Cost of a Cataract Surgery Visit
in West Virginia
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
West Virginia's rural geography presents unique challenges for accessing specialized eye care, with many residents traveling significant distances for cataract surgery services. Cataract Surgery patients in the Mountain State typically encounter costs ranging from $85 to $1,409 for the surgical procedure itself, with a median rate of $669. West Virginia maintains an active network of 95 cataract surgery providers across the state, allowing patients to browse options from Charleston's medical centers to smaller regional facilities.
Average
$721
Median
$669
Lowest
$85
Highest
$1,409
Providers
95
19% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does cataract surgery compare to related procedures in West Virginia?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $1,204 | $1,729 | $4,734 | 88 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $90 | $1,677 | $4,590 | 99 |
| Knee Arthroscopy Arthroscopy of the knee with meniscectomy | 29881 | $482 | $691 | $1,901 | 89 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $98 | $707 | $1,650 | 158 |
| Appendectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic appendectomy | 44970 | $85 | $754 | $1,557 | 110 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $85 | $1,094 | $2,122 | 98 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $461 | $780 | $1,698 | 88 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $85 | $355 | $748 | 97 |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair Inguinal hernia repair | 49505 | $381 | $657 | $1,378 | 86 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $366 | $777 | $1,695 | 94 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $342 | $567 | $2,006 | 88 |
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 West Virginia
These hospitals in West Virginia are top-rated for patient satisfaction. Review data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey.
MADISON, WV
BECKLEY, WV
BERKELEY SPRINGS, WV
ROMNEY, WV
WELCH, WV
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 West Virginia
West Virginia's cataract surgery costs run approximately 2% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower overall cost structure and limited urban competition. The Mountain State's challenging geography creates significant disparities in access and pricing between metropolitan areas and remote rural communities.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Charleston, Morgantown, and Huntington concentrate most of West Virginia's high-volume cataract surgeons, while rural counties often lack local ophthalmology services entirely. Rural patients frequently travel 50-100 miles for surgery, adding transportation and lodging costs to their total healthcare expenses. This geographic disparity allows urban providers to maintain higher volumes and potentially offer more competitive pricing than isolated rural practices.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
West Virginia University Medicine and Charleston Area Medical Center operate major hospital-based surgery centers that typically charge higher facility fees than independent ambulatory surgery centers. Independent surgery centers in larger cities often provide more cost-effective options while maintaining equivalent safety standards and surgical outcomes. Rural hospitals may charge premium rates for cataract surgery due to lower procedure volumes and higher per-case overhead costs.
Insurance Market Competition in West Virginia
The dominance of Highmark West Virginia, UnitedHealthcare, and Aetna creates a relatively concentrated insurance market with limited competition compared to larger states. This concentration can result in more standardized coverage policies but may also reduce competitive pressure on negotiated rates with providers. The state's small population and rural geography make it challenging for new insurers to enter the market and compete effectively.
Physician Supply and Demand in West Virginia
With 95 active cataract surgery providers serving a population of approximately 1.8 million residents, West Virginia maintains adequate but geographically uneven access to surgical care. The concentration of providers in university towns and larger cities creates capacity surpluses in urban areas while rural regions experience significant access challenges. This supply imbalance allows urban providers to maintain competitive pricing while rural providers may charge premium rates due to limited local alternatives.
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 West Virginia
What is the average cost of a Cataract Surgery visit in West Virginia without insurance?
Does West Virginia Medicaid cover Cataract Surgery visits?
How do I find an affordable Cataract Surgery near me in West Virginia?
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 West Virginia?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Cataract Surgery in West Virginia?
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 |