How much does a Cataract surgery with lens implant typically cost in the United States?

Across 1,780 U.S. hospitals in 52 states, the modeled national fair BaseRate for Cataract surgery with lens implant is $2,626, with most hospital negotiated prices falling between $800 and $5,462.

Why do hospital prices for Cataract surgery with lens implant vary across facilities?

Commercial rates are negotiated individually between hospital systems and insurers, creating wide local dispersion even within the same metro area. Comparing facility-specific cash and in-network rates before scheduling care helps avoid overpaying.

National price data · 1,780 hospitals

Cataract surgery with lens implant cost

What a cataract surgery with lens implant costs across the U.S. — and the fair price to aim for.

Near Fair BaseRate Benchmark

1.00×vs. Fair Market Price

Typical commercial prices here match the fair market benchmark (1.00×) after accounting for local nurse/doctor wages and patient complexity.

86/100 · Verified

86/100Hover Any Check Below to See How Prices Were Audited

File Completeness90

Price Logic88

Peer Alignment86

Clean Billing83

Real Cash Discount84

Regional Value Leader

Balances commercial hospital prices against CMS clinical safety, infection control, and patient experience.

Behavioral Pricing FingerprintMedian-Gamed · High Captive Markup

Loss-Leader / Captive Ancillary Cross-Subsidizer

Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center prices routine shoppable procedures near 0.6× Medicare (p50 0.75×) while skewing captive emergency, lab, and upper-quartile codes to 1.0× Medicare (p75 0.94×, +25% upper-tail jump). Patients scheduling elective outpatient care can capture competitive rates, but emergency and ancillary bills require strict line-item auditing.

#4 of 27 in ID · 11th State Percentile#170 of 3,385 in U.S. · 4th National Percentile

Advantage

Where They're Good (Patient & Payer Edge)

Elective shoppable care is priced 26% below peer Fair BaseRate (0.74×)
Self-pay cash beats commercial insurance on 8% of shoppable procedures (25/100 Cash Honesty)
CMS clinical safety score (68/100 safety score) with 66% patient recommendation
Binding Good Faith Estimate rights under 45 CFR § 149.610 protect self-pay patients before scheduling

Watchout

Where You Can Get Burned (Markup Traps)

Even at low-cost facilities (1.00× Fair BaseRate), out-of-network or unnegotiated chargemaster bills can exceed commercial medians — confirm in-network status or request a self-pay cash quote up front.
Captive ER (1.0×) & laboratory (1.4×) services average 1.67× higher multiples than routine shoppable care (0.6×)
Upper-quartile procedures (Q75 0.94×) jump +25% above the median procedure ratio (Q50 0.75×)
Consolidated metro market (HHI 4,725) limits in-network hospital competition (Highly Concentrated Monopoly (>2,500))

Front-Door ShoppableElective / Imaging

0.6× Medicare

Pre-scheduled outpatient procedures where patients can comparison-shop.

Back-Door Captive & ER1.67× Divergence

1.0× Medicare

Emergency, inpatient DRG, lab, and specialty drug lines billed after admission.

Quantile Tail Spread+25% Upper Tail

Q25 0.38× · Q50 0.75× · Q75 0.94×

Detects median-gaming when upper-quartile codes spike above the p50 median.

Select any lens to inspect department markups, federal cost accounting, or insurer discounts.

Department & Integrity Multiples (vs. CMS Medicare Cost Anchor) Green ≤1.3× · Teal 1.3–1.8× · Amber 1.8–2.5× · Rose >2.5×

Front-Door Shoppable CareFront-Door Shoppable

0.6× MedicareGood

Outpatient Surgery & ORBack-Door Captive

0.8× MedicareGood

Diagnostic Imaging (CT/MRI)Front-Door Shoppable

1.2× MedicareGood

Back-Door Captive ER VisitsBack-Door Captive

1.0× MedicareGood

Inpatient Lab & PathologyBack-Door Captive

1.4× MedicareGood

Specialty & Infusion Drugs (J-Codes)Back-Door Captive

0.7× MedicareGood

Self-Pay Cash Honesty & 501(r)Integrity & Outcomes

8% Cash Edge · 25/100Watchout

CMS Clinical Safety & Star ValueIntegrity & Outcomes

3 CMS · 68/100Fair

National Geographic Price Intelligence · 50-State + DC/PR Cartogram

National State Price Index Heatmap · Cataract surgery with lens implant

State commercial price index vs. U.S. median (1.00×) and average Medicare multiple across all 53 priced states & territories

<0.93× Below Fair Price 0.93–1.05× Near Average 1.05–1.18× Elevated >1.18× High-Cost State

AK2.21× 12.1× Med ME0.39× 2.1× Med WA1.78× 9.8× Med ID0.87× 4.8× Med MT0.96× 5.3× Med ND0.92× 5.1× Med MN0.89× 4.9× Med WI1.02× 5.6× Med MI0.71× 3.9× Med VT0.58× 3.2× Med NH0.83× 4.5× Med OR1.42× 7.8× Med NV1.04× 5.7× Med WY0.35× 1.7× Med SD0.89× 4.9× Med IA0.67× 3.7× Med IL0.98× 5.4× Med IN1.15× 6.3× Med OH0.89× 4.9× Med PA0.92× 5.0× Med NY1.11× 6.1× Med MA1.31× 7.2× Med CA1.16× 6.3× Med UT0.98× 5.4× Med CO1.36× 7.4× Med NE0.90× 5.0× Med MO0.99× 5.4× Med KY0.92× 5.1× Med WV0.35× 1.7× Med VA1.90× 10.5× Med MD1.20× 1.2× Med NJ1.58× 8.7× Med CT1.40× 7.7× Med AZ1.27× 7.0× Med NM1.93× 10.6× Med KS1.00× 5.5× Med AR0.88× 4.8× Med TN1.03× 5.6× Med NC0.89× 4.9× Med SC0.92× 5.1× Med DE1.07× 5.9× Med DC1.80× 9.9× Med RI1.82× 10.0× Med OK1.47× 8.1× Med LA0.82× 4.5× Med MS1.17× 6.4× Med AL0.87× 4.8× Med GA1.68× 9.2× Med HI1.05× 5.8× Med TX0.96× 5.3× Med FL1.68× 9.2× Med PR0.77× 1.1× Med

WV0.35×1.7× Med WY0.35×1.7× Med ME0.39×2.1× Med VT0.58×3.2× Med IA0.67×3.7× Med MI0.71×3.9× Med PR0.77×1.1× Med LA0.82×4.5× Med NH0.83×4.5× Med AL0.87×4.8× Med ID0.87×4.8× Med AR0.88×4.8× Med MN0.89×4.9× Med NC0.89×4.9× Med OH0.89×4.9× Med SD0.89×4.9× Med NE0.90×5.0× Med KY0.92×5.1× Med ND0.92×5.1× Med PA0.92×5.0× Med SC0.92×5.1× Med MT0.96×5.3× Med TX0.96×5.3× Med IL0.98×5.4× Med UT0.98×5.4× Med MO0.99×5.4× Med KS1.00×5.5× Med WI1.02×5.6× Med TN1.03×5.6× Med NV1.04×5.7× Med HI1.05×5.8× Med DE1.07×5.9× Med NY1.11×6.1× Med IN1.15×6.3× Med CA1.16×6.3× Med MS1.17×6.4× Med MD1.20×1.2× Med AZ1.27×7.0× Med MA1.31×7.2× Med CO1.36×7.4× Med CT1.40×7.7× Med OR1.42×7.8× Med OK1.47×8.1× Med NJ1.58×8.7× Med FL1.68×9.2× Med GA1.68×9.2× Med WA1.78×9.8× Med DC1.80×9.9× Med RI1.82×10.0× Med VA1.90×10.5× Med NM1.93×10.6× Med AK2.21×12.1× Med

5 Lowest-Price States (Confounder-Isolated Value Leaders)

WV0.35×(1.7×)WY0.35×(1.7×)ME0.39×(2.1×)VT0.58×(3.2×)IA0.67×(3.7×)

5 Highest-Markup States (Strict Bill Audit Recommended)

AK2.21×(12.1×)NM1.93×(10.6×)VA1.90×(10.5×)RI1.82×(10.0×)DC1.80×(9.9×)

The BaseRate high confidence

$2,626

the fair national price for a cataract surgery with lens implant

typically $800–$5,462 across 1,780 hospitals · how we calculate it

modeled estimate · not a bill or quote

1,780

hospitals priced

states

6.8×

price spread — where shopping matters

5.5×

vs. Medicare

Across 1,780 hospitals in 52 states, a cataract surgery with lens implant has a fair BaseRate of $2,626 and typically costs $800–$5,462. The cheapest state is WV; the priciest is NM.

Cheapest hospitals for a cataract surgery with lens implant

Cataract surgery with lens implant cost by state

AK $5,612 2 hospitals AL $2,211 23 hospitals AR $2,237 16 hospitals AZ $3,226 27 hospitals CA $2,937 142 hospitals CO $3,443 44 hospitals CT $3,561 9 hospitals DC $4,574 2 hospitals DE $2,718 5 hospitals FL $4,266 98 hospitals GA $4,274 50 hospitals HI $2,677 9 hospitals IA $1,699 31 hospitals ID $2,204 8 hospitals IL $2,496 73 hospitals IN $2,930 58 hospitals KS $2,543 35 hospitals KY $2,342 27 hospitals LA $2,090 50 hospitals MA $3,340 20 hospitals ME $982 18 hospitals MI $1,816 59 hospitals MN $2,264 41 hospitals MO $2,507 38 hospitals MS $2,975 22 hospitals MT $2,429 5 hospitals NC $2,271 44 hospitals ND $2,338 6 hospitals NE $2,296 29 hospitals NH $2,097 11 hospitals NJ $4,017 44 hospitals NM $4,908 7 hospitals NV $2,651 17 hospitals NY $2,824 59 hospitals OH $2,249 83 hospitals OK $3,728 31 hospitals OR $3,613 13 hospitals PA $2,326 55 hospitals RI $4,628 3 hospitals SC $2,342 36 hospitals SD $2,267 8 hospitals TN $2,605 47 hospitals TX $2,434 180 hospitals UT $2,500 31 hospitals VA $4,836 44 hospitals VT $1,479 5 hospitals WA $4,529 34 hospitals WI $2,597 68 hospitals WV $779 7 hospitals WY $804 4 hospitals

Inline Bill X-Ray & 501(r) Calculator 501(c)(3) Nonprofit · Free Care ≤200% FPL · AGB Cap 36.3%

Audit a Bill or Quote at U.S. Hospital Benchmark (Zero PHI Required)

Fair BaseRate™ $2,626

Medicare Rate $1,523

Self-Pay Cash Request Quote

Insurer Median $2,540

1. Amount on Your Bill or Quote ($) Pre-filled with U.S. Hospital Benchmark’s charged/list benchmark

2. Household Annual Income ($) Screened against 2026 HHS Federal Poverty Guidelines

3. Household Size (1–8) 2026 FPL: $15,650 + $5,500 per additional person

Step 1 · 501(r) Charity Care Check 501(r) AGB Cap: $2,213 (274% FPL)

Statutory 501(r) AGB Cap Limits Bill to $2,213

At 274% FPL (201%–400% FPL tier), 26 U.S.C. § 501(r)(5) caps FAP-eligible bills at Amounts Generally Billed (36.3% of gross = $2,213).

Step 2 · Cash vs. Insurance Arbitrage Request Prompt-Pay Quote

Compare Prompt-Pay Cash Rate Against Remaining Deductible

Ask U.S. Hospital Benchmark's billing desk for their written 45 CFR § 180 discounted self-pay cash price and Good Faith Estimate under the No Surprises Act.

Step 3 · Fair BaseRate Target +$3,470 Above Fair BaseRate

Negotiate Toward $2,626 Fair BaseRate ($1,523 Medicare)

Your bill ($6,096) is $3,470 above the denoised Fair BaseRate ($2,626) and 4.0× the $1,523 Medicare rate.

1-Click Factual Dispute Summary: Copy a citation-backed benchmark memo (with CMS CCN, CPT code, Medicare reference, Fair BaseRate, and 26 U.S.C. § 501(r) calculations) to paste into patient-portal messages or billing appeals.