Wellness

[Nonametoday]

Speak to your surgeon's office to ensure they are accepting Medicare. If not, it does not matter one whit what Medicare tells you. Your best bet is to talk with the person who handles the insurance/billing from your doctor's office to get the correct information.

[dobiesrule]

Suzy, I have Medicare and a supplement. I chose the regular lens and paid nothing. It will probably depend on if you have regular Medicare or an Advantage plan.

[Suzy Snowflake]

I have an Advantage plan. That might make a difference. I suppose I should call the company and get the information. Thanks again.

[10grands]

Suzy - I am scheduled for cataract surgery next Tuesday, have you been seen by a Dr. about this? If so, call their office and ask to speak to someone about this. If not, you can be referred to an eye specialist by your family Dr., call the eye specialists office and talk to them about it. One thing I learned and I do not know if this is everywhere but Medicare pays for new prescription glasses following the procedure. Truthfully I do not what the cost of the surgery is, but I am sure this varies from Dr. to Dr. I would do this before contacting the Insurance Co. so you have some actual figures to go by. Costs will also vary depending on what type of cataract surgery you have. I knew nothing about any of this until I actually went to the eye specialist.

[millieshops]

I took my neighbor for surgery just yesterday and she was carrying a check for the specialized lens she and her doctor had decided upon. Hundreds of dollars, but he recommended it highly. Not aware what else she might have to pay because she didn't say.

She's at her day 2 check-up right now with a different neighbor. Will check in with her later, but I am curious. Ten years back when I had my right eye done, my doctor didn't recommend anything beyond a basic lens - and as I remember, there wasn't a whole lot of choice anyway. I may have had to pay a co-pay, but nothing big.

So much has changed in the 10 years since my surgery even little things. One example - my post-surgery shield was black, hers was clear! I have no idea why.

[BLH]

On 1/28/2015 Suzy Snowflake said: I have an Advantage plan. That might make a difference. I suppose I should call the company and get the information. Thanks again.

If you have an Advantage plan, then you do not have medicare. The Advantage plan takes the place of your medicare. Medicare will not pay a penny anywhere as long as you have an Advantage plan. TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

[KathT]

On 1/28/2015 millieshops said:

I took my neighbor for surgery just yesterday and she was carrying a check for the specialized lens she and her doctor had decided upon. Hundreds of dollars, but he recommended it highly. Not aware what else she might have to pay because she didn't say.

She's at her day 2 check-up right now with a different neighbor. Will check in with her later, but I am curious. Ten years back when I had my right eye done, my doctor didn't recommend anything beyond a basic lens - and as I remember, there wasn't a whole lot of choice anyway. I may have had to pay a co-pay, but nothing big.

So much has changed in the 10 years since my surgery even little things. One example - my post-surgery shield was black, hers was clear! I have no idea why.

Millie, my dh had cataracts on both his eyes removed, one in late Dec. & the other a week+ ago. He had a special toric(sp??) lens inserted in the first to correct astigmatism. He had a regular lens for the second. We are in a situation where the first surgery was done under dh's employers insurance & the second with Medicaire, which we both just enrolled in. The employer insurance just covered a basic lens so we had to pay for it, so it isn't just Medicaire. This was explained in his presurgery appointment & the lens had to be paid for about a week before surgery. We hadn't met our deductible, so received a "hefty" bill. We are waiting to hear about the second Medicaire covered totals.