A study of 38,387 cataract surgeries across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Odisha found that only 16.07% of patients aged 70+ had insurance coverage. Coverage dropped further among those over 90 (7.14%), with elderly women less likely to be insured than men. 

Insurance uptake rose between 20182022 (20.61%) compared to 20112017 (10.65%), largely thanks to Ayushman Bharat reforms. Insured seniors were 1.38 times more likely to achieve successful visual outcomes than the uninsured. 

However, disparities persisted: government-insured patients waited longer and were less likely to receive advanced lenses. Study authors highlight the urgency of reforming senior eye care insurance policies for equitable access and quality.