By Christian BrinkleyLicensed NC Insurance Agent, NPN 22217190, NC Life & Health · Updated October 10, 2026 · 3 min read
Yes. Cataract surgery is one of the most common procedures Medicare covers, with millions performed each year. Part B covers medically necessary cataract surgery: the surgeon, the facility, anesthesia, and a conventional intraocular lens to replace your cloudy natural lens. After the Part B deductible of $283 in 2026, you pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount. Medicare also covers one pair of prescription glasses or contact lenses after each cataract surgery, the one time Original Medicare pays for eyewear.
What is covered, piece by piece
The surgeon's fee covers the evaluation, the operation, and the standard post-operative visits. The facility fee covers the outpatient surgery center or hospital department where it happens. Anesthesia during the procedure is covered. The conventional lens implant is covered. Follow-up care for complications is covered.
What is not covered: premium lenses that correct astigmatism or presbyopia, and laser upgrades done purely to reduce dependence on glasses. Medicare pays its standard rate and you pay the difference for those extras. The procedure itself usually takes 15 to 30 minutes on an outpatient basis, so most people go home the same day.
What you will pay
After the $283 deductible, Medicare pays 80 percent and you pay 20 percent of the approved amount for the surgery itself. A Medigap plan like Plan G covers that 20 percent, often bringing your cost for the standard procedure close to zero after the deductible.
With a Medicare Advantage plan, you pay whatever your plan sets, usually a copay or coinsurance per surgery. Premium lens upgrades typically cost $1,500 to $4,000 per eye out of pocket, and those are never covered by Medigap.
The glasses benefit after surgery
This is the exception people miss. Original Medicare almost never covers glasses, but after each cataract surgery with a lens implant, Part B covers one pair of prescription eyeglasses with standard frames or one set of contact lenses. You pay 20 percent of the cost plus any frame upgrade.
The supplier must be enrolled in Medicare. If you have surgery on both eyes, you get the glasses benefit after each one.
Questions to ask before you schedule
Ask your surgeon whether the surgery is coded as medically necessary, because elective or purely refractive procedures are not covered. Ask which lens is the conventional one and what the premium upgrade would cost you out of pocket.
Ask the surgery center whether it accepts Medicare assignment. And if you have a Medicare Advantage plan, get the prior authorization in writing before the procedure date. If your surgeon recommends a premium lens, ask for the price difference in writing before surgery day so you can decide without pressure.
Questions people ask me about this
Does Medicare cover laser cataract surgery?
Medicare covers the cataract removal whether a laser is used for it. If the laser is an add-on for refractive correction, that portion is not covered.
Does Medicare cover premium lens implants?
No. Medicare pays the standard monofocal rate. You pay the difference for multifocal or toric lenses, typically $1,500 to $4,000 per eye.
How soon can I have surgery on the second eye?
Medicare has no required waiting period between eyes. Your surgeon decides the timing based on healing, often a few weeks apart.
Does Medigap cover cataract surgery costs?
Medigap covers the 20 percent coinsurance on the Medicare-approved portion. It does not cover premium lens upgrades or refractive extras.
Does Medicare cover a second cataract surgery?
Yes. Each eye is covered separately when medically necessary, and the glasses benefit applies after each surgery. There is no lifetime limit on the number of covered cataract surgeries.
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