Does supplementary insurance pay for laser eye surgery in Germany?
In short
Does supplementary insurance pay for laser eye surgery in Germany? Yes, but usually only a grant: depending on the policy, for example up to EUR 1,000 in total or up to EUR 800 per eye. The surgery costs about EUR 1,000 to 3,000 per eye, and statutory health insurance normally pays nothing. In the first years the benefit is often capped.
Published prices for treatment and policies, as of October 2026.
Example
Typical range
Laser eye surgery, cost per eye
about EUR 1,000 to 3,000
Eye and glasses policy, basic, age 20
from about EUR 10.80 a month, grant up to EUR 1,000, up to EUR 500 in the first two years
Supplementary policy with vision benefit, low entry price
from about EUR 5 a month, up to EUR 800 per eye depending on the tariff
Statutory health insurance
EUR 0 as a rule
Prices from published clinic and policy figures, as of October 2026.
The worked example is a guide value from our quoting practice (Richtwert aus der Angebotspraxis);
the premium at 29 may differ from the stated entry premium.
Benefit and staggering depend on the tariff; we obtain the exact quote.
Worked example
Software developer, 29, plans laser eye surgery in three years
She takes out an eye and glasses policy, claims contact lenses in the meantime and has Femto LASIK on both eyes in year four.
Femto LASIK, both eyes
about EUR 3,000 to 3,400
Premiums for three years (EUR 11 a month)
about EUR 400
Grant for laser eye surgery after the staggering
up to EUR 1,000
Grant for contact lenses over three years
about EUR 300 to 450
Overall she saves about EUR 900 to 1,050 compared with paying alone. In year one the grant would have been EUR 500 at most.
What laser eye surgery costs
The price of laser eye surgery mainly depends on the method. Simple methods start at about EUR 1,200 per eye, newer methods without a corneal flap are EUR 2,000 and more. For both eyes you quickly pay EUR 2,500 to 6,000.
First comes a check whether your cornea is thick enough and your eyesight stable. It is not always included in the price.
Method
Price per eye, from
LASIK
about EUR 1,200
LASEK
about EUR 1,200
Femto LASIK
about EUR 1,500
ReLEx SMILE
about EUR 2,000
Lens implant
about EUR 1,700 to 3,000
What supplementary insurance pays for laser eye surgery
Eye and glasses policies (Augenzusatzversicherung) for people in statutory health insurance usually pay a fixed grant towards laser eye surgery. One basic policy, for example, pays up to EUR 1,000 in total, and up to EUR 500 in the first two years. Other policies state limits of up to EUR 800 per eye.
Hardly any supplementary policy for statutory patients pays the full bill. Expect to pay at least EUR 1,500 yourself for both eyes.
Full private health insurance (PKV) is different. In 2017 the Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof) ruled that short sight can count as an illness, so laser eye surgery can be reimbursed (IV ZR 533/15). What exactly is paid depends on your tariff.
Limits in the first years
Many policies stagger the benefit: in the first one or two years you only get part of it, then the full limit. If you plan laser eye surgery for next year, you often get only half.
If an eye doctor has already recommended or planned the surgery before you sign, the policy usually pays nothing. You must also disclose known eye conditions in the health questions.
When cover for laser eye surgery pays off
An eye and glasses policy pays off if you plan laser eye surgery in two to three years and claim glasses or contact lenses until then. You often recover the premiums.
It does not pay off if you want the surgery within a few months. The staggered limits and premiums eat up most of the grant. If you only sign for the surgery, do the maths first.
Tips if you are new to Germany
German eye and glasses policies are open to people living in Germany. Your nationality does not matter, but you need a German address and usually a German bank account for the direct debit.
Eye surgery that corrects poor sight counts as extraordinary expenses (außergewöhnliche Belastungen) in a German tax return. Only the part above your reasonable burden (zumutbare Belastung) is deductible, 1 to 7 percent of income depending on income and family. Keep the invoice and the findings.
Step by step
Ask an eye doctor whether you are suitable for laser eye surgery, but sign the policy before a recommendation is written down.
Compare policies by the limit for laser eye surgery and the staggering.
Answer the health questions fully and honestly.
Plan the date so that the full limit applies.
Get written confirmation of the amount before the surgery.
Checklist
Laser eye surgery named in the policy
Limit per eye or in total known
Staggering in the first years calculated
No existing recommendation for surgery before signing
Glasses and contact lenses included as an extra
Common mistakes
Signing only after the eye doctor has recommended the surgery
Expecting full payment although the policy pays only a grant
Overlooking the staggering and having surgery in year one
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Does statutory health insurance pay for laser eye surgery?
Normally not.
It is seen as elective, because glasses or contact lenses correct the sight.
How much does supplementary insurance pay?
Usually only a grant, for example up to EUR 1,000 in total or, depending on the policy,
up to EUR 800 per eye.
Can I sign just before the surgery?
Yes, as long as the surgery has not been recommended yet.
Because of the staggering you often get only half at first.
Does private health insurance pay?
Often yes.
Since a 2017 ruling of the Federal Court of Justice, short sight can count as an illness.
The tariff sets the exact amount.
Is there a waiting period?
Some policies have none, others several months.
More common is a lower benefit in the first years.
