UnitedHealthcare (UHC) is expanding its glaucoma surgical treatment policy to include goniotomy, trabeculotomy,
ab interno canaloplasty, combined (ab interno) canaloplasty, and trabeculotomy procedures, beginning October 1 of this year. The new policy will cover adults (age 19 years or more) when deemed medically necessary for treating mild to moderate open-angle glaucoma and cataract in adults currently being treated with ocular hypotensive medication. It will apply to approximately 30 million people under both UHC’s commercial and individual plans.

According to UnitedHealthcare’s revised policy, minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) device coverage now explicitly includes iStent products (Glaukos) and Hydrus Microstent (Alcon) when used in combination with cataract surgery for patients with mild to moderate open-angle glaucoma. Glaucoma drainage devices (GDDs) such as XEN gel stent (Allergan/AbbVie), Ex-Press mini shunt (Alcon), Molteno implant, Baerveldt glaucoma implant (Johnson and Johnson Vision), Ahmed Glaucoma Valve (New World Medical), and Krupin-Denver valve (Hood Labs) are approved for refractory cases. The policy also confirms continued coverage for the Omni Surgical System (Sight Sciences), and includes the Streamline Surgical System (New World Medical), which also combines canaloplasty and trabeculotomy.

The expanded coverage policy can be reviewed at https://www.uhcprovider.com/content/dam/provider/docs/public/policies/index/commercial/glaucoma-surgical-treatments-10012025.pdf. GP