Fees & insurance

Eye consultation fees and insurance

Here are my eye consultation fees. No GP referral is needed to see me, and I will explain the costs before any treatment, whether you are paying for yourself or claiming on a policy. Please see the consultation fees below.

Consultation fees set out below

New consultation £260

Follow-up £195

No GP referral needed

Fees

What it costs

Consultation and treatment fees may vary between the different hospital sites. Finance options are available, so you can spread the cost of surgery.

Consultation fees are fixed. Surgery and procedures are quoted after I have assessed your eyes, because the right treatment, and the right lens for cataract surgery, differs from one person to the next.

New consultation: £260

Follow-up consultation: £195

Cataract surgery: package price, quoted after assessment

Intravitreal injections: quoted after assessment

YAG laser: quoted after assessment

Eyelid cyst removal: quoted after assessment

Finance options are available through the hospitals.

What does a consultation include?

A new consultation is time with me, not a quick check.

I take your history,
examine both eyes
and explain what I find.
If surgery is an option, I go through what happens before, during and after it, and answer your questions so you can decide without pressure.

Once you have decided to proceed with treatment, you will receive information on the aftercare and follow-up appointments. Ask the hospital whether those follow-up visits are included in its package price.

Self-pay

Your timing, your choice of surgeon

Choose your timing

Book treatment when it suits you, without waiting for an insurer to approve it.

Clear package prices

Each hospital gives you a package price, with the option to spread the cost through finance.

Care that fits you

A consultation that explains everything, and follow-up with me after surgery.

What should you ask about a self-pay package?

Package prices are set by the hospital, not by me, so it helps to ask what each one covers before you commit:

Which consultations and follow-up visits are included?

Is the lens implant included, and does a premium lens implant change the price?

Are eye drops and any extra tests included?

What finance options does the hospital offer, and over how long?

Insurance

Using your health insurance

You do not need a referral to see me, but many insurers require one from your GP or Optometrist (your high street optician) before they will pay. Check this first, so your consultation is covered.

Check your policy

What it covers, any excess and any exclusions.

Referral, if needed

From your GP or Optometrist, if your insurer asks for one.

Pre-authorisation

Your insurer approves treatment before surgery, and I will help with the paperwork.

Claims

Submit the claim promptly with your referral, authorisation code and receipts.

I am recognised by most major UK insurers, including Bupa (fee assured), AXA Health, Aviva, Vitality, WPA, Cigna, Aetna, Allianz, The Exeter, General & Medical, Healix, Saga and Benenden. Check too whether your policy covers follow-up appointments and any medicines after surgery, and keep every receipt in case you need to claim them back.

Can I have my eye care on the NHS instead?

Yes. If an Optometrist thinks you have cataracts, they can refer you to an NHS eye specialist, as the NHS page on cataracts explains. Private care is a choice, not a requirement, and I am happy to talk through both routes with you.

Routine sight tests at an Optometrist are free on the NHS for many people, including anyone aged 60 or over and people with diabetes or Glaucoma. The NHS guide to free eye tests lists who qualifies.

Questions

Fees and insurance, answered

If anything about my eye consultation fees and insurance is unclear, call my practice and I will talk it through with you.

How much is a consultation?

A new consultation is £260 and a follow-up is £195. Surgery and procedures are quoted after I have assessed your eyes, and each hospital provides a package price before you decide.

Can I spread the cost?

Yes. The hospitals I work at offer finance, so you can spread the cost of surgery rather than paying it all at once. The hospital explains its terms when it gives you a package price.

Do I need a referral for my insurer?

Often, yes. I do not need a referral to see you, but many insurers ask for one from your GP or Optometrist before they cover a consultation or surgery. Check with your insurer before you book.

What if I have an excess?

An excess is a fixed amount you pay towards a claim yourself. Even with insurance, you may also pay for anything your policy does not fully cover. I will help you understand these costs at the start, so nothing comes as a surprise.

Speak to me directly

A direct line to your surgeon, before and after surgery

There is no call centre or switchboard. Call my practice on 07438 437366, email enquiries@soniamall.co.uk or request an appointment online, and I aim to reply within 24 hours.