The light adjusted lenses look like they require an experienced doctor. It looks like it was available at Mayo Clinic since 2022.
Be careful to check what Medicare will cover (or not). I had some interesting and confusing recommendations. I needed to see an Ophthalmologist outside of my home town. At that visit, the MD said I was ready for cataract surgery, and quickly made an appointment, but explained that Medicare would only cover the basic single level lens, somewhat encouraging me to choose a self-pay option. I decided to wait and research my options.
When I went back to my āregularā Optometrist, they said I was not yet at the level needed for Medicare coverage at all. So, I began to question if the former recommendation was valid, or an unnecessary push by that office. Home office does not do the surgery themselves, but recommends other local Ophthalmologists who specialize in cataract surgery. So, I leaned toward trusting the home office since they had no economic reason to push or not push surgery.
I did ask home office about coverage - once I was eligible, and was sad to learn Medicare would not cover a lens that corrects astigmatism. So, technically, to get any type of clear vision, it appears I will need to pay OP.
I donāt mind wearing glasses to read. I think Iāll be happy with simple distance vision correction, to avoid the need while hiking, movies, etc. But unfortunately, astigmatism will likely dictate self-pay anyway.
Does self pay mean no coverage by medicare at all if choosing a lens not the basic one? Also does anyone have experience with BC/BS Federal Employee Plan as a secondary insurance?
My H and I are both on Medicare and have an FEHB plan secondary (not BCBS but Aetna Direct, though it shouldnāt make a difference). Medicare paid for the surgery but if we chose any lens other than the basic one, we had to pay the additional cost of the lens.
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Thatās what they told my husband when he went in for a consult.
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We are medicare and bcbs fehb. H still had to pay the extra for the lazer vs āregularā surgery. He also opted for distance correction in both eyes only. He wasnāt offered the newer UV light lenses that were mentioned upthread. As i recalll our out of pocket was under $2000 total.
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I had my cataracts done on both eyes 5 years ago. I had vision insurance and medical insurance. The medical insurance paid part of it and I paid part. It was early in the year before I met my deductible, so I paid several hundred dollars per eye.
I was told that I would be under anesthesia but still be somewhat aware, so that I could communicate with the doctor if something hurt. I was also told that I would remember next to nothing. I still remember, 5 years later, the conversation the nurse and technician had about the doctor, how much they didnāt like him, how much of a jerk he was, etc etc. Then all of a sudden the air in the room changed as the doctor entered the room. Then the nurse and tech got all sappy and asked the doctor how he was, was he looking forward to the weekend, how was his family, etc etc.
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I had my eyes done with LAL back in late August. Iām still hopeful of a good outcome but it has been very slow going for me. My left eye only needed one adjustment for astigmatism and has 20/20 distance vision. The problem is my right eye. My goal is blended vision with the right eye adjusted for reading. Iāve had 2 adjustments on the right eye but my near vision is poor at the moment. Iāve struggled with dry eye and did extensive dry eye treatments in the lead up to the cataract surgery to get my eyes āready.ā But both times that Iāve gotten an adjustment in my right eye, it exacerbates the dry eye and takes me weeks to recover. Theyāre being very conservative and hesitant to do more adjustments on me until my right eye is better. I have corneal erosions on the right eye that make them hesitant to do another adjustment or lock in. The optometrist who has been doing the adjustments says that if we can get that treated, I might not even need another adjustment. Sheās sending me back to the ophthalmologist for a follow up next week. So Iām 4.5 months in and still having to wear the nerdy UV blocking glasses outdoors (they told me I didnāt need to wear them indoors). Hoping it all works out but it has not been smooth sailing for me.
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That was also my understanding. However, WHY would a simple lens that corrected astigmatism cost over $3200? I would assume the surgery is the major cost, and the lens only a minor one.