Cost of a Cataract Surgery Visit
in Missouri
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Missouri's healthcare market operates with costs approximately 5% below national averages, benefiting from moderate insurer competition and a solid network of eye care specialists across the state. Cataract Surgery patients typically pay between $501 and $810, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $727. With over 5,200 active Cataract Surgery providers throughout Missouri, patients can browse specialists from Kansas City's major medical centers to rural clinics serving smaller communities.
Average
$680
Median
$728
Lowest
$502
Highest
$811
Providers
5,258
23% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does cataract surgery compare to related procedures in Missouri?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $1,272 | $1,915 | $2,246 | 5,186 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $1,274 | $1,917 | $2,249 | 5,286 |
| Knee Arthroscopy Arthroscopy of the knee with meniscectomy | 29881 | $507 | $761 | $892 | 5,187 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $623 | $1,127 | $1,300 | 5,243 |
| Appendectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic appendectomy | 44970 | $551 | $966 | $1,185 | 5,445 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $822 | $1,163 | $1,375 | 5,264 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $573 | $821 | $954 | 5,176 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $268 | $480 | $559 | 5,242 |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair Inguinal hernia repair | 49505 | $493 | $892 | $1,027 | 5,182 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $516 | $824 | $946 | 5,250 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $402 | $614 | $726 | 5,183 |
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 Missouri
These hospitals in Missouri are top-rated for patient satisfaction. Review data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey.
LAMAR, MO
MONETT, MO
AURORA, MO
LEXINGTON, MO
CHILLICOTHE, MO
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 Missouri
Missouri's healthcare costs run approximately 5% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower cost of living and competitive insurance market dynamics. The Show-Me State's mix of urban medical centers and rural communities creates distinct pricing patterns across different regions.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Missouri's two major metropolitan areas, St. Louis and Kansas City, concentrate most specialist ophthalmologists, creating competitive pricing in these markets while rural counties often face provider shortages. Patients in southeast Missouri or the Ozarks may need to travel significant distances for specialized cataract care, potentially adding travel costs but sometimes finding lower procedure fees. The state's geographic spread means some residents face 2-3 hour drives to reach subspecialty eye care centers.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Missouri's dominant health systems like BJC HealthCare in St. Louis and Saint Luke's in Kansas City operate hospital-based ophthalmology clinics with higher overhead costs reflected in their pricing. Independent practice groups throughout the state often offer more competitive rates due to lower administrative overhead and facility costs. Ambulatory surgery centers, which handle most cataract procedures in Missouri, typically charge less than hospital outpatient departments for the same services.
Insurance Market Competition in Missouri
The presence of major insurers including Anthem, UHC, and Cigna creates meaningful competition in Missouri's insurance marketplace, helping to moderate negotiated rates with providers. Regional insurers and provider-sponsored health plans add additional competitive pressure, particularly in the St. Louis and Kansas City markets. This competitive environment generally benefits patients through more reasonable out-of-pocket costs compared to states with limited insurer options.
Physician Supply and Demand in Missouri
With over 5,200 active Cataract Surgery providers serving Missouri's 6.2 million residents, the state maintains adequate specialist availability in urban areas while facing shortages in rural regions. This supply-demand dynamic creates pricing variations, with metropolitan areas offering competitive rates due to provider density and rural areas sometimes commanding premium pricing due to limited options. Wait times for routine cataract consultations typically remain reasonable in major cities but may extend several weeks in underserved rural counties.
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 Missouri
What is the average cost of a Cataract Surgery visit in Missouri without insurance?
Does Missouri Medicaid cover Cataract Surgery visits?
How do I find an affordable Cataract Surgery near me in Missouri?
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 Missouri?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Cataract Surgery in Missouri?
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 |