Does Medicare Cover Eyelid Surgery?

Many of us already know that Medicare does not provide coverage for surgeries that are cosmetic in nature. Basically Medicare is there to help improve your health, not your looks.

However, there are times Medicare will cover “cosmetic” type surgeries IF they treat a medical condition. They may also cover them if they repair the function of a damaged body part.

One of the cosmetic surgeries that may seem like Medicare would cover is upper eyelid surgeries. The medical term for these surgeries is blepharoplasty.

So a common question many people have is, “Does Medicare cover Eyelid Surgery?” In this article, we answer that question in clear, plain English. You will also find the average costs of upper eyelid surgery and other helpful info.

Does Medicare Cover Eyelid Surgery?

The short answer is no. In most cases, Medicare will not cover the cost of upper eyelid surgery. That said, there may be some situations where you can get these costs covered. Below we’ll take a closer look at this to see when you might be able to get Medicare to pay for your upper eyelid surgery.

Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B) does not provide coverage for upper eyelid surgery. This is because, most of the time, these surgeries are done for cosmetic purposes. So if you are going to have upper eyelid surgery to improve or repair your appearance, Medicare will not cover it.

However, just like with other cosmetic surgeries, Medicare may cover upper eyelid surgery if it is medically necessary. One reason that is it could be medically necessary is to remove excess skin on the eyelid that is causing health or vision problems.

Before Medicare covers upper eyelid surgery, there are factors that they will look at to determine if they will help pay for it or not. The main factors are:

The amount of excess skin on the upper eyelid is visible
Proof (coming from an ophthalmological examination) that shows the eyelid is obstructing at least 30% or 12 degrees of your vision
Photographic evidence that was taken before undergoing upper eyelid surgery, as well as documentation of a visual problem

Recommendation or order from your healthcare provider who has reviewed your case

Because eyelid surgery typically happens in an outpatient setting, if you do qualify for coverage, it will likely fall under Medicare Part B.

Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) also does not provide eyelid surgery coverage if it is for cosmetic purposes. However, just like with Original Medicare, Medicare Part C may provide coverage if your doctors says the surgery medically necessary.

But Part C plans differ in the things they cover that Original Medicare does not and how much they pay. So check with your plan provider to get the specifics for your plan.

How Much Does Eyelid Surgery Cost?

Undergoing eyelid surgery usually costs somewhere around $3,000 or so. These costs do not include the anesthesia or other related hospital expenses.

Medical Reasons For Getting a Blepharoplasty

Your healthcare provider may recommend having eyelid surgery (aka blepharoplasty) for the following reasons:

If your excess skin is getting in the way of your vision, making daily tasks difficult
The excess skin is causing irritation
You are having eyelid complications caused by thyroid disease or other medical conditions

Note: Medicare coverage changes all the time. And your specific coverage may vary from plan to plan for Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans. Always be sure to double check with your health care provider and/or Medicare insurance provider about what your plan covers and what it does not.