In the United States, there are more than 3.5 million cataract surgeries performed each year. A sizeable proportion of this number is dedicated to people who are over the age of 65. Given this statistic, you may be wondering, “Does Medicare cover cataract surgery?”
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If you think that you might need cataract surgery, then you may be curious about whether Medicare will cover it for you. Keep reading to get the answer to that question and to learn more about whether cataract surgery is required in your situation.
Many people have cataracts without having to get them surgically removed. That begs the question of who actually needs to have cataract surgery. The answer is relatively straightforward.
Put simply, you need cataract surgery if it is causing blurred vision that is making it difficult to live your life. For example, maybe your cataract is preventing you from reading signs while driving or engaging in hobbies like knitting and card games. If that’s the case, then taking the plunge to have cataract surgery is a good option.
Medicare generally does not cover vision-related healthcare expenses. However, since cataract surgery is often considered medically necessary, Original Medicare will cover a large portion of the costs of it for you.
More specifically, Original Medicare covers the costs of:
This means that many individuals who have Original Medicare will only have to pay a fraction of the costs of their cataract surgery. However, the same can’t be said for all types of patients who require cataract surgeries.
For example, depending on your unique situation, you may need to have an advanced type of lens implant. Medicare only covers basic implants, which means that you would likely have to pay most of the costs of this part of your care. This is one example of why it’s important for you to speak with your healthcare provider about your share of the costs before undergoing cataract surgery — even if you believe that your Medicare plan will cover most of your charges.
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The calculation is a bit different for people who have Medicare Advantage plans. These plans cover everything that Original Medicare does. However, they also have additional coverages that extend the scope of traditional Medicare coverage.
The exact nature of this coverage as it relates to cataract surgery will vary based on the exact Medicare Advantage plan that you have. That being said, there is a good chance that more of the costs associated with cataract surgery will be covered under this type of plan. For example, you may be able to have the costs of more advanced lens implants covered by a Medicare Advantage plan.
Want to learn more about cataract surgery and more about what does Medicare cover? If so, consider contacting a partnered licensed agent with Time for 65 today. They’re the Medicare experts who can provide you with more personalized information about this topic. You can reach one right now either by filling out this form or giving us a call.