Are cataracts covered by health insurance?
Learn about cataract surgery and if it’s covered by your health insurance.
Edited by:
Graham Lewis, health
insurance expert at Bupa
Last updated 1 November 2024
2 minute read
Does health insurance cover cataract surgery?
Cataracts surgery is often covered as part of your health insurance.
If you have cataracts in both eyes, it’s usually best to have two separate surgeries. One for each eye. So, you’d have to make two insurance claims.
If outpatient cover is included with your policy, this will cover your initial appointment. It will usually also cover any follow-up appointments you might need.
Remember
Insurers do not usually cover pre-existing conditions.
What type of cataract treatment is covered?
Standard health insurance includes cataracts treatment with a clear artificial replacement lens.
If you want a specialised lens, such as a refractive or corrective lens, you might need to pay the extra cost – depending on your insurer.
If you have a regular replacement lens, your cover should include any aftercare appointments
If you have a specialised replacement lens, you’ll probably have to pay for any additional tests you might need.
If you’re an existing Bupa customer, you can check your level of cover in your policy documents.
What happens after cataract diagnosis?
If you've been diagnosed with cataracts and it's affecting your daily life, your optometrist might recommend surgery.
If this happens, while you have an active health insurance policy, you can ask to be referred to a private ophthalmologist for an eye assessment.
Cataracts surgery doesn’t take long - usually less than 45 minutes. During surgery, your eye lens will be removed and replaced with an artificial one.
Usually, cataracts removal can be carried out as an inpatient procedure that will be covered by your health insurance.
Existing customers
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Or, if you need help, you can speak to our team.
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