Does Medicare Cover Cataract Surgery in 2023?

In a word, yes. When medically indicated, cataract surgery is covered by Medicare and commercial insurances. “Medically indicated” means that the patient must be experiencing symptoms and have some disability from the cataract; in some cases they may be required to meet certain visual acuity thresholds. Your eye doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist) can help determine if a cataract is visually significant.

With that said, there are a number of ancillary services and options that can be performed in conjunction with basic cataract surgery that are not covered by Medicare or commercial insurance. One example would be the type of lens implant placed during cataract surgery, non-covered IOL (intraocular lens) options include lenses that correct astigmatism and also those that correct presbyopia, allowing a patient to see at distance and up close without glasses.

It is also important to note that despite cataract surgery being “covered” by Medicare and commercial insurance, it is still subject to deductibles, copays, and co-insurance. See this page to learn more about the cost of cataract surgery.