Medicare may cover cataract surgery if the procedure is considered medically necessary by a doctor. Even if Medicare covers cataract surgery, however, there are still some costs you may have to pay out of pocket. Learn more about cataract surgery and your coverage options.
Medicare may cover cataract surgery if the procedure is considered medically necessary by a doctor. Even if Medicare covers cataract surgery, however, there are still some costs you may have to pay out of pocket.
Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plans also cover cataract surgery that's deemed medically necessary.
If the cataract surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure by a Medicare-approved doctor, it may be covered under Medicare Part B (medical insurance).
For medically necessary vision services that are covered under Medicare Part B, you typically pay 20 percent of the Medicare approved amount and Medicare pays 80 percent. Keep in mind that you must meet your Part B deductible ($240 per year in 2024) before Medicare will begin paying its share.
Before your surgery, speak with your doctor about how much you may have to pay out of pocket for the procedure and for aftercare.
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Some Medicare Advantage plans cover routine vision care
Neither Medicare Part A or Medicare Part B cover routine vision care or eye exams.
Medicare Part B covers some diagnostic tests and treatments associated with vision care:
Tests and treatment for macular degeneration, including certain injected drugs
One glaucoma test every 12 months for people who are at high risk of developing glaucoma (such as people who have a family history of glaucoma or who have diabetes)
One yearly exam for diabetic retinopathy
Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C) are an alternative to Original Medicare that provide the same coverage as Medicare Part A and Part B combined in one plan.
Some Medicare Advantage plans may offer vision care, as well as dental care and/or prescription drug coverage.
If you wear glasses you may want to consider enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan that includes vision coverage.
Explore your local plan options online or call to speak with a licensed insurance agent to compare Medicare Advantage plans in your area. Keep in mind that Medicare Advantage plans with vision benefits aren’t available in all areas.
We represent carriers such as Humana, Aetna, UHC, Anthem BCBS, Wellcare, Cigna Healthcare, and Kaiser Permanente.
Christian Worstell is a senior Medicare and health insurance writer with MedicareAdvantage.com. He is also a licensed health insurance agent. Christian is well-known in the insurance industry for the thousands of educational articles he’s written, helping Americans better understand their health insurance and Medicare coverage.
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Christian Worstell is a senior Medicare and health insurance writer with MedicareAdvantage.com. He is also a licensed health insurance agent. Christian is well-known in the insurance industry for the thousands of educational articles he’s written, helping Americans better understand their health insurance and Medicare coverage.
Christian’s work as a Medicare expert has appeared in several top-tier and trade news outlets including Forbes, MarketWatch, WebMD and Yahoo! Finance.
Christian has written hundreds of articles for MedicareAvantage.com that teach Medicare beneficiaries the best practices for navigating Medicare. His articles are read by thousands of older Americans each month. By better understanding their health care coverage, readers may hopefully learn how to limit their out-of-pocket Medicare spending and access quality medical care.
Christian’s passion for his role stems from his desire to make a difference in the senior community. He strongly believes that the more beneficiaries know about their Medicare coverage, the better their overall health and wellness is as a result.
A current resident of Raleigh, Christian is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
If you’re a member of the media looking to connect with Christian, please don’t hesitate to email our public relations team at Mike@tzhealthmedia.com.
Original Medicare (Parts A and B) doesn’t cover routine dental or vision care. 2024 Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans can cover benefits Original Medicare doesn’t cover, but dental and/or hearing benefits may not be available where you live. Learn more and find out how to compare the plans and benefits available in your area.
Medicare Part B may cover emergency ambulance services, and some Medicare Advantage plans may offer non-emergency transportation to plan-approved locations. Learn more about Medicare transportation coverage.
Medicare Advantage plans can offer gym memberships and fitness benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, such as SilverSneakers. Learn how to compare your local plan options and how to find a Medicare Advantage plan that covers fitness benefits.
While Original Medicare (Parts A and B) doesn’t cover hearing aids, Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans can cover hearing benefits Original Medicare doesn’t cover. Hearing benefits can be limited and may not be available where you live, so learn how to find out if Medicare Advantage plans that help pay for hearing aids are available in your area.
Medicare Part B covers annual wellness visits. Medicare Advantage plans also cover annual wellness visits, and many Medicare Advantage plans also offer other wellness benefits not found in Original Medicare.
Medicare Part A does not cover outpatient surgery, but Part B covers medically necessary outpatient surgery. Medicare Advantage plans may also cover outpatient surgery and include an annual out-of-pocket spending limit, which Original Medicare doesn’t offer.
Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans can cover chiropractic care, but some plans may cover services more than others. Learn about what’s covered, what’s excluded and how much your Medicare costs could be.
Medicare covers many telehealth services, and those benefits expanded during the coronavirus pandemic. Beneficiaries can use telehealth to access their doctor while also staying safe during COVID-19.
Original Medicare (Medicare Parts A and B) doesn’t cover bathroom grab bars or other bathroom safety devices. Medicare Advantage plans can cover bathroom safety devices, but only in limited situations and only for beneficiaries who qualify.
Original Medicare covers some limited home health services. Medicare Advantage plans cover the same home health care services and may include some additional benefits.
Join our email series to receive your Medicare guide and the latest information about Medicare.
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Your Medicare guide will arrive in your email inbox shortly. You can also look forward to informative email updates about Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
If you'd like to speak with an agent right away, we're standing by for that as well. Give us a call!