Published: September 28, 2026 Updated: September 29, 2026
- Medicare Part B covers many expenses related to essential surgical procedures, but it doesn’t cover surgeries that aren’t medically necessary (sometimes called elective surgeries), like cosmetic procedures, unless they serve a medical purpose. Medicare Part A will cover associated hospital stay costs of inpatient surgery.
Undergoing surgery of any kind can be a scary proposition. And when surgery is needed or recommended by your doctor, it’s natural to worry about how much it’s going to cost. If you have Medicare coverage, the amount you’ll pay depends on whether the procedure is inpatient or outpatient, how long you stay in the hospital, and the type of procedure (whether it’s medically necessary or not). Read on to find out what and how Medicare pays for surgery and the types of surgeries it does—and doesn’t—cover.
What surgery expenses does Medicare cover?
Medicare covers many expenses related to essential surgical procedures, but it doesn’t cover surgeries that aren’t medically necessary (sometimes called elective surgeries), like cosmetic procedures, unless they serve a medical purpose. For example, Medicare will cover an eye lift if the droopy lids impact vision.
The type of procedure and recovery time are two main factors that determine what your Medicare plan will cover.
Medicare Part A: Inpatient surgery coverage
Medicare Part A covers expenses related to your hospital stay as an inpatient. The amount you’ll pay depends on your recovery time. You won’t incur any coinsurance if your inpatient stay lasts between one and 60 days (as long as you or your spouse paid into Medicare for 40 quarters while working, which about 99% of people do). However, if there are complications and you spend more time in the hospital, you could find yourself liable for coinsurance.
If your hospital stay extends beyond 60 days, days 61 to 90 will cost you $434 per day in coinsurance in 2026. If your hospital stay exceeds 90 days, you’ll pay $868 for every “lifetime reserve” day you spend in the hospital in 2026. If you are still in the hospital after exhausting your “lifetime reserve days,” Medicare Part A will no longer cover your expenses.
This might sound scary, but such long hospital stays are far from the norm. According to Face the Facts USA, the average hospital stay in the United States is just 4.9 days. That’s only slightly longer than Mexico, which reports the shortest average hospital stays out of all Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries at 3.9 days. Even Americans requiring major surgeries like liver transplants and open-heart procedures are typically home in around seven days. That doesn’t mean people needing surgery don’t stay in the hospital longer than 60 days, but the number of people who do is very rare.
Medicare Part B: Outpatient surgery coverage
Medicare Part B covers doctor services, including those related to surgery, some kinds of oral surgery, and other care you’ll receive as an outpatient. Medicare Part B will usually pay 80% of your eligible bills, leaving you to pay the remaining 20 percent coinsurance, according to the Medicare website. For instance, hernia surgery is typically performed on an outpatient basis. The average cost for laparoscopic hernia surgery is about $5,000. If you need this surgery, Medicare will pay $4,000, and you will pay $1,000 if you have no additional coverage (if you need inpatient surgery, that would be covered by Medicare Part A).
If you have Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap), this policy may also cover some expenses related to your surgery. All Medigap plans cover Part A coinsurance on long hospital stays. Many also cover all or part of Part B coinsurance and Part A and Part B deductibles.
Types of surgeries covered by Medicare
Medicare, by law, is required to cover surgeries that are medically necessary to treat, manage, or diagnose an injury or medical condition. Procedures that are cosmetic, performed for comfort, or not medically necessary are usually denied. For example, Medicare covers breast reconstruction after a necessary mastectomy, but not when done strictly for cosmetic purposes.
Does Medicare cover cataract surgery?
Yes. Cataract surgery is considered medically necessary and covered under Part B as an outpatient procedure. You’ll pay your Part B deductible ($283 in 2026), if you haven’t already, along with your 20 percent coinsurance for the procedure. Medicare covers the remaining 80 percent. You’ll also pay extra if you opt for an upgrade from the standard cataract lens replacement in one or both eyes. Medicare also covers one pair of eyeglasses or contacts after surgery.
Does Medicare cover bariatric surgery?
Medicare covers bariatric surgery for beneficiaries who meet specific medical criteria; generally, this means you need to have a BMI of 35 or higher, at least one obesity-related health condition (like type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure), and a documented history of unsuccessful nonsurgical weight-loss attempts. Coverage falls under Part A or Part B depending on whether the procedure is done inpatient or outpatient. You’ll also owe any deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments if you have no other Medicare coverage.
Does Medicare cover oral surgery?
Generally, no. Routine dental and oral surgery falls outside Original Medicare’s standard coverage. The exception is oral surgery that’s considered medically necessary in connection with a covered medical procedure. This can include jaw reconstruction following an accident or tooth extractions required to treat an infection before treatments like:
- Dialysis,
- Chemotherapy,
- Organ or bone marrow transplant,
- Heart valve replacement.
When Medicare covers these treatments, you’re responsible for your Part B deductible and 20 percent of the total cost. Many private Medicare Advantage plans offer coverage for more routine dental procedures.
What surgeries does Medicare not cover?
Medicare doesn’t cover elective or cosmetic procedures that aren’t medically necessary. This includes:
- LASIK and other nonmedically necessary vision-correction surgeries,
- Routine cosmetic work,
- Most elective weight-loss procedures (unless your doctor documents a medical justification),
- Surgeries that Medicare deems experimental or lack broad clinical trial approval,
- Elective birth control like a vasectomy.
How Medigap plans help with Medicare surgery coverage
While Medicare covers a lot of expenses for many surgeries, you could be left spending hundreds or more on an upcoming procedure. Medigap plans, however, cover many of those costs including Part A coinsurance and deductibles, your Part B coinsurance, and doctor and facility fees. This could add up to real savings, especially if you know you’ll be needing one or more surgeries in the coming year.
Reach out to a licensed United Medicare Advisors agent who can help you understand your current Medicare surgical coverage and offer supplemental options should you need future procedures.
