that personal grooming and haircuts are generally not deductible. The ATO considers them to be private or domestic expenses that are not directly related to earning your income.
You can't claim a deduction for prescription glasses or contact lenses, even if you wear them while working. These are private expenses.
LASIK: 25-40
Generally speaking, most LASIK eye surgeons agree on 25-40 as the ideal age range for LASIK eye surgery candidacy for a few reasons. By the age of 25, eyeglasses and contact lens prescriptions have most likely stabilized. A stable prescription is one of the hallmarks of a good LASIK candidate.
The average age for LASIK has historically been from the mid-30s up. We know that when patients return unhappy with their vision about 10 years after a LASIK procedure, the chief suspects are presbyopia and cataract. So the answer is: “It's almost always the lens, not the LASIK.”
Recovery can vary from person to person, however most people see 20/20 by the next morning after their LASIK procedure. Although the patient's vision is usually very good, that does not mean that healing is complete. It is common for healing to go on for weeks to months after the procedure.
Generally, a suitable candidate will be at least 18 years of age, have had a stable vision for the last 12 months, is not pregnant, is free of certain diseases of the cornea and retina and is generally in good health.
BUPA members with Ultimate Health cover receive 100% cover for a laser eye surgery procedure. The total cost for your procedure is billed directly to BUPA, so the only costs to you are consultation fees and diagnostic tests (subject to a 3-year waiting period). Call BUPA on 134 135 to find out if you're eligible.
Bupa Ultimate private health insurance will cover the entire surgery cost of PRK, LASIK or SMILE® once you have been a plan member for 3 years. Contact your health fund to check if you are eligible for a rebate.
You have a thin or irregular cornea
If you have a predisposition to corneal shape irregularity, this can be made worse by laser eye surgery, and a condition called corneal ectasia may develop. This occurs infrequently and can often be treated successfully without the need for a corneal transplant.
Are there any risks? Most people have some visual side effects and discomfort in the weeks or months after surgery but these should gradually settle down. Serious complications are more common after RLE than after laser eye surgery or PIOL surgery. About 1 in 500 people have significant loss of vision after RLE.
Is it possible to have LASIK surgery twice? The short answer is yes, though this is usually only done 5 – 10 years after the initial treatment. However, rest assured that LASIK offers long-term vision correction, and very few people require a second session.