Cataract Surgery Cost

Typical costs:

• For patients not covered by health insurance, cataract surgery typically costs $5,000 to $10,000 per eye, for a total of $10,000 to $20,000 for both eyes. For example, at Park Nicollet, a hospital in Minneapolis, Minn., it costs about $4,365 per eye -- a total of $8,730 for both eyes. At Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center^[1] in New Hampshire, with an uninsured discount, it costs about $7,140 per eye -- a total of $14,280 for both eyes.
• Cataract surgery is covered by most health insurance plans. Many patients who need cataract surgery are 65 or older, and Medicare covers cataract surgery.
• For patients covered by insurance, typical out-of-pocket costs would consist of coinsurance of 10 to 20 percent or more -- or $1,000 or more for both eyes. However, a supplemental Medicare policy could cover those costs.

• The Mayo Clinic^[2] has an overview of cataract surgery.

• Special artificial lenses that block ultraviolet light or have multifocal capability can cost as much as $1,000 more than standard lenses.
• Prescription eye drops usually are required after cataract surgery.
• Within five years after cataract surgery, one in four patients develop cloudiness on part of the lens capsule that remains in the eye after surgery; to correct this, a five-minute procedure, called YAG laser capsulotomy, is needed. This typically costs $250 to $450 and usually is covered by insurance.

• Cataract surgery generally is considered safe and effective. However, risks include swelling of the retina, infection, new astigmatism, development of glaucoma and an increased risk of retinal detachment.
• The National Eye Institute^[3] , part of the National Institutes of Health, recommends that surgery be considered only when cataracts interfere with everyday activities such as reading, driving or watching TV, and that you consult a doctor to make the decision.
• It is important to look for a doctor who is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and who specializes in cataract surgery. It is a good idea to ask how many years of experience a doctor has and how often the doctor performs cataract surgery.

1.  patients.dartmouth-hitchcock.org/billing_questions/charges_for_healthcare_services.html
2.  www.mayoclinic.com/health/cataract-surgery/MY00164
3.  www.nei.nih.gov/health/cataract/cataract_facts.asp#4a

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