$35 is a common charge. Since Medicare considers it a "non-covered" service, you gotta pay. They'll cover the looking in the eyes, diagnosing retinal problems, etc., but not prescribing lens (except once after cataract removal). It's handled like cnon-covered cosmetic surgery in a sense. Sucks, but those are the rules.

when Mom had her cataracts removed last year he refused to give her a prescription. He said she could use "readers". She has found readers to be inconvenient and she can't really find the right strength.

Isn't diagnosing a need for lenses, a normal part of his job. Why would he even think to charge that to Medicare? Prior to Mom's cataract surgery she saw this same Doctor and he prescribed lenses but never charged for the prescription. Is this new? It's really ridiculous.

when my eye doctor gives me a prescription, I am never charged for it. But the drugstore pharmacy charges me dearly, as I don't have the plan D prescription coverage.

Also, I had cataract surgery in one eye and will have surgery in the other eye this coming Tuesday. I don't have supplemental coverage, so I am having pay a few hundred dollars out of pocket to pay the 20% deductible that Medicare does not cover. But thanks to Medicare, I am able to get the surgery.

It seems to me the writing of the prescription is part and parcel of the general visit charge.That seems kinda of like double billing. If your mother is going to be seeing them on an ongoing basis, you may want to check this out. Medicare can be reached at 1-800-633-4227. I'm my mother's money handler. And deal with her Medicare Summary Notices (EOB). That is where the number is from. And of course, I could be wrong about this!

Hope your mom does well with the treatments. My mother has been having the treatments in both eyes for a few years now. Once you start, it is important to maintain the regime. And if she ends up requiring the treatment in both eye, you may want keep your own personal record on a calender to keep track as to which eye has been treated when. During my mother's course of treatments, one was cancelled for weather. Her next appointment came up and they continued as if no appointment had been missed. This resulted in one eye being skipped and that resulted in rapid progression in the missed eye.

Good luck!

my Mom has a medicare advantage plan and not the traditional medicare coverage, though it has to follow all the same rules. I am going to call her carrier.

you got ripped off.

My sister and I share guardian duties for our mother. We are starting our 3rd year caring for her. If you ever have any questions or just need to chat about it, feel free to DUmail me. I may not have answers, but I can always listen!

Please, update this thread when you get an answer from her carrier!

One in each eye. His wet eye isn't responding to treatment - he's virtually blind. The dry one seems to be stable.