Cost of a Cataract Surgery Visit
in Pennsylvania
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Pennsylvania's healthcare market, dominated by major health systems in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, supports a robust network of 984 active Cataract Surgery providers across the Commonwealth. Patients typically pay between $85 and $2,134 for cataract surgery procedures, with a median negotiated rate of $618. Pennsylvania residents benefit from expanded Medicaid coverage and competitive insurance markets, making specialized eye care accessible throughout both urban centers and rural counties.
Average
$946
Median
$618
Lowest
$85
Highest
$2,135
Providers
984
7% above national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does cataract surgery compare to related procedures in Pennsylvania?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $909 | $1,551 | $6,051 | 916 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $80 | $1,379 | $6,060 | 1,270 |
| Knee Arthroscopy Arthroscopy of the knee with meniscectomy | 29881 | $366 | $623 | $2,410 | 933 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $98 | $709 | $1,984 | 1,021 |
| Appendectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic appendectomy | 44970 | $80 | $632 | $1,669 | 1,389 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $85 | $975 | $3,201 | 983 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $434 | $719 | $2,160 | 910 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $149 | $317 | $742 | 968 |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair Inguinal hernia repair | 49505 | $333 | $562 | $1,448 | 914 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $250 | $705 | $2,642 | 976 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $317 | $537 | $1,957 | 914 |
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 Pennsylvania
These hospitals in Pennsylvania are top-rated for patient satisfaction. Review data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey.
WASHINGTON, PA
ROYERSFORD, PA
YORK, PA
WYOMISSING, PA
MUNCY, PA
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 Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's healthcare costs run approximately 9% above the national average, reflecting the state's concentration of academic medical centers and urban healthcare markets. The Commonwealth's mix of densely populated corridors and expansive rural regions creates distinct cost patterns across different geographic areas.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Pennsylvania's major metropolitan areas around Philadelphia and Pittsburgh offer numerous cataract surgery options with competitive pricing, while rural counties in central and northern Pennsylvania may have fewer providers and longer travel distances. Rural patients often face higher costs due to limited competition and may need to travel to urban centers for specialized procedures or premium lens options.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Large health systems like UPMC, Jefferson Health, and Penn Medicine operate hospital-based surgery centers with higher overhead costs than independent ambulatory surgery centers throughout Pennsylvania. These academic and hospital-affiliated centers may charge premium rates but often provide access to the latest surgical technology and complex case expertise.
Insurance Market Competition in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania benefits from robust competition between major insurers including Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Independence Blue Cross, and UnitedHealthcare, which helps keep negotiated rates competitive. The state's insurance marketplace offers multiple plan options, though rural areas may have fewer insurer choices than metropolitan regions like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
Physician Supply and Demand in Pennsylvania
With 984 active Cataract Surgery providers statewide, Pennsylvania maintains a relatively strong supply of ophthalmologists relative to its population of 13 million residents. This adequate provider supply helps moderate pricing in most markets, though wait times for non-urgent procedures may still extend several weeks in popular practice locations.
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 Pennsylvania
What is the average cost of a Cataract Surgery visit in Pennsylvania without insurance?
Does Pennsylvania Medicaid cover Cataract Surgery visits?
How do I find an affordable Cataract Surgery near me in Pennsylvania?
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 Pennsylvania?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Cataract Surgery in Pennsylvania?
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 |