Best Health Insurance Plans for Cataract Surgery in India

What is Cataract Surgery?

Cataract surgery is a corrective surgery that treats cataracts, i.e. clouding of the natural eye lens. Also known as lens replacement surgery, it removes the natural lens from the eye and replaces it with an artificial one to restore vision. Since cataract surgery does not require 24 hours of hospitalization, it is usually performed as a day care procedure.

In India, it is common for people of 50 years and above to have cataracts. The chances of developing cataracts increase with age. If left untreated, cataracts can lead to partial or complete blindness and surgery is the only way to cure it.

What is Cataract Surgery Cost in India?

The average cost of a cataract surgery ranges from ₹50,000 to ₹1,20,000 in India. The price varies with the type of cataract surgery, your age, the city where you live, and the hospital you have picked. Check out the cost of different types of cataract surgeries in India:

Phacoemulsification Cataract Surgery - This type of cataract surgery costs around ₹40,000 for the affected eye.
Extra Capsular Cataract Surgery - The cost of this type of cataract surgery ranges from ₹40,000 to ₹60,000 for the affected eye.
Bladeless Cataract Surgery - As no incision is made, this type of cataract surgery is more expensive and can cost around ₹85,000 to ₹120,000.

Note: The costs mentioned above can vary from one city to another and from one hospital to another.

Who Should Buy Health Insurance for Cataract Surgery?

Considering the high incidence of cataracts in India, people above the age of 50 years must have mediclaim for cataract surgery cover. Nonetheless, cataract surgery insurance coverage in India is a must for people with:

Diabetes
Hypertension
Family history of cataract
Excessive exposure to UV rays or ionizing radiation (like X-rays, cancer radiation therapy, etc.)
Eye injury, inflammation or surgery
Excessive smoking and drinking
Vitamin deficiency
Long-term consumption of corticosteroid medicines

Benefits of Buying Health Insurance for Cataract Surgery

Here are some of the key benefits of buying health insurance that covers cataract surgery:

Safeguard Against Cataracts

Cataracts are extremely common among the older population of the country. According to Health Ministry data, more than 83.4 lakh people underwent cataract surgeries in India in 2022-23. Since surgery is the only permanent cure for cataracts, buying cataract health insurance can help people stay financially prepared for cataract surgery-related expenses in future.

Coverage for Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery is an expensive procedure that can cost lakhs of rupees, depending on the city, hospital, and the type of surgery. Moreover, the surgery cost can increase in future due to the ever-increasing medical inflation. With cataract eye operation covered in health insurance, people can undergo cataract surgery without worrying about paying the medical bills, as it will be covered by their insurer.

List of Health Insurance for Cataract Surgery

Check out the health insurance for cataract surgery plans available in India:

Cataract Surgery Health Insurance Plans	Mediclaim Limit for Cataract Operation	Entry Age
Aditya Birla Activ Health Platinum Plan	Up to ₹40,000, 2 years	Adult: 18 years onwards Child: 91 days to 25 years
Bajaj Allianz Health Guard Plan	20% of the SI or up to ₹1 lakh per eye	Adult: 18 to 65 years Child: 91 days to 30 years
Care Health Insurance Plan	Up to ₹30,000 per eye or SI limit (depending on the plan variant)	Adult: 18 years onwards Child: 91 days to 24 years
Cholamandalam Flexi Health Supreme Plan	Up to the SI limit	Adult: 18 to 75 years Child: 91 days to 26 years
Digit Health Insurance Plan	Up to the SI limit	Adult: 18 years onwards Child: 91 days onwards
Future Generali Health Absolute Plan	10% of the SI or up to ₹2 lakh per eye	Adult: 18 years onwards Child: 1 day to 25 years
HDFC ERGO Optima Restore Plan	Up to the SI limit	Adult: 18 to 65 years Child: 91 days to 25 years
ICICI Lombard Health AdvantEdge Plan	Up to the SI limit	Adult: 18 years onwards Child: 91 days to 30 years
IFFCO Tokio Family Health Protector Plan	-	Adult: 18 years onwards Child: 91 days to 30 years
Liberty HealthPrime Connect Plan	Up to the SI limit	Adult: 18 to 65 years Child: 91 days to 25 years
Magma HDI OneHealth Insurance Plan	Up to ₹1 lakh per eye	Adult: 18 years onwards Child: 91 days to 26 years
ManipalCigna SecureHealth Plan	Up to ₹40,000 per eye	Adult: 18 to 65 years Child: 1 day to 17 years
National Parivar Mediclaim Plus Plan	Up to ₹1 lakh per eye	Adult: 18 to 65 years Child: 91 days to 18 years
New India Assurance Atmarnirbhar Health Plan	Up to ₹1 lakh per eye	Adult: 18 to 65 years Child: 91 days to 25 years
Niva Bupa GoActive Plan	Up to the SI limit	Adult: 18 to 65 years Child: 91 days to 21 years
Oriental Youth Eco Care Plan	Up to ₹1 lakh per eye	Adult: 18 to 45 years Child: 1 day to 18 years
Raheja QBE Health QuBE Plan	Up to ₹50,000	Adult: 18 to 65 years Child: 91 days to 25 years
Reliance Health Infinity Plan	Up to the SI limit	Adult: 18 to 65 years Child: 91 days to 25 years
Royal Sundaram Lifeline Plan	-	Adult: 18 years onwards Child: 91 days to 25 years
SBI Arogya Supreme Plan	Up to ₹1 lakh per eye	Adult: 18 to 65 years Child: 91 days to 25 years
Star Family Health Optima Insurance Plan	Up to ₹75,000	Adult: 18 to 65 years Child: 16 days to 25 years
Tata AIG Health SuperCharge Plan	Up to ₹1.6 lakh per eye	Adult: 18 to 65 years Child: 16 days to 26 years
United India Family Medicare Plan	10% of the SI or up to ₹50,000 per eye	Adult: 18 to 65 years Child: 91 days to 17 years
Universal Sompo A Plus Health Insurance Plan	Up to the SI limit	Adult: 18 to 75 years Child: 16 days to 25 years
Zuno Health Insurance Plan	Up to the SI limit	Adult: 18 years onwards Child: 16 days to 26 years
Zurich Kotak Health Premier Plan	10% of the SI or up to ₹1 lakh per eye	Adult: 18 to 65 years Child: 91 days to 25 years

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*Disclaimer: The list mentioned is according to the alphabetical order of the insurance companies. Policybazaar does not endorse, rate or recommend any particular insurer or insurance product offered by any insurer. This list of plans listed here comprise of insurance products offered by all the insurance partners of Policybazaar. For complete list of insurers in India refer to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India website www.irdai.gov.in.

Inclusions of Health Insurance for Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery insurance coverage includes the following:

In-patient hospitalization expenses
Day care procedures
Pre-hospitalization expenses
Post-hospitalization expenses
AYUSH day care treatments

Exclusions of Health Insurance for Cataract Surgery

The following expenses are not covered by cataract surgery medical insurance plans:

OPD expenses
Routine eye examinations
Non allopathic treatment
Unproven treatments
Dietary supplements and substances

Precautions to Take After a Cataract Surgery

Follow the precautions below after undergoing a cataract surgery:

Do not splash water in the eyes after the surgery
Do not rub your eyes
Use an eye shield at night for at least a week
Use eye drops suggested by your doctor
Use sunglasses or eye shield while stepping out in the sun
Use an eye shield to cover your eyes from soap and shampoo
Do not go swimming for at least 4-6 weeks
Do not go to dusty areas
Avoid using eye make-up for at least 4 weeks
Avoid lifting heavy weights or any strenuous exercise or work

FAQs

Q1. Is cataract surgery covered by medical insurance in India?

Yes. Cataract cover in health insurance is offered by all insurance companies in India.
Q2. Does health insurance pay for cataract lens?

Yes. The lens cost is covered by health insurance plans with cataract insurance coverage in India.
Q3. Is there a waiting period to cover cataract surgery under health insurance?

Yes, most health insurance cover cataract surgery after a waiting period of 1 or 2 years. You must go through the terms and conditions of your policy to determine the exact waiting period to cover cataract surgery in health insurance.
Q4. How much can I claim for cataract surgery?

Different health plans have different cataract surgery insurance claim limit. For instance, some plans may accept insurance claim for cataract surgery for up to ₹50,000, while others may offer coverage for up to ₹1 lakh. Hence, you must check your policy documents to know the mediclaim limit for cataract operation.
Q5. Do I have to separately buy an add-on cover for cataract surgery?

No. Most health plans provide cataract eye surgery insurance coverage as a day care procedure after a waiting period of 2 years.

Health insurance companies

View more insurers

Disclaimer: The list mentioned is according to the alphabetical order of the insurance companies. Policybazaar does not endorse, rate or recommend any particular insurer or insurance product offered by any insurer. For complete list of insurers in India refer to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India website www.irdai.gov.in