Does Medicare cover lens replacement surgery? The short answer to this question is no. Medicare does not cover the cost of lens replacement. Medicare is a publicly funded Australian healthcare scheme that can provide compensation for specific procedures. Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) is removing and replacing your natural lens with an artificial one. The RLE procedure is identical to cataract surgery. Medicare would not subsidise this procedure1 regardless of the lens choice, as it’s optional. Meaning it is not an emergency; it’s an optional choice. However, Medicare subsidises2 cataract surgery as this is deemed more serious. If you want lens replacement surgery but are worried about the cost, we offer interest-free payment plans for those ready to dive into a clearer, brighter future. What next? Take our suitability self-test to see if you’re eligible for lens replacement (RLE) or laser cataract surgery with us.