Details.
With eligible hospital insurance, the cataract optometrist consultation and tests in person are bulk billed, the cataract ophthalmologist consultation by telehealth is bulk billed, and cataract surgery requires payment of the hospital excess set by the insurer and an anaesthetic gap of approximately $250 to $400, with no surgeon's gap. Without hospital insurance, the cataract optometrist consultation and tests in person and the cataract ophthalmologist consultation by telehealth are bulk billed. Cataract surgery includes hospital, lens, anaesthetic and surgeon's fees, with a total cost before rebate of $3,345 to $3,640 depending on the lens chosen, an approximate Medicare rebate of $752, and an estimated out-of-pocket cost of $2,593 to $2,888. Final costs depend on lens choice, health fund cover and Medicare item numbers.