Does health insurance cover the fees?


No!
Coverage of the costs by the German public health insurance companies is not possible because the Bundesärztekammer (German Medical Board) has classified the LASIK procedure as well as other procedures of refractive surgery as a non-reimbursable procedure.

The background: In its meeting on December 10th, 1999, the Federal Committee of Physicians and Insurances (Bundesausschuß der Ärzte und Krankenkassen) has decided to revise the guidelines for the introduction of new methods of diagnosis and treatment. According to the guidelines for the valuation of medical diagnosis and treatment methods as per § 135 section 1 SGB V, the procedures of refractive surgery - and this includes LASIK - are considered to be procedures, "which may not be performed as medical contracts chargeable to health insurance companies".

Source:
Deutsches Ärzteblatt, Issue 13, March 31st, 2000, page A867 (in German)