Health insurance guides
Does health insurance cover optician’s costs?
Key takeaways: Does health insurance cover optician’s costs?
Health insurance doesn’t routinely cover routine optician’s costs such as eye tests or the cost of glasses and contact lenses. However, you may be able to add a cashback option to your insurance, or take out a cash plan to cover these instead. With these options, you pay directly and then claim the money back from your insurer. You’ll usually have a limit on how much you can claim each year. With some options, you may get cover for other routine health treatment such as dentist’s fees and physiotherapy.
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Jump to sections:
- Does health insurance cover optician’s costs?
- What are cashback options or cash plans?
- How do you buy a cashback option or cash plan?
- How do I claim cash back for optician’s costs?
- Can I use my own optician?
- Is the cost of new glasses or contact lenses covered?
- What’s not covered by a cash plan?
- Will a cashback option or cash plan only cover opticians costs?
Does health insurance cover optician’s costs?
Our eyes change as we go through life, so even if you have perfect vision now, it’s still important to get your eyes tested regularly. The costs of paying for regular eye tests, glasses and contact lenses can be significant, so it’s not surprising that some people look for ways to cover the costs.
However, health insurance doesn’t routinely cover routine optical costs. This is because health insurance is designed to cover new and unexpected medical conditions.
You may be able to add a cashback option to your health insurance to cover optician’s fees, or get cover for these costs through a health cash plan. Health cash plans may also cover other routine health treatment, such as the dentist and physiotherapy. What you’ll get will depend on the plan you choose.
Find out more about cash plans in our guide: What’s the difference between health insurance and a health cash plan?
What are cashback options or cash plans?
A cashback option is an optional extra that you can add to some health insurance plans. Cash plans are standalone plans – you don’t need health insurance to have these.
With both, you pay a monthly or yearly fee, then claim back money towards routine health expenses, including optician’s costs. You’ll need to pay the optician up front and then claim the money back from your insurance plan provider.
What’s covered will depend on your plan, but these options usually pay you back for things like eye tests and glasses, and may cover contact lenses. Some plans will pay you back a percentage of the cost, such as 80%. There will usually be a limit on how much you can claim back each year.
Unlike private medical insurance, a cash plan covers you for routine health checks and medical expenses.
Find out more in our guide: What’s the difference between health insurance and a health cash plan?
How do you buy a cashback option or cash plan?
Check your health insurance to see if you can add a cashback option. You may be able to do this when you set up your health insurance, or after buying it, for example at renewal.
You can buy a standalone cash plan directly from a provider.
With an AXA Health Plan, you can choose to add the Dental and optical cashback option to your plan – this gives you the same kind of cover for routine treatment as a cash plan, and pays you back 80% of the cost of optician’s fees, up to a limit each year.
How do I claim cash back for optician’s costs?
The way you claim cash back will vary between health insurers. Usually, you pay the optician directly and then send the receipts to your insurer so they can reimburse you, up to any limits set out in your plan. You’ll need a fully itemised receipt that explains exactly what you paid for. Your membership documents will tell you how to claim. They will usually pay you directly into your bank account, or send a cheque.
Can I use my own optician?
You can usually use your own optician unless there are any restrictions on your plan.
Is the cost of new glasses or contact lenses covered?
This will depend on your insurer. If your insurer does cover glasses and contact lenses, they’ll usually only cover them if an optician prescribes them for you. So, reading glasses or sunglasses you buy off the shelf won’t be covered.
What’s not covered by a cash plan or cashback option?
What’s not covered will vary depending on your insurer, so it’s a good idea to check before you buy a plan. These options usually won't be covered:
- Cosmetic treatment
- Laser eye surgery
- Non-prescription glasses, lenses or medicines
- Anything you claim for after you’ve reached your plan’s limit
- Treatment after an eye injury or non-routine medical treatment such as treatment for cataracts. If you have health insurance, it might cover these.
Will a cashback option or cash plan only cover optician's costs?
You may be able to buy an option that only covers optician’s costs, but often they will also include things like dentist’s costs.
Standalone cash plans may also cover other services, such as physiotherapy (cashback options may not cover this as it may be included with your health insurance anyway). These plans may also cover prescription costs, access to an online GP service, and possibly hospital treatment, but usually only up to a limit.