Cost of a Cataract Surgery Visit
in Rhode Island
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Rhode Island's compact healthcare market features concentrated provider networks primarily serving the Providence metropolitan area, with 58 active Cataract Surgery specialists across the state. Patients typically pay between $448 and $2,135 for Cataract Surgery procedures, with a median cost of $960 based on negotiated insurance rates. The Ocean State's small geographic footprint means residents can access specialists throughout the state, allowing patients to browse all Cataract Surgery providers in Rhode Island for the best combination of cost and convenience.
Average
$1,181
Median
$960
Lowest
$448
Highest
$2,135
Providers
58
33% above national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does cataract surgery compare to related procedures in Rhode Island?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $1,136 | $2,323 | $6,051 | 57 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $80 | $1,978 | $6,060 | 74 |
| Knee Arthroscopy Arthroscopy of the knee with meniscectomy | 29881 | $452 | $895 | $2,410 | 58 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $91 | $1,006 | $1,921 | 66 |
| Appendectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic appendectomy | 44970 | $80 | $884 | $1,752 | 79 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $85 | $1,277 | $3,201 | 60 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $555 | $1,052 | $2,160 | 56 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $239 | $441 | $742 | 58 |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair Inguinal hernia repair | 49505 | $440 | $858 | $1,521 | 57 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $509 | $1,087 | $2,642 | 61 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $364 | $877 | $1,957 | 58 |
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 Rhode Island
Rhode Island's healthcare costs run approximately 13% above the national average, reflecting the state's higher cost of living and concentrated provider market. The Ocean State's small size creates unique dynamics where most specialists are clustered in the Providence metropolitan area, limiting competition but ensuring access for the majority of residents.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Nearly 80% of Rhode Island's Cataract Surgery specialists practice in the Providence-Warwick metropolitan area, with limited options in rural areas like Washington County. This concentration means rural residents often travel to urban centers for specialized care, though the state's small size keeps travel distances manageable. The provider density in urban areas creates more pricing competition, while rural areas may have higher costs due to limited options.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient surgery centers affiliated with major health systems like Lifespan and Care New England typically have higher facility fees than independent ambulatory surgery centers. Rhode Island's Certificate of Need regulations historically limited the development of competing facilities, contributing to higher facility costs in some markets. Many patients find significant savings by choosing independent surgery centers for their cataract procedures when clinically appropriate.
Insurance Market Competition in Rhode Island
The Rhode Island insurance market features moderate competition between Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island, UnitedHealthcare, and Tufts Health Plan, with BCBS maintaining the largest market share. This concentration gives major insurers significant negotiating power with providers, resulting in fairly standardized reimbursement rates across the state. The limited number of major insurers can sometimes result in narrow networks that restrict patient choice of specialists.
Physician Supply and Demand in Rhode Island
With 58 active Cataract Surgery providers serving approximately 1.1 million residents, Rhode Island has adequate specialist coverage concentrated in urban areas. This supply-to-population ratio is slightly above the national average, which helps moderate pricing pressure compared to specialist-shortage markets. Wait times for routine cataract surgery are generally reasonable, though urgent cases may require scheduling flexibility to find the earliest available appointment.
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 Rhode Island
What is the average cost of a Cataract Surgery visit in Rhode Island without insurance?
Does Rhode Island Medicaid cover Cataract Surgery visits?
How do I find an affordable Cataract Surgery near me in Rhode Island?
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 Rhode Island?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Cataract Surgery in Rhode Island?
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 |