Cost of a Cataract Surgery Visit
in Iowa
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Iowa's rural healthcare landscape creates unique access patterns for specialty care, with many patients traveling to urban centers for specialized procedures. Cataract Surgery patients in Iowa typically pay between negotiated insurance rates of $85 and $1,313, with median out-of-pocket costs varying significantly based on coverage and provider selection. With 296 active Cataract Surgery providers across the state, patients have options to compare costs and find quality care within their insurance networks throughout Iowa.
Average
$861
Median
$1,186
Lowest
$85
Highest
$1,313
Providers
296
3% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does cataract surgery compare to related procedures in Iowa?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $95 | $2,935 | $4,753 | 309 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $91 | $2,938 | $3,950 | 320 |
| Knee Arthroscopy Arthroscopy of the knee with meniscectomy | 29881 | $452 | $1,174 | $1,680 | 311 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $90 | $1,428 | $3,082 | 337 |
| Appendectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic appendectomy | 44970 | $85 | $1,304 | $2,810 | 369 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $85 | $1,912 | $3,576 | 341 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $549 | $1,426 | $1,627 | 255 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $95 | $640 | $705 | 270 |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair Inguinal hernia repair | 49505 | $457 | $1,131 | $2,449 | 317 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $85 | $1,392 | $3,021 | 333 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $361 | $933 | $1,068 | 260 |
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 Iowa
These hospitals in Iowa are top-rated for patient satisfaction. Review data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey.
ORANGE CITY, IA
BELMOND, IA
CLARION, IA
MARENGO, IA
ALGONA, IA
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 Iowa
Iowa's healthcare costs run approximately 9% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower cost of living and competitive rural healthcare market. The concentration of major medical centers in Des Moines, Iowa City, and Cedar Rapids creates cost efficiencies, while smaller communities often rely on regional referral patterns that can affect pricing structures.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Most of Iowa's Cataract Surgery specialists practice in the Des Moines metro, Iowa City, or Cedar Rapids areas, requiring rural patients to travel significant distances for specialized eye care. This geographic concentration allows urban practices to maintain higher surgical volumes and potentially lower per-case costs. Rural Iowa residents may face additional travel and lodging expenses that effectively increase their total cost of care.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Iowa's major health systems like UnityPoint Health and MercyOne operate hospital-based surgery centers with higher overhead costs than independent ambulatory facilities. Academic centers at the University of Iowa Hospitals offer advanced techniques but typically charge premium rates for complex cases. Independent surgery centers in suburban areas often provide the most cost-effective option for routine cataract procedures.
Insurance Market Competition in Iowa
Wellmark BCBS holds dominant market share across Iowa, with UnitedHealthcare and Aetna providing limited competition primarily in urban counties. This concentration can result in less aggressive rate negotiations between insurers and providers compared to more competitive markets. Rural areas particularly lack insurer competition, potentially leading to higher negotiated rates for specialty services.
Physician Supply and Demand in Iowa
With 296 active Cataract Surgery providers serving Iowa's 3.2 million residents, the state maintains adequate specialist availability in urban areas but faces shortages in rural regions. This geographic mismatch creates longer wait times in underserved areas while urban practices may offer more competitive pricing due to higher volumes. The University of Iowa's ophthalmology residency program helps maintain steady specialist supply for the region.
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 Iowa
What is the average cost of a Cataract Surgery visit in Iowa without insurance?
Does Iowa Medicaid cover Cataract Surgery visits?
How do I find an affordable Cataract Surgery near me in Iowa?
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 Iowa?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Cataract Surgery in Iowa?
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 |