Cost of a Cataract Surgery Visit
in Massachusetts
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Massachusetts ranks among the nation's most expensive states for medical procedures, with healthcare costs running approximately 20% above the national average across major metropolitan areas like Boston and Worcester. For Cataract Surgery procedures, patients typically pay between $402.72 and $2,078.19, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $934.66 based on negotiated insurance rates. The state maintains over 1,014 active providers specializing in cataract procedures, giving Massachusetts residents substantial choice when browsing all providers across the Commonwealth.
Average
$1,139
Median
$935
Lowest
$403
Highest
$2,078
Providers
1,014
28% above national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does cataract surgery compare to related procedures in Massachusetts?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $1,061 | $2,196 | $6,051 | 1,004 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $80 | $2,012 | $6,060 | 1,302 |
| Knee Arthroscopy Arthroscopy of the knee with meniscectomy | 29881 | $438 | $892 | $2,410 | 1,023 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $476 | $1,057 | $2,717 | 1,072 |
| Appendectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic appendectomy | 44970 | $80 | $834 | $2,485 | 1,368 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $710 | $1,297 | $3,890 | 1,012 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $456 | $1,001 | $2,788 | 1,010 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $219 | $455 | $1,237 | 1,012 |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair Inguinal hernia repair | 49505 | $397 | $834 | $2,168 | 1,003 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $350 | $988 | $2,408 | 1,009 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $338 | $721 | $1,957 | 1,008 |
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 Massachusetts
These hospitals in Massachusetts are top-rated for patient satisfaction. Review data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey.
GREAT BARRINGTON, MA
BOSTON, MA
OAK BLUFFS, MA
BOSTON, MA
BOSTON, MA
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 Massachusetts
Massachusetts healthcare costs run approximately 20% above the national average, driven by the concentration of world-renowned academic medical centers, high cost of living, and limited competition among dominant health systems. The Commonwealth's small geographic size masks significant cost variations between urban Boston and rural Berkshire County communities.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Greater Boston concentrates most of Massachusetts's specialty ophthalmology practices, creating access challenges for residents of Western Massachusetts who may travel hours for advanced cataract procedures. Rural areas like the Berkshires and Pioneer Valley have fewer surgical options, potentially driving patients to academic medical centers with premium pricing. This geographic concentration can inflate costs as patients have limited local alternatives.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient clinics affiliated with Partners HealthCare (now Mass General Brigham), Beth Israel Lahey Health, and other major systems typically charge facility fees that can double the total cost of cataract consultations. Independent ambulatory surgery centers and private practice ophthalmologists generally offer more competitive pricing but may have limited availability for complex cases requiring academic medical center resources.
Insurance Market Competition in Massachusetts
The state's insurance market is dominated by just three major players - Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Tufts Health Plan, and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care - which can limit competitive pressure on negotiated rates with providers. This concentrated market structure, combined with the bargaining power of large health systems, tends to maintain higher baseline costs for specialty procedures. Limited insurer competition means patients have fewer options to find lower-cost coverage for expensive procedures.
Physician Supply and Demand in Massachusetts
With over 1,014 active Cataract Surgery providers, Massachusetts has among the highest ophthalmologist-to-population ratios in the nation, suggesting adequate supply relative to demand. However, many of these specialists are concentrated in academic medical centers and may not accept all insurance plans or offer competitive cash-pay rates. The abundance of subspecialty-trained surgeons can drive up average costs as patients gravitate toward premium providers.
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 Massachusetts
What is the average cost of a Cataract Surgery visit in Massachusetts without insurance?
Does Massachusetts Medicaid cover Cataract Surgery visits?
How do I find an affordable Cataract Surgery near me in Massachusetts?
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 Massachusetts?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Cataract Surgery in Massachusetts?
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 |