Cost of Cataract Surgery

So, you’ve been told you need cataract surgery. That’s gonna cost a pretty penny, right? Well, not necessarily… For those with health insurance (including Medicare) then you might be covered for some or all of the procedure.

Even if you don’t have adequate cover in place, you can—of course—pay for the surgery. Being as the procedure is one of the most commonly carried out in the world, the cost might not be as prohibitive as you think.

Read on to get the lowdown on what you can and can’t claim on insurance, as well as the average cost of cataract surgery in the US.

Cataract Surgery: insurance, Medicare, and more

• Cost of cataract surgery through Medicare
• Cost of cataract surgery through other types of health insurance
• Cost of self-funded cataract surgery

Cost of cataract surgery through Medicare

You’ll be happy to hear that for most people, at least 80% of the cost of cataract surgery is covered by Medicare. However, it only covers traditional cataract surgery (not laser) and monofocal lenses. 

If you choose to undergo laser-assisted cataract surgery and have any advanced, premium intraocular lens/s fitted, then you will have to pay the difference.

Cost of cataract surgery through other types of health insurance

Other health insurance may or may not cover cataract surgery. It’s important to look at your policy to find out what is and isn’t built in. Top-level cover may well include advanced laser cataract surgery and the latest intraocular lenses. However, some policies don’t cover incidentals, such as:

• Screening tests
• Eye exams
• Anesthesia
• Post-op care
• Prescription glasses

Cost of self-funded cataract surgery

Self-funded surgery might mean forking out for everything related to a cataract surgical procedure or by paying the deficit between what’s covered and what’s not.

When it comes down to individual costs, the following is a guide to how much cataract surgery might set you back.

A cataract procedure costs, on average, between $3,500 - $7,000 per eye. As we’ve already mentioned, various aspects will impact this. These include:

• Surgical fees: The experience and reputation of the cataract surgeon will determine how much they charge
• The location of the surgery: Outpatient surgery in a hospital tends to be more expensive than those carried out in the doctor’s office (sometimes referred to as an ambulatory surgical center)
• The type of surgery you choose: Traditional cataract surgery is less expensive than laser-assisted cataract surgery (the most advanced type and is necessary if you choose premium intraocular lenses and/or you want to have astigmatism treated at the same time)
• Pre and post-op care: Medications, testing, and more can affect the cost
• Your choice of intraocular lens (IOLs): This has one of the greatest impacts on price. A basic, monofocal lens is the least expensive of all. This will provide good vision at either far or near distances, with eyeglasses being necessary to complement your vision. Premium lenses are more expensive.

Premium lenses use advanced technology to provide optimal vision for your needs and lifestyle. They include toric lenses that correct astigmatism, multifocal lenses that focus at near, far, and even mid-vision without the use of glasses, and lenses that use the muscles of the eye to focus. The latter types are known as accommodative lenses and there are various different types.

The right lens for you is something that you and your surgeon will discuss and will be determined by:

• Your lifestyle
• Your natural focusing ability
• Your insurance cover and/or the price you’re willing to self-fund

The Modern Cataract Surgery Clinic Provides Medicare, Insurance, and Self-Funded Procedures

At the dedicated Modern Cataract Surgery unit at the West Boca Eye Center, our experienced staff can help you navigate through the complex world of what is and isn’t covered. Cataract surgery is life-changing, so you need to be sure that the treatment and IOLs you choose are right for your needs and lifestyle.

Our friendly team is hugely knowledgeable. This, combined with the peace of mind that your clinical health will be looked after by one of the world’s best cataract surgeons—Dr. Brent Bellotte—means you’ll be eased through the process and benefit from your best vision in the shortest time possible.

Discover more at https://www.moderncataractsurgery.com/

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