Cataract Cost - Uninsured

Just seeing if anyone has proceeded with cataract procedure privately without insurance to help pay for it. If so, what did you pay?

I need to have a cataract procedure in my left eye and I have quoted approx $5000 all up. Will get about $800 back with Medicare.

I have insurance but no cataract coverage but just weighing whether to up my health insurance to cover cataracts and waiting 12 months due to waiting period. Or go private uninsured to get it done sooner.

Comments

  • $5k for eye surgery sounds pretty fair?

    • It does seem pretty fair, should of been clearer in my post that the surgery practice has said that costs can vary and can’t give me a specific price until I get properly measured up, so just trying to get bit more understanding for my.own benefit

      • +3

        should of been clearer

        Ba dum tish

  • +4

    I think it is free if you are indigenous.

    • +1

      Tick the box dammit! :)

      • +2

        just need to identify as indigenous right?

        • Were you born here?
          Does it matter?

  • 5k is cheap honestly. Cheaper if you have it done around Asia around 60-70% savings. And just have follow-up appointments here.

    • where in asia would you recommend / any particular doctors you know that are good ?

      • There are plenty of Tertiary hospitals in there. With the doctors, I will trust them more than the doctors here. Anyway, most doctors here are pirated anyway.

      • I had a cataract surgery on my right eye for A$1500 two weeks ago in KL. Was literally blind with zero visibility on that eye b4 surgery.

        Happy with the outcome so far. Service at the private hospital was good and doctor is well qualified with UK qualifications. Although I would like to have it done in Australia, but I can't afford the fees.

  • +1

    Wear sunglasses people !!!

    • Mines actually due to steroid drops I had to use due to corneal graft transplant

      • How long were you using the drops?

        • 2 years

    • +1

      Was this written on the back of them A2 milk cartons?

  • +2

    I got laser eye surgery via Dr Sebban in Sydney and it was very good work but half the cost of other clinics. might be worth enquiring. He also does cataracts https://eye.net.au/doctor/dr-iian-sebban/

    • +5

      surgery via Dr Sebban in Sydney

      IIan Sebban?

      With two eyes ?

      • +1

        aye aye

    • +2

      Yikes I basically double posted the same thing as you

      • +1

        Its worth posting twice

  • +4

    I had PRK (similar to lasik) at Sydney Eye Clinic a few years ago for ~$1500 per eye. Or maybe $1250. Cheap anyway. Current costs are a bit higher but still good.

    I'd get in touch with them. I had good a good outcome, and part of their pricing and use of PRK seemed to be that they believe it's a better procedure than lasik, even though it means less easy money.
    Also there are some long threads on whirlpool about lasik with a lot of happy customers from this place (search for Dr Sebban)

    Hopefully that all translates well into cataract treatment. The doctor seemed to have a decent reputation in general

  • Sounds about right. I had mine done in my mid 20's (they figured the cause was steroid creams I used when I was young for eczema), left eye for about $4500 - personally, I'd go the private route, don't know how long the waiting list is for public and also depends on progressed the cataract is.

    Also cost another $4000 nearly 13 years later when the lens "fell" out and they had to go in, remove and replace it - but that's another story

  • All up includes what OP. What about anaesthesia administration charges etc ? Lens charges ?

    If it’s all this then sounds cheap tbh.

  • I had cataract replacement on my right eye about two years pre-Covid. All up, including consultations pre and post, it was just under $4k.

    I could have gone on a public wait list, and eventually (over two years later) received the surgery for free. Although I would still have had consult costs.

    They advised me at the time that my left eye would eventually go out in sympathy, and need similar surgery. It now has.

    It's nice that you have mentioned the cost, because I had feared the post-Covid tax may have pushed something like this up to $6k - $8k, like my Pepsi Max has gone up.

    I did not have insurance, but I was quoted the cost of my surgery if I did have it. At the time, I would hve been more out of pocket claiming on insurance, as they have a different charging schedule for insured patients. Weird system, eh?

    Anyway, $5k sound about right. Go for it, and see clearly again!

  • +1

    $25 at the Fred Hollows foundation ;)

    https://www.hollows.org/au/home

    • Great charity and worth of support. :+)

  • I work at an eye clinic in Sydney, 5k is standard for unfunded cataract surgery. Health insurance is likely to save you about half of that, so may not be worth the hassle. Public system can have long waits, in Sydney it's 3-5years. Outside of cities may have very reasonable wait times though.

  • Had one cataract done about 6 years ago. Great result as still 100%. Option in Adelaide was to have done in certified Eye Clinic or in a Hospital. Cost of hospital was extra $1k. Mine was done in Eye Clinic and cost about $3,500 from memory. Would go that same way again for my other eye eventually.

  • Will your private health cover you for a pre-existing condition? I know that used to be an issue, but maybe things have changed. Worth checking before upgrading!

  • I am surprised that anyone would go cheaparse on eye surgery. I am in mid range private health and had both eyes done in 2022 six months apart. You will have options regarding lenses. I chose Acrysof.IQ Panoptix. Toric IOL . Were an extra $1000 per eye but are truly fantastic multifocal lenses. All up out of pocket expense was about $3k for both eyes including Hospital excess, anesthetist and lenses. Do your homework if you want a good job.

  • Cataract surgery is covered under Medicare but you will need to go on wait list

  • Can anyone tell me is the cataract surgeon in public hospital good? Like are they student surgeon or experienced surgeon? I don’t mind the wait but due at Eastern Health Lilydale. Thanks.

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