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In brief

Does health insurance pay for laser eye surgery?

Basic insurance pays for laser eye surgery only in exceptional cases, for example with a large difference between the two eyes, and only with cost approval before the procedure. Supplementary insurance policies often contribute CHF 500 to CHF 1’500, depending on the product. EyeLaser Zurich supports you in Zurich with the application and issues all receipts for insurance and tax purposes.

Medically reviewed by Dr. med. univ. Victor Derhartunian, FEBO, FWCRS on 2 October 2026 · Last updated on 2 October 2026 · Insurer information as of September 2026

The Essentials in 30 Seconds

  • Basic insurance (KVG): pays only with a medical justification, for example a large difference in refractive power between the two eyes together with contact lens intolerance; always with prior cost approval. There is no fixed diopter limit above which payment is automatic.
  • Supplementary insurance: contributions depending on the product, for example Helsana COMPLETA PLUS up to CHF 500 per eye and year, SWICA Optima 90 % up to CHF 1’500 per procedure and eye.
  • Taxes: deductible insofar as medical expenses exceed the threshold (federal and Zurich: 5 % of net income); from the 2027 tax period, Circular 11a explicitly names laser eye surgery.
  • Cataract: basic insurance pays for the operation; for the artificial lens, you pay a surcharge of CHF 700 or CHF 2’700 per eye.
  • Our service: medical report for the cost approval and all receipts, free of charge.

Procedure for cost coverage by basic insurance:

Eyelaser Zürich

If you meet one of the requirements for laser eye surgery to be covered by Swiss basic insurance, your health insurance company can reimburse the costs of the procedure “after special consultation”. To do this, you must submit a certificate from EyeLaser to the insurance company in advance, confirming that the above-mentioned requirements have been met.

Your health insurance company will then decide whether and how much it will pay. It is conceivable that only the costs for one eye will be covered, as glasses could then correct the remaining defective vision. However, if the visual defect is to be completely corrected, you will have to bear the remaining costs yourself.

Conclusion: It depends on the individual case and must be clarified in advance in order to have the necessary certainty.

Have a medical report drawn up by EyeLaser Zurich:

As an eye laser specialist in Zurich, we will be happy to provide you with comprehensive advice regarding your vision correction through laser eye surgery or lens surgery. We are familiar with the process of having the costs of laser eye surgery covered by health insurance and can support you with the necessary medical documents.

In the course of the preliminary examination, your eyes and your defective vision will be comprehensively examined and we will be happy to draw up a corresponding report for you, including the following transparent cost accounting.

Free initial consultation
0 CHF
300 CHF

*The pre-examination costs CHF 300 and is credited towards a treatment. If there is a medical indication, we bill according to TARDOC.

Laser Eye Surgery Supplementary Insurance in Switzerland

The chances that your health insurance company will cover the laser eye surgery costs are significantly higher if you have opted for appropriate supplementary insurance. Whether and up to what amount supplementary insurance will support you depends on the insurer and the selected tariff.

EDOF-Linsen

There are dozens of health insurers in Switzerland, each offering different portfolios of supplementary benefits. Below we have compiled an overview of health insurances and their supplementary insurances that cover (at least part of) the costs of laser eye surgery: Please note that our list does not claim to be complete, up-to-date or correct. You should always check for yourself, then consult your health insurance company individually and obtain their approval to be sure that they will cover the costs.

When does basic insurance pay for laser eye surgery?

Eye laser surgery Zurich

Mandatory health insurance pays for laser correction only under the conditions of Annex 1 of the Health Care Benefits Ordinance (KLV): with a difference of more than 3 diopters between the two eyes that cannot be compensated with glasses, together with a permanent intolerance of contact lenses. In that case, one eye is corrected to values that can be compensated with glasses. In all other cases, glasses and contact lenses are considered reasonable. The decisive factor is always the cost approval before the procedure.

Crosslinking for progressive keratoconus is usually covered if deterioration has been documented and cost approval has been granted.

Supplementary Insurance (VVG) – “The Optional Coverage”

Many supplementary insurance policies contribute to laser eye surgery, some also to lens implants. The contributions vary considerably depending on the product.

Overview of Contributions (Guideline Values):
(As of September 2026, as stated by the insurers, without guarantee. Please check your individual policy. We recommend obtaining a cost approval (Kostengutsprache) from your insurer before the procedure – we will support you with this.)

Insurance Product Contribution to laser eye surgery Note
Helsana COMPLETA PLUS (only together with COMPLETA) 100% up to CHF 500 per eye and calendar year 12-month waiting period. COMPLETA alone: no contribution to laser eye surgery.
SWICA Optima / Completa Top, Completa Forte 90% per procedure and eye, up to CHF 1,500 (Optima) or CHF 500 (Completa Top/Forte) Combined max. CHF 2,000. Also applies to lens implants (ICL).
CSS Livo Top / myFlex Ambulant Livo Top: 90% up to CHF 1,000 per person. myFlex: CHF 150 (Balance) or CHF 300 (Premium) per calendar year myFlex: shared amount for glasses, contact lenses and eye surgery; Economy: no contribution.
Visana Ambulant No contribution to laser eye surgery Contribution only to glasses and contact lenses (90%, up to CHF 200 every three years).
Concordia DIVERSAcare / DIVERSApremium 50% up to CHF 400 (care) or CHF 600 (premium) Once every 5 calendar years, age 21 to 50, insured for at least 1 year. DIVERSA/DIVERSAplus: no contribution.
Sanitas Vital Basic / Smart / Premium 100% up to CHF 300 (Basic, Smart) or CHF 600 (Premium) within 3 years Shared amount for glasses, contact lenses and laser eye surgery. Jump, Classic, Family: no contribution.
KPT Pulse Premium one-time, up to CHF 600 per eye Waiting period of one year; Pulse Eco and Top: no contribution.
Atupri Intense 75 % up to CHF 1’500 Basis (per eye or per person) not stated.
ÖKK NATUR PLUS one-time CHF 500 From age 18; NATUR MINI and MIDI: no contribution.
Assura Complementa Extra CHF 100 per year, up to CHF 500 over five years Whether shared with glasses is not stated.

Does supplementary insurance pay for LASIK surgery?

Basic insurance pays for LASIK surgery only in the narrow cases described above: a difference of more than 3 dioptres between the two eyes together with a permanent intolerance of contact lenses. In all other cases, a contribution can only come from your supplementary insurance. What it pays depends solely on your policy: some supplementary insurance policies pay a fixed amount or a percentage up to a cap, others only contribute to glasses and contact lenses, and some exclude laser eye surgery altogether. Contributions of CHF 500 to CHF 1’500 do occur; some products pay less or nothing at all.

Insurance terms rarely use the word “LASIK”. Look for terms such as “laser eye surgery”, “refractive surgery”, “correction of refractive errors” or “visual aids”. Whether a policy treats Femto-LASIK, SmartSight and Trans-PRK in the same way is clarified by the cost approval.

How to clarify the contribution before laser eye surgery

  1. Check the benefits catalogue: Look in the benefits catalogue of your outpatient supplementary insurance to see whether laser eye treatment is listed, how high the contribution is and whether it applies per calendar year or only every few years. With some insurers, an allowance for glasses and contact lenses can also be used for laser treatment.
  2. Submit the cost estimate: After the pre-examination, you receive a written cost breakdown from us and, on request, a medical report for your insurer, free of charge, in German or English. Submit both to your insurer before the procedure and ask for written confirmation of the contribution. We recommend this cost approval in every case, and we support you with it.
  3. Note the waiting period: Newly taken out supplementary insurance often pays only after a waiting period. Taking out a policy shortly before surgery therefore usually brings nothing.
  4. Keep your receipts: Costs not covered by insurance can be deducted from your taxes as medical expenses, as far as they exceed the deductible, which varies by canton. From tax period 2027, Circular No. 11a of the Swiss Federal Tax Administration explicitly names laser eye surgery. More on this in the next section.

Only the written confirmation from your insurer is binding. What the individual procedures cost with us is shown under Laser eye surgery costs.

Can I deduct laser eye surgery from my taxes?

Ein Leben ohne Brille – Erfolgsgeschichten aus Zürich

Medical expenses you bear yourself are deductible insofar as they exceed the threshold: at the federal level and in the Canton of Zurich 5 % of net income, in St. Gallen 2 %, and for the Basel-Landschaft cantonal tax there is no threshold; other cantons have their own rates. Circular No. 11a of the Swiss Federal Tax Administration of 26 May 2026 explicitly names laser eye surgery as a medical expense for the first time; it applies from the 2027 tax period. EyeLaser Zurich issues you a detailed invoice. More: Laser eye surgery and taxes. No tax advice.

What does health insurance pay for cataracts?

Trifokallinsen

Cataract surgery is a benefit of basic insurance and is billed according to TARDOC. For the artificial lens, you pay a surcharge per eye: CHF 700 for one distance (the standard is the monofocal-plus lens) or CHF 2’700 for several distances, whether EDOF, multifocal, toric or monovision. The femtosecond laser costs CHF 1’000 extra. The eye drops afterwards are covered by basic insurance. More: Cataract surgery.

The EyeLaser Traffic Light

Ein Leben ohne Brille – Erfolgsgeschichten aus Zürich

🟢 High Chance of Reimbursement:

  • Supplementary insurance available (VVG).
  • Cataract diagnosis (basic procedure covered by insurance).
  • Medical expenses for the year above the threshold (tax deduction possible).

🟡 Review Required:

  • Very high values or a large difference between the eyes.
  • Certified contact lens intolerance (we assist with the assessment).
  • Keratoconus (medical indication).

🔴 Self-Pay (Investment):

  • No medical justification and no supplementary insurance.
  • Solution: Use our interest-free six-month instalment plan — directly with our practice, without a bank check.
Dr. Victor Derhartunian

Dr. med. univ. Victor Derhartunian
Specialist FMH in Ophthalmology


“If there is a medical justification, we write the medical report for the cost approval so that the insurer can review it. Whether it pays is decided by the insurer.”

What does laser eye surgery cost, and what does insurance pay?

Frequently asked questions

Does health insurance cover if I depend on good vision for my profession (e.g., pilot, police officer)?

No. Even if the profession requires perfect vision, basic insurance considers this “professional expenses” or a personal choice. There are no exceptions for pilots, drivers, or police officers.

Does disability insurance (IV) cover costs?

Only in extreme exceptional cases involving congenital defects that cannot be corrected with glasses. Disability insurance is not responsible for standard myopia.

Does accident insurance (SUVA) cover costs?

Only if the refractive error is a direct result of an accident (e.g., corneal injury from a splinter). Normal deterioration of vision is classified as “illness,” not “accident.”

Does military insurance (MV) cover costs?

If you sustain an eye injury during military service, yes. For correction of an existing refractive error to become fit for service (e.g., for pilot candidates), military insurance generally does not cover costs.

What if my insurance denies coverage?

This is the standard case with basic insurance. We can support you by preparing a detailed medical letter that medically justifies the necessity (e.g., in cases of severe contact lens intolerance). However, there is no guarantee.

I have eyewear supplementary insurance. Does it also apply to laser surgery?

In some cases. Some products (e.g., Sanitas Vital, CSS myFlex) have a budget that can be used for either glasses or laser surgery. Check whether your credit is defined “for vision aids.” We nevertheless recommend obtaining a cost approval (Kostengutsprache) from your insurer before the procedure – we will support you with this.

Can I spread the treatment over two calendar years?

Medically, both eyes are usually treated on the same day at EyeLaser Zurich. Whether treatment a few weeks apart across the turn of the year is justifiable in your case is decided by the doctor at the pre-examination, not by the insurance budget. If your supplementary insurance pays per calendar year, clarify this with the insurer in advance.

Is it worth switching supplementary insurance before the procedure?

Caution: There is usually a waiting period of 6 to 12 months before benefits can be claimed. Switching “shortly before the procedure” therefore usually does not work.

What does a confirmation for insurance cost at EyeLaser?

Nothing. Completing forms for your supplementary insurance is part of our service.

Does the tax deduction also apply in other cantons?

Yes, the deduction for medical expenses exists at the federal level and in all cantons, but with different thresholds: at the federal level and in Zurich 5 percent of net income, in St. Gallen 2 percent, and none for the Basel-Landschaft cantonal tax. Check your canton’s tax return guide. EyeLaser Zurich issues the invoice so that you can attach it to your tax return.

Does the threshold refer to gross or net income?

To net income, i.e. income after the general deductions. In the Canton of Zurich and for federal tax, the threshold is 5 percent of it. From the 2027 tax period, Circular 11a explicitly names laser eye surgery as a medical expense.

Can I pay the invoice in installments to split it for tax purposes?

For tax deductions, the “cash flow principle” usually applies (when the money was paid). If you finance through heylight , the bank pays us immediately (outflow in year 1), and you repay the bank in installments. Clarify with your tax advisor whether the installments count as interest on debt or medical expenses.

Does insurance cover crosslinking for keratoconus?

Yes. Crosslinking (CXL) to stabilize the cornea is a mandatory benefit of basic insurance if progression (deterioration) is documented. However, combining it with laser surgery for vision improvement is often a self-pay service.

How does billing work for cataract surgery with a lens for several distances?

EyeLaser Zurich bills the operation to your basic insurance according to TARDOC. You receive a separate invoice for the surcharge for the artificial lens: CHF 700 per eye for one distance or CHF 2’700 for several distances, toric included; with the femtosecond laser, CHF 1’000 more.

Does insurance cover lens replacement (RLE) from age 50?

No, if there is no medical indication (such as cataracts), lens replacement is a self-pay service (“Clear Lens Exchange”).

Does insurance cover children under 18?

Laser eye surgery is generally not performed on individuals under 18 (the eye is still developing). For medically necessary procedures (e.g., crosslinking in children), insurance covers costs.

Do I need a referral from my general practitioner?

Not for treatment as a self-pay patient. However, if we are to bill a service through basic insurance (e.g., cataracts) and you have a “general practitioner model,” you need a referral.

I am a cross-border commuter or internationally insured. Does my insurance pay?

That depends on your policy; some international insurers contribute to refractive surgery, others do not. Bring your policy with you; EyeLaser Zurich issues documents in German or English.

Is there a volume discount if I have both eyes treated?

No. Since we use a new, sterile set of disposable instruments and licenses (Schwind ATOS) for each eye, material costs are fixed. Safety is our top priority.

What happens if I lose the invoice?

No problem. We store all receipts digitally and can send you a copy for tax or insurance purposes at any time.

From how many dioptres does health insurance pay for laser eye surgery?

There is no dioptre threshold above which basic insurance pays automatically — the only decisive factor is a medical indication, for example a high anisometropia (a large difference between the two eyes) or a proven intolerance of glasses and contact lenses. The level of the refractive error alone is not sufficient as a justification.

Does insurance pay for glasses after cataract surgery?

Yes, basic insurance contributes towards visual aids after cataract surgery. If you would like to live without glasses altogether, you can instead choose a premium lens (e.g. a multifocal or EDOF lens) during the operation — you pay the additional cost yourself, but in return you usually no longer need glasses in everyday life.

Sources
  1. Information from the insurers (retrieved 27.09.2026): Helsana COMPLETA PLUS, SWICA, CSS, Sanitas, KPT, Atupri, ÖKK, Assura, Concordia; Visana: information from the product description (no link)
  2. Swiss Federal Tax Administration: Circular No. 11a, 26.05.2026, section 3.1. estv.admin.ch
  3. DBG Art. 33 para. 1 let. h. fedlex.admin.ch
  4. Federal Office of Public Health: Annex 1 of the Health Care Benefits Ordinance (KLV), as of 1.1.2026, ophthalmology, refractive surgery. bag.admin.ch