Cost of a Cataract Surgery Visit
in North Dakota
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
North Dakota's healthcare landscape features strong integration between major health systems like Sanford Health and Essentia Health, creating coordinated care networks across the state's rural expanse. For Cataract Surgery procedures, patients typically pay between $80 and $1,609, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $746 based on actual negotiated rates from insurance transparency data. The state currently has 41 active Cataract Surgery providers serving both urban centers like Fargo-Moorhead and remote agricultural communities, allowing patients to browse all providers throughout North Dakota.
Average
$812
Median
$746
Lowest
$80
Highest
$1,609
Providers
41
9% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does cataract surgery compare to related procedures in North Dakota?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $1,198 | $1,894 | $3,475 | 37 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $91 | $91 | $2,019 | 455 |
| Knee Arthroscopy Arthroscopy of the knee with meniscectomy | 29881 | $331 | $752 | $1,591 | 43 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $691 | $6,146 | $6,146 | 470 |
| Appendectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic appendectomy | 44970 | $80 | $800 | $1,767 | 55 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $610 | $1,240 | $2,597 | 40 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $381 | $849 | $1,627 | 42 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $237 | $399 | $820 | 38 |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair Inguinal hernia repair | 49505 | $437 | $709 | $1,537 | 39 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $478 | $885 | $1,820 | 40 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $319 | $596 | $2,591 | 38 |
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 North Dakota
North Dakota's healthcare costs run approximately 4% above the national average, driven primarily by the state's rural geography and limited provider competition in many regions. The state's oil boom has created unique economic pressures, with higher wages and costs of living in western counties affecting healthcare pricing throughout the region.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
The Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area and Bismarck-Mandan region concentrate most of North Dakota's ophthalmology specialists, while vast rural areas rely on visiting providers or telehealth consultations. Patients in remote counties like Slope or Sheridan may drive over 200 miles to reach a Cataract Surgery specialist, often necessitating overnight stays that add to total treatment costs. This urban concentration creates higher demand and pricing in metro areas while limiting access and increasing travel costs for rural residents.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Major health systems like Sanford Health, Essentia Health, and CHI St. Alexius dominate North Dakota's healthcare landscape, operating most hospital-based ophthalmology departments with higher overhead costs reflected in pricing. Independent ophthalmology practices are less common but may offer competitive rates, particularly in larger cities where they compete directly with health system facilities. Ambulatory surgery centers, which handle most cataract procedures, are primarily owned by hospitals or health systems, limiting price competition compared to states with more independent surgical facilities.
Insurance Market Competition in North Dakota
BCBS ND holds the largest market share, followed by Sanford Health Plan and UHC, creating limited insurer competition that can result in higher negotiated rates for specialty services. This concentration gives dominant insurers significant leverage in rate negotiations, but also means fewer options for consumers seeking lower-cost coverage alternatives. The state's small population and rural geography make it less attractive for new insurance market entrants, maintaining the current competitive structure that affects Cataract Surgery pricing statewide.
Physician Supply and Demand in North Dakota
With 41 active Cataract Surgery providers serving a population of approximately 780,000, North Dakota maintains adequate specialist coverage in urban areas but faces shortages in rural regions. This distribution creates longer wait times and higher costs in underserved areas while maintaining competitive pricing in Fargo and Bismarck where multiple providers compete for patients. The state's aging population and oil industry workers with comprehensive insurance create steady demand that supports specialist practices but may drive pricing above national averages in some markets.
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 North Dakota
What is the average cost of a Cataract Surgery visit in North Dakota without insurance?
Does North Dakota Medicaid cover Cataract Surgery visits?
How do I find an affordable Cataract Surgery near me in North Dakota?
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 North Dakota?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Cataract Surgery in North Dakota?
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 |