Cataract surgery is one of the most reliably covered procedures in Medicare, which is why more than 70 percent of all cataract procedures in the United States are billed to the program. The cost of cataract surgery with Medicare in 2026 leaves most beneficiaries responsible for roughly $400 to $600 per eye after the Part B deductible and 20 percent coinsurance, and even less if they carry a Medigap supplement. Premium lens upgrades and laser-assisted techniques remain outside of coverage, which is where the biggest surprise charges appear. Our healthcare costs guide places this procedure in context, and this article walks through exactly what Medicare does and does not pay.
Average Cataract Surgery Cost with Medicare
Medicare Part B covers medically necessary cataract surgery with a standard monofocal intraocular lens. The Medicare-approved amount for the entire procedure — surgeon, facility, and anesthesia — usually totals $1,800 to $2,400 per eye in an ambulatory surgery center. Beneficiaries pay the Part B deductible of $257 in 2026 and then 20 percent of the approved amount, landing at roughly $400 to $600 per eye in out-of-pocket cost.
If your cataract surgery takes place in a hospital outpatient department, the Medicare-approved amount is higher because Medicare pays ASC rates and HOPD rates differently. Out-of-pocket costs in a hospital outpatient setting typically run $550 to $800 per eye. Check where your surgeon operates before scheduling — the facility choice alone can shift your bill by a couple hundred dollars.
What Medicare Part B Covers
Part B covers the surgeon’s fee for phacoemulsification and lens implantation, the facility fee for the ambulatory surgery center or hospital outpatient department, anesthesia services, and the implantable monofocal IOL. It also covers one pair of conventional corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses after surgery, provided they are obtained from a Medicare-enrolled supplier. This eyewear benefit is unique to cataract surgery and is worth roughly $200 to $400 in savings.
Preoperative biometry, intraocular pressure checks, and one or two postoperative follow-up visits are included in the global surgical package. Prescription eye drops for the postoperative period are not covered under Part B but may be covered under your Part D plan — always verify before surgery because these drops can cost $60 to $300 without coverage.
What Medicare Does Not Cover
Medicare does not cover premium IOL upgrades. If you choose a toric lens to correct astigmatism or a multifocal or extended depth of focus lens to reduce dependence on reading glasses, you will pay $1,200 to $3,500 per eye out of pocket for the lens upgrade. Laser-assisted cataract surgery using a femtosecond laser is also not covered, adding $500 to $1,500 per eye.
Intraoperative aberrometry (technology used to fine-tune lens selection during surgery), advanced diagnostic imaging performed purely for premium IOL planning, and cosmetic aspects of care are outside of Medicare’s coverage envelope. Any services tied to a non-medically-necessary upgrade must be billed as patient self-pay under Medicare’s Advance Beneficiary Notice rules.
How Medigap and Medicare Advantage Affect Costs
A Medigap (supplemental) policy covers all or most of the 20 percent Part B coinsurance. Plans F and G, the most popular high-coverage options, effectively eliminate out-of-pocket costs for the covered portion of cataract surgery. A Medigap policyholder typically pays only the $257 Part B deductible (Plan G) or nothing at all (Plan F for those eligible before 2020) for the medically necessary portion.
Medicare Advantage plans bundle Part A and B benefits with additional services and follow their own cost-sharing rules. Most Medicare Advantage plans charge a flat copay for outpatient surgery, typically $100 to $300, plus any deductible the plan imposes. Out-of-network facilities can significantly increase Medicare Advantage costs, so confirm network status with both the surgeon and the facility.
What’s Included in the Covered Procedure
Medicare’s global surgical package includes the preoperative exam and measurements, the surgery itself (lens extraction and monofocal IOL implantation), anesthesia, the facility fee, and postoperative visits up to 90 days after the procedure. According to CMS coverage databases, this global bundle is designed to encourage high-quality outpatient care without itemized billing.
What the global package does not include: the initial diagnostic exam that determined you needed surgery, any imaging beyond standard biometry, second surgeon fees if two surgeons are involved, drugs and equipment used at home, and any cosmetic or refractive add-ons. If your doctor’s office bills separately for any of these, ask whether they should have been folded into the global fee.
How to Save Money on Cataract Surgery with Medicare
The single most important decision is lens choice. Sticking with a standard monofocal IOL that is fully covered eliminates the largest discretionary cost in cataract surgery. Clinical outcomes with monofocal lenses remain excellent, and most patients achieve 20/25 or better distance vision while still needing reading glasses.
Pair Original Medicare with a Medigap supplement if you can afford the monthly premium. The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that average Medigap Plan G premiums in 2026 run $130 to $200 per month, and that plan eliminates nearly all out-of-pocket costs for covered services like cataract surgery. If Medigap is not in the budget, choose a surgeon operating in an ambulatory surgery center rather than a hospital outpatient department to cut the facility portion.
Ask whether your surgeon participates in the EyeCare America Seniors Program. This free program, run by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, provides a comprehensive eye exam and up to one year of care at no cost for qualifying seniors who have not seen an ophthalmologist recently. Local Lions Clubs also sponsor cataract surgery for underinsured seniors who cannot afford the Medicare cost-sharing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does cataract surgery cost with Medicare out of pocket?
Most Medicare beneficiaries pay $400 to $600 per eye in an ambulatory surgery center, which covers the Part B deductible and the 20 percent coinsurance on the approved amount. A Medigap Plan G reduces that to just the $257 Part B deductible for the year. Laser and premium lens upgrades are extra and can add $1,200 to $3,500 per eye.
Does Medicare cover toric lenses for astigmatism?
Medicare covers the medically necessary portion of the surgery but does not pay the toric lens upgrade fee. Expect to pay $1,200 to $1,800 per eye out of pocket for the toric lens, on top of your usual Part B cost-sharing. Ask the surgical coordinator for a written breakdown before you sign.
Is the follow-up eyewear after cataract surgery covered?
Yes. Medicare Part B covers one pair of corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses following cataract surgery with IOL implantation. You must buy them from a Medicare-enrolled optical supplier, and Medicare pays 80 percent of the approved amount after the deductible. The benefit is worth up to about $400.
Does Medicare cover both eyes?
Yes. Medicare covers cataract surgery on each eye separately when medical necessity is documented for each. Most surgeons operate on the second eye two to four weeks after the first, and each eye triggers its own approved amount and coinsurance calculation.
The Bottom Line
The cost of cataract surgery with Medicare in 2026 lands at roughly $400 to $600 per eye out of pocket for a standard monofocal lens procedure, and potentially zero if you carry Medigap Plan G or a similar supplement. Premium lens and laser upgrades are extra and can add thousands per eye. Choose a surgeon who operates in an ASC, stick with standard monofocal IOLs if budget matters, and use the EyeCare America program or Lions Clubs if you need extra help. For more, see our articles on average Medicare cataract costs and laser cataract surgery with Medicare.