On Medicare

On Medicare? Here’s what it pays for your vision, and what it doesn’t.

Original Medicare doesn’t cover LASIK, routine eye exams or most glasses. Here’s what it does cover, the options worth asking about after 60, and what LASIK costs in Medellín.

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Original Medicare, at a glance

LASIK and other refractive surgeryNo
Routine eye exams for glasses or contactsNo
Glasses and contacts, in most casesNo
One pair of glasses after cataract surgery with an implanted lensYes
Care outside the US, in almost all casesNo
Straight from Medicare.gov and CMS

What’s covered, and what isn’t

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, check its Evidence of Coverage too: some plans add vision benefits.

Covered

  • One pair of glasses with standard frames, or one set of contact lenses, after each cataract surgery that implants an intraocular lens. You pay 20% after the Part B deductible (Medicare.gov).

Not covered

  • Routine eye exams for glasses or contacts (Medicare.gov)
  • Glasses and contacts, in most cases (Medicare.gov)
  • Refractive surgery to reduce your need for glasses: CMS treats it as a substitute for glasses (NCD 80.7)
  • Almost any care outside the US (Medicare.gov)
Published prices

What LASIK costs in Medellín

Ópticas Lafam publishes one LASIK price for Bogotá, Medellín, Cali and Barranquilla, in Colombian pesos. Check today’s exchange rate for the dollar figure. It’s undated; we accessed it on October 5, 2026.

A pre-surgery exam decides whether LASIK, another procedure or nothing is right for your eyes. Don’t book a flight around surgery until that exam says yes.

Questions? WhatsApp Andy.

LafamPublished price
LASIK, both eyesCOP 2,350,000
LASIK, one eyeCOP 1,400,000
Pre-surgery examsCOP 200,000

The exams include optometry with Pentacam imaging, dilation and an ophthalmology consult.

After 60

LASIK may not be the right question

For many people on Medicare, the better conversation is about lens replacement or cataract surgery. These guides walk through it.

LASIK over 60 vs. lens replacementWhich procedure actually fixes your vision? Vision correction after 50Your options, in one guide. Cataract surgery in ColombiaFor international patients.

Questions from Medicare patients

Will Medicare pay for LASIK in Colombia?

No. CMS treats refractive surgery as a substitute for glasses, which Medicare excludes (NCD 80.7), and Medicare usually doesn't cover care outside the US (Medicare.gov).

Does Medicare Advantage cover vision?

Some Medicare Advantage plans add vision benefits, usually with limits. Check your plan's Evidence of Coverage, or call the number on your card.

I'm over 60. Is LASIK even right for me?

Maybe not. For many people over 60, lens replacement or cataract surgery is the better question. A full eye exam decides. See LASIK over 60 vs. lens replacement.

Can I use HSA or FSA money?

Possibly. See using HSA or FSA funds for LASIK, and check with your plan administrator.

How does ColombiaLasik make money?

Clinics in the ColombiaMedical network may pay a referral fee if you book through us. Asking for a quote is free.

Sources

  1. Eye exams (routine) (Medicare.gov)
  2. Eyeglasses & contact lenses (Medicare.gov)
  3. NCD 80.7 Refractive Keratoplasty (CMS Medicare Coverage Database)
  4. Travel outside the U.S. (Medicare.gov)
  5. Exámenes pre-LASIK y cirugía (Ópticas Lafam), price stated for Bogotá, Medellín, Cali and Barranquilla; undated, accessed Oct. 5, 2026

Last checked October 5, 2026. Coverage rules change; confirm anything that affects your care or your money with Medicare or your plan.

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