Cataracts affect more than 20.5 million Americans over 40 years old, and about 6.1 million of those have had cataract surgery. Cataracts are often considered an “old age eye disease,” but they can affect people of all ages. 

No matter at what age someone develops cataracts, careful planning must go into long-term challenges like treatment, medical costs, and adapting to daily difficulties associated with cataracts.

In this article, Ability Central addresses your long-term care and support questions for people with cataracts, including:

• How much does cataract surgery cost?
• What insurance programs assist people with cataracts in the United States?
• What are secondary cataracts, and how much does it cost to treat them?
• Where can I get help paying for cataract care I cannot afford?
• Where can I get more information about cataracts and low vision?

How much does cataract surgery cost?

Cataract surgery, during which an eye surgeon removes the affected lens and replaces it with an artificial one, is the most common surgical procedure in medicine. Advances in technology and technique have made it an effective and safe treatment for cataracts. 

On average, cataract surgery costs around $3,500 per eye before insurance, although those costs can reach $7,000 or more. The cost of cataract surgery depends on the type of artificial lens (called an intraocular lens) used, insurance coverage, and where the surgery takes place. For example, large hospital complexes in major cities often have higher costs than smaller outpatient centers in suburban areas. 

When deciding how to afford cataract surgery, many people consider:

• Their current symptoms and whether surgery is truly needed.
• How much of the procedure their insurance company will cover.
• Whether they can travel to a cheaper location for surgery.
• If they qualify for federal or state-funded programs that lower cost barriers for cataract surgery. 

What insurance programs assist people with cataracts in the United States?

Private insurance through an employer or state marketplace may cover some or all of the cost of cataract surgery. However, this generally only applies when the surgery is considered “medically necessary.” 

Some types of cataracts, like those that do not interfere with vision or cause other symptoms, are considered “elective” procedures. This refers to a procedure you can have done but isn’t medically required to improve or maintain your quality of life. 

Some insurance companies only offer partial coverage for “elective” cataract surgery, or do not cover it at all. With that in mind, be sure to contact your insurance provider before scheduling your surgery to make sure you don’t get surprised by unexpected medical bills. 

You can also discuss the necessity of the procedure with your doctor, who can help you back up medical insurance claims. 

What government programs pay for cataract surgery? 

If you do not have private insurance or your insurance doesn’t cover the cost of cataract surgery in full, there are other funding options for cataract surgery. 

If you live in the United States, federal and state governments offer programs that can offset the cost of surgery like a cataract replacement. Contact a local representative to find out if you qualify for one of these government-sponsored options: 

• The Affordable Care Act (ACA) offers private insurance plans to people who may not have coverage otherwise. All ACA plans include vision coverage for children, but not all plans include vision coverage for adults. 
• Medicare covers people with permanent disabilities and those 65 years old or older. Although Original Medicare does not cover routine vision care, it does help pay for cataract surgery if it’s done using traditional surgical techniques or lasers.
• Medicaid covers people with disabilities who have lower incomes. According to All About Vision, Medicaid covers a portion of the cost of cataract surgery.
• Medigap insurance supplements the person's Medicare coverage. Since cataract surgery is usually covered under Medicare Part B, Medicare Supplement Plan G (Medigap) will cover all associated costs except the annual Part B deductible and Medigap premium payments. 
• Veteran’s Affairs (VA) provides health care benefits for veterans who have actively served in the military. VA vision benefits cover cataract surgery for people who qualify.

What are secondary cataracts, and how much does it cost to treat them?

While an artificial lens cannot develop cataracts, it can become cloudy or blocked and affect your vision. This is called a secondary cataract or posterior capsule opacification (PCO).

Up to 20% of people who have cataract surgery develop a secondary cataract within three years of the procedure. However, secondary cataracts can be treated via yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) laser surgery. 

A YAG laser uses a special type of crystal to create a small, powerful beam of light to make precise, clean cuts that create an opening at the back of the affected lens. This procedure, called a capsulotomy, allows light to filter through the lens again and improves clouded vision.

YAG laser eye surgery takes about five minutes, and your sight should improve in about 24 hours. The cost of the YAG procedure depends on the same variables as initial cataract surgery, but generally ranges from $1,300 to $4,500 before insurance. Many people choose to get YAG laser surgery for secondary cataracts regardless of cost because the procedure has about a 95% success rate. 

Many insurances, including Medicare Part B, cover YAG laser capsulotomy if your doctor deems it medically necessary. In fact, Medicare covers 80% of the costs for the procedure after you pay your Part B deductible.

Where can I get help paying for cataract care I cannot afford?

If you do not have private medical insurance or don’t qualify for government-sponsored care programs, you still have options. Many nonprofits help people who cannot afford vision treatments like cataract surgery. 

To find an organization near you, see:

• Ability Central’s searchable database of nonprofits. You can sort your search by location, specialty, and services offered to find a local organization. 
• EyeCare America, which provides eye care through volunteer ophthalmologists. 
• Lions Clubs, which work to improve the lives of the visually impaired and prevent avoidable blindness. Connect with a local club to see if you qualify.
• Mission Cataract USA, which offers free cataract surgery to people of all ages who cannot pay.
• Operation Sight, which serves financially vulnerable, uninsured people who cannot afford or access care. 

Where can I get more information about cataracts and low vision?

Ability Central offers a series of articles to further your knowledge about cataracts. See:

• The 7 Most Important Things to Know About Cataracts
• Do I Have Cataracts? Cloudy Vision, Faded Colors, and Other Symptoms of Cataracts
• Cataract Surgery: Resources for Cataract Treatment and Diagnosis

In addition, we have resources to cover other vision-related diagnoses. View our full library of low vision resources to learn about diseases and conditions that affect eyesight, including:

• Glaucoma
• Macular degeneration
• Diabetic retinopathy 
• Retinitis pigmentosa