Cost of a Cataract Surgery Visit
in District of Columbia
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
District of Columbia operates as both a state and urban center with one of the nation's highest concentrations of medical specialists per capita, creating a unique healthcare environment. Cataract Surgery patients typically pay between $413.57 and $1,310.70, with a median negotiated rate of $887.39 based on insurer agreements with 318 active providers. The District's compact geography and high provider density offer patients numerous options, allowing them to browse all Cataract Surgery specialists within this concentrated medical market.
Average
$871
Median
$887
Lowest
$414
Highest
$1,311
Providers
318
2% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does cataract surgery compare to related procedures in District of Columbia?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $1,061 | $2,323 | $3,475 | 309 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $1,045 | $2,286 | $3,311 | 318 |
| Knee Arthroscopy Arthroscopy of the knee with meniscectomy | 29881 | $443 | $927 | $1,591 | 314 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $511 | $1,109 | $1,618 | 326 |
| Appendectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic appendectomy | 44970 | $413 | $1,016 | $1,405 | 334 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $647 | $1,525 | $3,201 | 348 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $461 | $1,057 | $1,588 | 311 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $220 | $479 | $681 | 315 |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair Inguinal hernia repair | 49505 | $381 | $901 | $1,221 | 308 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $434 | $1,066 | $1,611 | 317 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $328 | $739 | $1,686 | 310 |
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.
Why Cataract Surgery Visit Costs Vary Across District of Columbia
District of Columbia's cataract surgery costs run approximately 20% above national averages, reflecting the area's high cost of living and concentration of prestigious medical institutions. The District's unique position as both a federal district and urban center creates a healthcare market with significant federal employee influence and academic medical center presence.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
As a fully urban district, DC lacks rural areas, but residents in surrounding Maryland and Virginia suburbs often travel to the District for specialized care. This geographic concentration creates high provider density within a small area, giving patients multiple options within short distances. The compact geography also means less variation in facility overhead costs compared to states with vast rural territories.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Major medical centers like George Washington University Hospital and MedStar Washington Hospital Center operate surgical facilities with higher overhead costs than independent eye surgery centers. Academic medical centers in the District often charge premium rates due to their teaching hospital status and advanced equipment investments. Standalone ambulatory surgery centers specializing in eye procedures typically offer more competitive pricing structures.
Insurance Market Competition in District of Columbia
The insurance landscape features CareFirst BCBS, UHC, and Aetna as dominant players, creating a moderately concentrated market with standardized negotiated rates. Federal Employee Health Benefits plans represent a significant portion of coverage in the District, often featuring generous benefits for surgical procedures. This federal employee influence helps maintain competitive reimbursement rates across providers.
Physician Supply and Demand in District of Columbia
With 318 active Cataract Surgery providers serving a relatively small population, District of Columbia enjoys high physician density compared to national averages. This abundance of specialists creates competitive pressure on pricing and typically shorter wait times for procedures. The concentration of medical expertise also attracts patients from surrounding areas, maintaining steady demand despite high provider numbers.
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 District of Columbia
What is the average cost of a Cataract Surgery visit in District of Columbia without insurance?
Does District of Columbia Medicaid cover Cataract Surgery visits?
How do I find an affordable Cataract Surgery near me in District of Columbia?
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 District of Columbia?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Cataract Surgery in District of Columbia?
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 |