Does Medicare Cover Cataract Surgery?

The National Eye Institute reports the number of cataract cases in the United States increased by 20 percent from 2000 to 2010. By 2050, it is estimated that there will be double the cases – about 50 million! The chance of you or your loved ones having cataract surgery is high, so understanding what Medicare covers is important because it is a pricey procedure.

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Medicare Part B covers cataract surgery for certain intraocular lenses.
Cataract surgery can cost between $3,000 to $5,000 per eye, for which Medicare Part B provides 80 percent coverage.
Medigap can help with the out-of-pocket costs for cataract surgery after Medicare Part B has covered its share.
Medicare Advantage plans cover cataract surgeries and other eye services, but the patient must use the plan’s providers.
Medicare Part D will cover post-surgical medications such as eye drops.

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What Are Cataracts?

Cataracts are when the lens of the eye begins to cloud, blocking light from entering your eye and making your vision foggy and distorted. This is due to the proteins and fibers in the lens breaking down and clumping up over time. Cataracts can develop in one or both eyes, causing symptoms such as:

Clouding, blurred or dim vision
Increasing difficulty with vision at night
Sensitivity to light and glare
Need for brighter light for reading and other activities
Seeing “halos” around lights
Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription
Fading or yellowing of colors
Double vision in a single eye

Cataracts cannot be prevented once it starts. Routine eye exams will help an eye doctor catch signs of cataracts early and begin early treatments. Prescription eyeglasses will help counter the effects of cataracts for a short while, but your eyes may reach a point where you need cataract surgery to see clearly.[mfn referencenumber=1]mayoclinic.org, “Cataracts“, Accessed November 18, 2021[/mfn]

Medicare Coverage for Cataract Surgery

One of the most common questions asked about the procedure is, “Does Medicare cover cataract surgery?” While Medicare doesn’t cover vision care in the general sense, it does cover it when it is medically necessary, such as in the case of cataract surgery.[mfn referencenumber=2]Medicare.gov, “Eyeglasses & contact lenses“, Accessed November 18, 2021[/mfn]

Original Medicare Coverage for Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery is covered by Medicare Part B. This part of Original Medicare is for outpatient services. Original Medicare covers:[mfn referencenumber=2]Medicare.gov, “Eyeglasses & contact lenses“, Accessed November 18, 2021[/mfn]

Cataract Removal
Lens Implants
Pair of Eyeglasses or Contact Lenses

Several factors are considered when Medicare reviews the claim for cataract surgery.

The Medicare claims representative will look at the Medicare plan. While cataract surgery is covered under Part B, not everyone has it, and it may be covered by Medicare Part A or Medicare Part C, depending on the situation (inpatient or a hospital stay).
The type of cataract surgery that is being performed – standard surgeries are covered while more advanced ones such as laser-assisted are not always covered.
Pre-existing conditions are a consideration as well.
Where the surgery takes place, such as a surgery center, clinic, or hospital matters.

Despite the coverage from Medicare or medical insurance, many patients can still be responsible for out-of-pocket costs in the way of physician/surgeon fees, copayments, and deductibles. There may also be out-of-pocket expenses if you decide on advanced implants instead of the standard mono-focal ones.

Intraocular Lens Implants

Monofocal intraocular lens implants (small clear disks for better focus) are covered, but more advanced implants are not part of the coverage. This is why Medicare also covers a pair of glasses or contact lenses to help your nearsighted vision after the surgery.[mfn referencenumber=2]Medicare.gov, “Eyeglasses & contact lenses“, Accessed November 18, 2021[/mfn]

If your ophthalmologist recommends more advanced implants, such as multifocal lenses or toric lenses, you may need to pay the difference outside of what Medicare covers. Before receiving the surgery, speak to your healthcare provider about the costs associated with the procedure and what Original Medicare will cover.[mfn referencenumber=3]eyeconsultantsofpa.com, “Does Medicare Cover Cataract Surgery“, Accessed November 18, 2021[/mfn]

Eyeglasses After Cataract Surgery

Medicare coverage for a pair of prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses depends on where you get them. Not all suppliers will accept Medicare for eyeglasses and contact lenses, which means you may have to pay more for them.[mfn referencenumber=2]Medicare.gov, “Eyeglasses & contact lenses“, Accessed November 18, 2021[/mfn]

Under Original Medicare, you will be expected to pay a Part B deductible of 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for the pair of glasses or contact lenses.

Medicare Supplement Plans (Medigap)

For the amount Medicare doesn’t cover for cataract surgery (coinsurance and deductibles), a Medigap policy may help. Medicare supplement insurance, as it is also known, helps cover many of the out-of-pocket costs with Medicare Part A and B.[mfn referencenumber=7]Medicare.gov, “What’s Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap)?“, Accessed November 17, 2021[/mfn]

What Medicare Advantage Plans Cover

Medicare Advantage plans also cover cataract surgery like Original Medicare but it has different costs and conditions, depending on the insurance provider. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan or are thinking of getting it, it’s important to speak to someone about the costs and conditions of each insurance company before deciding on a private insurance policy.[mfn referencenumber=4]Medicare.gov, “How do Medicare Advantage Plans work?“, Accessed November 17, 2021[/mfn]

Cost of Cataract Surgery

The cost of cataract surgery depends on a few factors:[mfn referencenumber=4]ucfhealth.com, “How Much Does Cataract Surgery Cost?“, Accessed November 18, 2021[/mfn]

Type of cataract surgery (Phacoemulsification or Extracapsular)
The expertise of the surgeon
Type of intraocular lens (IOL) implanted

For standard cataract surgery, patients can expect to pay $3,000 to $5,000 per eye out-of-pocket. This gives you a grand total range of $6,000 to $10,000 for both eyes. Fortunately, this is the cataract surgery Medicare covers.[mfn referencenumber=4]ucfhealth.com, “How Much Does Cataract Surgery Cost?“, Accessed November 18, 2021[/mfn]

Advanced types of cataract surgery, such as laser-assisted cataract surgery, can cost $4,000 to $6,000 per eye. Grand total for both eyes ranges in cost from $8,000 to $12,000 and this is not covered by Medicare.[mfn referencenumber=4]ucfhealth.com, “How Much Does Cataract Surgery Cost?“, Accessed November 18, 2021[/mfn]

Medicare Part B covers the surgery and associated doctor and surgery center fees. They will only pay for Medicare-approved amounts, though. So, they will not pay for all of it.

Patients pay their deductible and then 20% Medicare Part B copay. To put it in perspective, without Medicare someone may pay $3,500 for the procedure, but with it, they may pay 20% of that – $700.

Additional costs may be incurred for eye exams and prescription drugs.

Drugs for Cataract Surgery Covered by Medicare

Medicare Part D provides prescription drug coverage for outpatient prescription drugs. It is offered by private health insurance companies or as a stand-alone plan for those who have Original Medicare. It can also be part of a Medicare Advantage Plan.[mfn referencenumber=5]Medicare.gov, “What Medicare Part D drug plans cover“, Accessed November 18, 2021[/mfn]

Medicare Part D has a list of drugs it covers, also known as a formulary. For drugs not listed in the formulary, it is possible to request an exception or file an appeal if you paid out of pocket.[mfn referencenumber=5]Medicare.gov, “What Medicare Part D drug plans cover“, Accessed November 18, 2021[/mfn]

Medication prescribed before cataract surgery includes Ofloxacin or Zymar. They are antibiotic eye drops that prevent infection. Cyclopentolate dilating drops help prepare the eye for surgery.

Following surgery, Prednisolone Acetate 1% may be prescribed to reduce inflammation.

Cataract surgery drugs are covered by Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans that include Part D as an additional benefit. Check with your plan to learn more about coverage and possible co-pays with your Medicare Advantage Plan.

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Overview of Medicare Coverage for Cataract Surgery

Medicare does cover cataract surgery, but not fully. You will need to pay the deductible and 20% of the co-pays. This could lead to an out-of-pocket expense of around $700 depending on the total cost of your standard cataract surgery.

Medigap may be able to help with the out-of-pocket expense, so explore that option if you’re unable to afford the remaining balance from the surgery.

The first step is to speak to your healthcare provider to understand the out-of-pocket expenses, and then seek additional assistance from Medigap or private insurance.

Those who do not have Original Medicare but instead, Medicare Advantage Plan, will need to speak to a representative to learn about the specific costs associated with the surgery, as there are many different plans with varying costs and conditions.