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What’s the cost of cataract surgery in Australia?
What’s the cost of cataract surgery in Australia?
Written by
Tina Sendin
Edited by
Andrew Kemp
Reviewed by
Andres GutierrezCompare Health Insurance Policies
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What is cataract surgery?
Long story short
Cataract surgery is a quick, sight-restoring procedure
In about 30 minutes, this common surgery replaces your natural lens with a new artificial one.
Public waiting lists can stretch over a year
Medicare covers the full cost in a public hospital but you likely have a significant wait. Private patients tend to have a shorter wait.
Typical private specialist fees could be over $2,000
But Medicare and private health insurance could cover a portion or all your costs, depending on your policy.
You’ll usually need a gold hospital policy
To be covered for cataract surgery in a private hospital, your policy must include the ‘Cataracts’ clinical category. Some silver plus policies might have it listed.
What is cataract surgery?
Cataract surgery is a day procedure designed to restore vision clouded by cataracts. An ophthalmologist (a specialist eye surgeon) makes a small incision in your eye to remove the clouded natural lens and replaces it with an artificial one, known as an intraocular lens.
The procedure usually takes about 30 minutes, so you should be able to head home on the same day. If both of your eyes need surgery, they’ll usually be treated on different days. That way, the first eye has a chance to recover before the second gets tackled.
Cataract surgery is one of the most common procedures in Australia. In fact, more than 250,000 Aussies undergo this eye surgery every year. 1Victorian Department of Health – Cataracts It’s considered safe, painless and highly successful at restoring clear vision and improving eye health – and overall quality of life.
How much does cataract surgery cost?
Cataract surgery is free for eligible Medicare patients in the public hospital system, while typical specialist fees alone were $2,100–$2,400 on average in the private hospital system in the 2023–24 financial year. 2Department of Health, Disability and Ageing – Cataract surgery; Cataract surgery with glaucoma stent
Along with whether you choose to go public or private, the type of lens used can also impact your final bill.
For instance, monofocal lenses – set to focus on a fixed distance – are the most common. They’re usually covered by Medicare and private health insurance, and you might still need glasses after having them inserted. Meanwhile, a premium artificial lens (like a multifocal) could mean you can throw your glasses in the bin. But you might also have to pay extra for the greater flexibility and customisation.
Does Medicare cover cataract surgery?
Medicare will cover the cost of the surgery if it is medically necessary if you choose to have the procedure in a public hospital. That means you won’t have to pay the surgeon’s fee, the anaesthetist’s fee or for your hospital stay.
The catch is that you’ll be placed on a public waiting list which, for a procedure like cataract surgery, can mean waiting several months, or even over a year, before your turn comes up. You also don’t get to choose your surgeon.
Does private health insurance cover cataract surgery?
Yes, some private health insurance policies include cataract surgery and may cover some or all of the costs, such as the $2,100 typical specialist fee for general cataract surgery or the $2,400 typical specialist fee for cataract surgery with a glaucoma stent. 3Department of Health, Disability and Ageing – Cataract surgery; Cataract surgery with glaucoma stent
In the 2023–24 financial year, 58% of private patients had an out-of-pocket cost, typically $480, for general cataract surgery and 63% had an out-of-pocket cost for cataract surgery with glaucoma stent (a surgery for both cataracts and glaucoma), typically $570.
Even with an out-of-pocket cost, going private might be your preferred route due to private patient benefits like usually a shorter wait and getting to choose your treating surgeon.
Private cataract surgery costs in 2023–24 financial year
| General cataract surgery | Cataract surgery with glaucoma stent | |
| Typical specialist fee | $2,100 | $2,400 |
| Medicare rebate | $810 | $940 |
| Insurer typically paid | $860 | $910 |
| Typical out-of-pocket cost | $480 | $570 |
| Percentage of patients with an out-of-pocket cost | 58% | 63% |
Note: These figures reflect indicative cataract surgery costs based on Medical Costs Finder and rounded where appropriate. Actual costs may vary depending on unique circumstances, including hospital payments, excesses, co-payments and other fees. Data retrieved June 2026
Helpful tip
When your specialist recommends cataract surgery, it’s a good idea to ask for a full quote with all the Medicare Benefits Schedule item numbers listed. With this information, you can call your health fund and get a precise breakdown of what they’ll cover. You can also check if your specialist has a no-gap arrangement with your insurer.
This simple step can give you a clear picture of your total out-of-pocket expenses and provide massive peace of mind ahead of your surgery.
Andres Gutierrez
General Manager – Health
Are there other out-of-pocket costs for cataract surgery?
Other out-of-pocket costs can include private hospital fees, which were typically $2,500 for general cataract surgery and $4,000 for cataract surgery with glaucoma stent in the 2023–24 financial year. 4Department of Health, Disability and Ageing – Cataract surgery; Cataract surgery with glaucoma stent Depending on your private health insurance, your health fund may cover some or all of these costs.
If you are using your private health insurance for your cataract, you might have an excess or co-payment to pay also. An excess is typically paid upon admission while co-payments are paid for each day that you’re in hospital. When you take out your policy, you’ll often get to choose from a selection of excess and co-payment amounts, like a $750 excess on a singles plan and/or a $30 or $50 co-payment, for example.
Are there other costs after cataract surgery?
After cataract surgery, you can have further costs, including for follow-up appointments with your ophthalmologist, medications to look after your eyes and new glasses if you still require prescription glasses.
Your post-operative care costs can include:
- Follow-up ophthalmology appointments: In the 2023–24 financial year, the typical specialist fee for follow-up ophthalmology appointment was $120 with Medicare paying $41. 5Department of Health, Disability and Ageing – Follow-up specialist appointment
- Medications: Your surgeon will likely prescribe eye drops to prevent infection and reduce inflammation. These are usually subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, but you’ll still have a small co-payment capped at $25 or, if you have a concession card, $7.70.
- New glasses or contact lenses: While surgery can reduce your dependence on glasses, you may still need them for reading or driving. Your vision will take a few weeks to stabilise, so you’ll need to wait before getting a new prescription. If you happen to have an extras policy with optical cover, then your insurer can help cover a portion of the cost for a new pair of specs or contact lenses.
How long will I have to wait for cataract surgery?
Public patients had a median wait of 105 days for cataract surgery in the 2024–25 financial year, while private patients at public hospitals only had a median wait of 49 days. 6Australian Institute for Health and Welfare – Admitted patient care 2024–25 6: What procedures were performed? The difference in wait times could affect your quality of life as impaired vision can significantly impact your capabilities.
However, keep in mind that if you’re new to private health insurance or you’ve just upgraded your policy, you’ll need to serve a waiting period. This is typically 12 months if your cataracts are a pre-existing condition and 2 months if they’re a new condition.
What level of health insurance do I need to cover cataract surgery?
To be covered for cataract surgery in a private hospital, you’ll need a hospital insurance policy that includes the ‘Cataracts’ clinical category; this inclusion is mandatory on gold tier hospital policies, although some silver plus options might offer this level of cover.
It’s important to know that having ‘Eye (not cataracts)’ in your policy won’t cover cataract procedures, so make sure the correct clinical category is included in your prospective or existing policy.
Frequently asked questions
Is cataract surgery bulk-billed?
In the public system, cataract surgery is bulk-billed and covered by Medicare, meaning you won’t have out-of-pocket costs. In the private system, it typically isn’t bulk-billed and comes with costs related to the surgeon, anaesthetist and hospital – which private health insurance can help cover.
Do pensioners get free cataract surgery?
Pensioners with a Medicare card can receive free cataract surgery in a public hospital. However, they’ll be subject to the public system’s waiting lists.
Is it worth getting cover for cataract surgery?
If you value choosing your own surgeon and having the procedure done quickly, then private health insurance is definitely worth considering. It gives you control over your healthcare and you’ll likely have less of a wait before you’re treated.
Where can I find and compare private health insurance?
Understanding what you’ll pay for cataract surgery – and how private health insurance can make things clearer – can make budgeting a more transparent process.
At iSelect, we help you cut through the fog by comparing a range of private health insurance policies side by side. Use our online comparison tool or give our friendly team a ring on 1800 784 772.
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