DEAR SUN SPOTS: Is cataract surgery covered by medical insurance, including Medicare and MaineCare? — No name, no town

ANSWER: It’s important to be familiar with your individual plan and to contact your provider using the phone number on your health insurance card for specific information. Cataract surgery is often medically necessary so most private health insurance companies will partially, or entirely, cover basic cataract surgery.

Medicare (under Medicare Part B) also covers the surgery. You can receive basic lens replacement, paid in full by Medicare up to $2,000, or opt to apply that amount to replacement lenses that also correct vision and pay the difference. Medicare will also cover corrective glasses or contacts required post-procedure.

Aside from your Medicare Part B deductible and 20% co-insurance payment, it’s possible to have surgery without any out-of-pocket costs.

My understanding is that MaineCare does cover cataract surgery, according to its online benefits summary.

“MaineCare reimburses ophthalmologists performing cataract surgery at a rate, including surgery and follow-up care. If, however, follow-up care is provided by an optometrist, that visit may not be billed additionally to MaineCare.”

The information above can be found in 10-144 Ch. 101 Mainecare Benefits Manual Chapter II-75.05-I.

Please take the time to make a phone call to get the specifics you need. If you need further help with this, your primary care physician may be able to offer you assistance.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I have an old and very dear large oil painting that needs some restoration. It lived in a house with lots of smoking so it could use some cleaning. More important, the painting is on a canvas board and the canvas is pulling away from the board in one spot. This painting was done by my grandmother, and it is my absolute favorite. The frame could use some restoration as well. The artwork itself is in fine shape, it’s really the canvas backing I’m concerned about. Do you have any suggestions? — No name, Auburn

ANSWER: Fogg Art Restoration (https://www.foggartrestoration.com/) should be able to help you. They are in Wiscasset at 22 Two Bridge Road. You can contact them at 882-9805 Tuesday through Saturday. The email is foggart@roadrunner.com. It may be helpful to take some good photos of your precious painting and send them in an email with an explanation of what you would like to have accomplished.

Renaissance Fine Art Restoration at 69 Main St. in Bucksport https://renaissance-fine-art-restoration.business.site/) may be another choice. Call them at 479-5475. They’re open Wednesday  through Saturday.

A local person who you may want to call upon to have a look at the painting is Daniel Soules at Daniel Buck Auctions at 501 Lisbon St. in Lisbon Falls (http://www.danielbuckauctions.com/our-services/). You can reach him Monday through Friday at 407-1444. He is another resource that has assisted me with answers for Sun Spotters countless times over the years.

If anyone knows of a restoration expert in the L-A area or has other tips to share regarding the restoration of this painting, please write in!

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name. We won’t use it if you ask us not to. Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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