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Cataract surgery

Medicare may cover cataract surgery that implants conventional intraocular lenses, depending on where you live. Medicare doesn’t usually cover eyeglasses or contact lenses. However,  Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers one pair of eyeglasses with standard frames (or one set of contact lenses) after each cataract surgery that implants an intraocular lens. 

Your costs in Original Medicare

  • If you get covered cataract surgery in a hospital outpatient setting or ambulatory surgical
    center, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount to both the facility and
    the doctor who performs your surgery. The Part B deductible applies.
  • If you get covered cataract surgery in a doctor’s office, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for both the intraocular lens and the surgery to implant it. The Part B deductible applies.

What it is

Cataract surgery removes a cloudy natural lens from your eye and, in most cases, replaces it with a clear artificial lens.

Things to know

If Medicare covers cataract surgery in your area, you can get it using traditional surgical techniques or lasers.

Is my test, item, or service covered?