Cost of a Cataract Surgery Visit
in Colorado
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Colorado's competitive ambulatory surgery center market in Denver and surrounding areas has created diverse pricing options for cataract surgery patients across the state. Patients typically pay between $85 and $2,114 for Cataract Surgery procedures, with a median cost of $808. With over 1,400 active Cataract Surgery providers throughout Colorado, patients can browse all providers in Colorado to find quality care that fits their budget.
Average
$1,003
Median
$808
Lowest
$85
Highest
$2,114
Providers
1,468
13% above national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does cataract surgery compare to related procedures in Colorado?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $1,136 | $2,049 | $3,475 | 1,282 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $940 | $1,978 | $3,328 | 1,345 |
| Knee Arthroscopy Arthroscopy of the knee with meniscectomy | 29881 | $452 | $805 | $1,326 | 1,321 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $90 | $940 | $1,635 | 1,256 |
| Appendectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic appendectomy | 44970 | $85 | $789 | $1,421 | 1,461 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $85 | $1,202 | $2,204 | 1,315 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $526 | $855 | $1,567 | 1,308 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $85 | $385 | $694 | 1,441 |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair Inguinal hernia repair | 49505 | $441 | $712 | $1,242 | 1,269 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $85 | $877 | $1,561 | 1,292 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $364 | $629 | $1,110 | 1,293 |
Important: These are cost estimates only — not a quote and not medical advice.
The prices on this page are self-pay rates, drawn from federal Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files (CPT 66984 — Extracapsular cataract removal with insertion of intraocular lens). They represent what a patient might pay without insurance.
Your actual cost depends on: your specific insurance plan, your remaining deductible, your coinsurance percentage, whether you have met your out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility and provider are both in-network, and any separate anesthesia or implant fees billed independently.
This page does not constitute medical advice. Whether you need this procedure, and which approach is right for you, is a decision to make with a licensed healthcare provider.
Where this data comes from & what CPT 66984 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 66984 (Extracapsular cataract removal with insertion of intraocular lens), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 66984 covers: the provider's professional fee for cataract surgery. It does not include facility/hospital fees, anesthesia, pre-operative imaging, post-operative care, or any add-on codes billed separately.
How to read this data
Negotiated Rate
The discounted price an insurer has agreed to pay a specific provider. Most insured patients' bills are calculated from this number, not the higher list price hospitals publish separately.
P5, Median, P95
P5 is the rate at the 5th percentile (low end), Median is the middle value, and P95 is the 95th percentile (high end). This range shows how much the same visit can vary between providers.
What this does not tell you
These rates do not tell you what you personally will pay out of pocket. That depends on your specific plan, how much of your deductible you have already met, your coinsurance rate, and whether the provider is in your network. Call your insurer's member line to get your exact estimate.
Top-Rated Hospitals in Colorado
These hospitals in Colorado are top-rated for patient satisfaction. Review data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey.
DURANGO, CO
FRISCO, CO
LAKEWOOD, CO
GRAND JUNCTION, CO
CORTEZ, CO
Hospital ratings are based on HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) survey data published by CMS.
Why Cataract Surgery Visit Costs Vary Across Colorado
Colorado's Cataract Surgery costs run approximately 7% above the national average, reflecting the state's growing population and concentrated specialist availability in the Denver-Boulder metropolitan corridor. The state's mix of urban medical centers and rural mountain communities creates significant geographic disparities in both access and pricing for eye care services.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
The Denver metro area and Colorado Springs concentrate most of the state's Cataract Surgery specialists, while rural counties in the mountains and eastern plains often require patients to travel significant distances for care. This geographic concentration allows urban areas to maintain competitive pricing through provider competition, while rural areas may have limited options and higher costs. Some rural Colorado residents travel to larger cities for surgery, adding travel expenses to their overall care costs.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Colorado's robust ambulatory surgery center network, particularly around Denver, often provides more cost-effective options compared to hospital-based outpatient departments. Major health systems like UCHealth, Presbyterian/St. Joseph, and SCL Health operate both hospital and freestanding surgery centers with different pricing structures. Independent surgery centers specializing in eye procedures typically offer the most transparent and competitive pricing for routine cataract surgery.
Insurance Market Competition in Colorado
The presence of major insurers including UnitedHealthCare, Anthem, and Kaiser Permanente creates competitive negotiated rates for Cataract Surgery services across Colorado. Kaiser's integrated model provides different pricing dynamics compared to traditional fee-for-service insurers in the market. The state's competitive insurance marketplace has generally resulted in broader provider networks and more negotiating power for better rates.
Physician Supply and Demand in Colorado
With over 1,400 active Cataract Surgery providers statewide, Colorado maintains adequate specialist availability relative to its population, though distribution favors urban areas. This healthy supply in metro Denver helps keep wait times reasonable and maintains competitive pricing pressure among providers. However, subspecialty services and complex cases may still experience longer scheduling delays due to concentrated expertise at major academic centers like the University of Colorado.
Jayant Panwar
CEO, Momentary Labs · San Francisco, CA
Jayant has analyzed healthcare pricing data from CMS Transparency in Coverage files since 2022, covering more than 50 million negotiated rate records across all 50 states. His work focuses on making insurer machine-readable files accessible to patients and researchers.
The cost figures on this page reflect his ongoing work to make this data accessible to patients.
Frequently Asked Questions — Cataract Surgery Costs in Colorado
What is the average cost of a Cataract Surgery visit in Colorado without insurance?
Does Colorado Medicaid cover Cataract Surgery visits?
How do I find an affordable Cataract Surgery near me in Colorado?
What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?
Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Cataract Surgery visit in Colorado?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Cataract Surgery in Colorado?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 66984)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin Range: $80 – $10,062 | $3,412 |
| 2 | Wyoming Range: $667 – $2,130 | $1,240 |
| 3 | Rhode Island Range: $448 – $2,135 | $1,181 |
| 4 | Massachusetts Range: $403 – $2,078 | $1,139 |
| 5 | Montana Range: $85 – $2,744 | $1,127 |
| 6 | Delaware Range: $343 – $2,135 | $1,056 |
| 7 | Nebraska Range: $641 – $1,313 | $1,055 |
| 8 | Washington Range: $616 – $1,521 | $1,034 |
| 9 | New Hampshire Range: $528 – $1,548 | $1,023 |
| 10 | New York Range: $364 – $2,135 | $1,005 |
| 11 | Colorado Range: $85 – $2,114 | $1,003 |
| 12 | New Mexico Range: $474 – $1,551 | $982 |
| 13 | Alaska Range: $85 – $2,135 | $972 |
| 14 | Georgia Range: $93 – $2,005 | $970 |
| 15 | Connecticut Range: $70 – $2,135 | $961 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania Range: $85 – $2,135 | $946 |
| 17 | Maine Range: $643 – $1,123 | $945 |
| 18 | North Carolina Range: $390 – $1,609 | $940 |
| 19 | California Range: $85 – $1,401 | $899 |
| 20 | Nevada Range: $415 – $1,453 | $892 |
| 21 | District of Columbia Range: $414 – $1,311 | $871 |
| 22 | Vermont Range: $403 – $1,548 | $865 |
| 23 | Iowa Range: $85 – $1,313 | $861 |
| 24 | Oregon Range: $85 – $1,687 | $858 |
| 25 | North Dakota Range: $80 – $1,609 | $812 |
| 26 | Mississippi Range: $430 – $1,451 | $806 |
| 27 | Minnesota Range: $90 – $1,548 | $800 |
| 28 | Utah Range: $85 – $1,209 | $791 |
| 29 | New Jersey Range: $364 – $1,380 | $790 |
| 30 | South Carolina Range: $327 – $1,383 | $785 |
| 31 | Illinois Range: $418 – $1,200 | $771 |
| 32 | Alabama Range: $418 – $1,195 | $767 |
| 33 | Idaho Range: $85 – $1,348 | $743 |
| 34 | Tennessee Range: $418 – $1,090 | $741 |
| 35 | Hawaii Range: $85 – $1,386 | $739 |
| 36 | Louisiana Range: $226 – $1,345 | $730 |
| 37 | South Dakota Range: $95 – $1,313 | $729 |
| 38 | West Virginia Range: $85 – $1,409 | $721 |
| 39 | Maryland Range: $477 – $1,083 | $714 |
| 40 | Kansas Range: $502 – $912 | $711 |
| 41 | Virginia Range: $360 – $1,157 | $710 |
| 42 | Indiana Range: $70 – $1,385 | $708 |
| 43 | Kentucky Range: $85 – $1,313 | $691 |
| 44 | Missouri Range: $502 – $811 | $680 |
| 45 | Ohio Range: $335 – $1,087 | $678 |
| 46 | Texas Range: $85 – $1,210 | $662 |
| 47 | Michigan Range: $85 – $1,073 | $645 |
| 48 | Arkansas Range: $85 – $1,042 | $624 |
| 49 | Arizona Range: $448 – $898 | $614 |
| 50 | Oklahoma Range: $85 – $960 | $525 |
| 51 | Florida Range: $35 – $964 | $351 |