What is the Cost of Cataract Surgery?
Generally, cataract surgery cost depends on four main variables:
- Type of procedure
- Type of cataract surgery facility (hospital vs. ambulatory surgery center)
- Location of cataract surgery facility (cost-of-living affects healthcare prices and cataract surgery cost)
- The intraocular lens (IOL)
Cost Factor: Cataract Surgery Location
While you might not have a lot of choice over the type of procedure you need, you can determine where you have your procedure.
Did you know that the same medical procedure can be two to three times more expensive at one facility when compared to another with no difference in quality?
It is more cost-efficient to have cataract surgery at an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) rather than in a hospital. ASCs are typically able to perform your procedure at the same high level of care with the same specialized attention, or even better, but at a lower cost – an especially nice advantage if you have a copay.
—Source: Healthcare Bluebook
Benefits of an Outpatient Surgery Center
Easy Access
Since surgery centers focus on a limited number of procedures, navigation is much easier than in a typical hospital environment.
Transparency
Surgery centers provide pricing information before the procedure, not after. For Medicare patients without secondary insurance, patient copays in an ASC are 42 percent less than in a hospital.
Safe, Quality Procedures
Every ASC must be licensed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and must follow strict health and safety standards to provide the highest quality of care to each patient.
Comfortable Environment
Pleasant, relaxed atmosphere with convenient parking.
Personalized Care
Targeted, specialty services in a smaller setting that feels more like home.
Higher Patient Satisfaction Rates
Surveys reveal a 92 percent satisfaction rate among surgery center patients.
You deserve to know all of the details about your out-of-pocket responsibility so you can evaluate, compare costs and make wise financial decisions with your healthcare dollars. Ambulatory surgery centers have performed safe, high-quality outpatient medical procedures for more than 40 years.
Consider scheduling your outpatient procedure at an ambulatory surgery center.
Cost Factor: Your Intraocular Lens
When considering the different types of IOLs, you should be fully informed about what your insurance will and will not cover. Medicare will pay for standard monofocal lenses only. Because the insertion of a premium IOL is an elective procedure, most insurance will not cover the additional costs. The fees for premium lenses can be highly variable. If you choose one of these options, make sure you fully understand the costs ahead of time.
When deciding to upgrade your intraocular lens, compare the cost of the premium lenses to buying eyeglasses or contacts for the rest of your life. If you consider the cost of the eyeglasses/contact lenses and how often you have to replace them, premium lenses may be the most affordable choice.
Find a Physician
Schedule your eye appointment today and be on your way to better vision!
