Does Medicare Cover Cataract Surgery?

By age 65, more than 90% of people have developed a cataract — and among those between 75 and 85, fully half have lost some degree of vision because of one. It's a startlingly common condition, yet many people approaching Medicare don't know whether their coverage will pick up the cost of surgery. So let's cut through the confusion: does Medicare cover cataract surgery?

What is Cataract Surgery?

A cataract occurs when the natural lens of your eye becomes progressively cloudy, scattering incoming light and making everything from reading to night driving increasingly difficult. Left untreated, the condition can make it genuinely hard to carry out the activities of daily life.

Cataract surgery is a procedure to remove the lens of your eye and replace it with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens (IOL). 

The good news: cataract surgery is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the United States, and it carries a strong safety record. For most patients, it's an outpatient procedure that takes less than an hour.

Does Medicare cover Cataract Surgery?

Yes — and in most cases, coverage is robust. Both Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) and Part A (Hospital Insurance) can help cover costs related to cataract surgery, whether it's performed using traditional surgical techniques or laser-assisted methods.

Because the procedure is almost always performed in an outpatient setting — no overnight hospital stay required — it typically falls under Medicare Part B. If a complication arises and hospitalization becomes necessary, however, Part A steps in to handle those inpatient costs.

That said, Medicare doesn't cover everything. Under Part B, you'll owe 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for your ophthalmologist's services. And if you haven't yet met your annual Part B deductible, that cost comes out of pocket first before Medicare begins to share the bill.

Typically, Part B coverage includes:

• Removal of the cataract
• Lens insertion and required supplies and services, however, Medicare only pays for the cost of inserting basic (monofocal) lenses, although advanced lenses may be available
• A pair of eyeglasses with basic frames or contact lenses after each cataract surgery

One number worth keeping in mind: based on the most recent estimates, the average gross cost of cataract surgery is approximately $3,500 per eye before Medicare coverage is applied. Your actual out-of-pocket cost will depend on your specific situation, your provider, and which Medicare plan you have.

Does Medicare Advantage cover Cataract Surgery?

Medicare Advantage plans — also known as Part C — are offered by private insurers but are required by law to cover everything Original Medicare covers. That means your cataract surgery will be covered under a Medicare Advantage plan, subject to the plan's own cost-sharing rules.

There's an added benefit worth noting: many Medicare Advantage plans go a step further by including vision, hearing, and dental coverage that Original Medicare doesn't offer. Depending on your specific plan, your post-surgery eyeglasses or contact lenses may be fully covered — something worth checking when you're comparing plans.

Does Medigap cover Cataract Surgery?

If you carry a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy, it can meaningfully reduce what you owe out of pocket for cataract surgery. Medigap plans are designed specifically to fill the financial gaps that Original Medicare leaves behind — like that 20% coinsurance under Part B — in exchange for a monthly premium.

Since cataract surgery is covered under Original Medicare, your Medigap plan will help cover the associated cost-sharing in accordance with your policy's stated benefits. The exact amount Medigap pays depends on which type of plan you've purchased, as different Medigap plan letters offer different levels of coverage. Reviewing your specific policy is the best way to understand what you'll owe.