Final answer:
Medicare covers cataract surgery when it's medically necessary, which includes pre-surgery, surgery, and postoperative care, along with corrective eyewear after the surgery. Coverage is part of the effort to provide necessary medical procedures to Medicare's largely senior beneficiaries.
Step-by-step explanation:
Medicare will pay for cataract surgery if it is deemed medically necessary by a doctor. Generally, this means that the cataracts are significantly impairing someone's vision and affecting their daily life. It is also covered when the surgery is performed using traditional surgical techniques or lasers. Coverage includes the pre-surgery consultation, the surgery itself, and postoperative care along with one pair of corrective eyeglasses or one set of contact lenses after the surgery.
The expansion of Medicare in 2003 under the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act not only helped the elderly pay for prescription drugs but also underlined the importance of providing necessary medical procedures like cataract surgery to improve the quality of life for Medicare beneficiaries, who are typically aged 65 or older. While the expansion increased Medicare expenditure significantly, organizations like the American Association for Retired People (AARP) support such benefits which help address the needs of senior citizens.