Cataract surgery is one of the most common procedures for seniors — and Medicare covers most of it. Here's what you'll actually pay in 2026.
What cataract surgery costs seniors in 2026
Original Medicare Part B covers 80% of medically necessary cataract surgery, including the standard intraocular lens (IOL), the facility fee, and one pair of corrective glasses or contacts afterward. You pay the remaining 20% after meeting the $283 Part B deductible in 2026. For example, if the Medicare-approved amount is $2,000, you'd owe about $400 after the deductible. Costs vary by setting — outpatient surgery centers are typically less expensive than hospital outpatient departments. Cataracts must significantly impair your vision, as documented by your eye doctor, for the surgery to qualify as medically necessary.
Premium lenses and how Medigap reduces your bill
Medicare covers standard monofocal lenses, but if you choose a premium lens — multifocal (to reduce reliance on glasses) or toric (to correct astigmatism) — you pay the price difference out of pocket, often $1,000 to $4,000 per eye. Laser-assisted techniques used purely for premium correction may also cost extra. A Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plan can pay the 20% coinsurance Original Medicare leaves you, and plans like Plan G also cover the Part B deductible-adjacent gaps, lowering your covered-surgery cost to little or nothing. To see how your plan handles cataract surgery, call 1-800-MEDIGAP (1-800-633-4427) for a free review.