Cataract Surgery Cost in Fresno, CA (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay
What does a cataract surgery cost in Fresno, CA?
Where you have a cataract surgery done in Fresno, CA swings the bill from $1,005 to $5,267 for identical care. The median cash price across 5 reporting hospitals is $2,518. The numbers are pulled directly from federally mandated hospital price transparency files. The sections below break this down by coverage and by insurer.
Three low-priced facilities in Fresno, CA, from hospital price files
- Fresno Community Hospital and Medical Center · Fresno, CA $1,005
- Fresno Community Hospital and Medical Center · Clovis, CA $1,005
- Fresno Surgery Center LP · Fresno, CA $4,030
All 5 facilities are listed below, free.
Where cataract surgery costs vary in Fresno, CA
Pins show hospitals with price-transparency data (colored by vs. state average) and nearby ambulatory surgery centers and other facilities (colored by type). Click any pin for facility name and estimated cost range.
26+ people checked prices near them this month.
Insurance covers cataract surgery - but the premium lens it won't cover can add $1,500–$3,000 per eye.
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Cheapest Cataract Surgery Providers in Fresno, CA
Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.
| # | Facility | City | Price | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fresno Community Hospital and Medical Center | Fresno, CA | $1,005 | -$1,513 |
| 2 | Fresno Community Hospital and Medical Center | Clovis, CA | $1,005 | -$1,513 |
| 3 | Fresno Surgery Center LP | Fresno, CA | $4,030 | +$1,512 |
| 4 | Saint Agnes Medical Center | Fresno, CA | $6,504 | +$3,986 |
| 5 | KAISER FOUNDATION HOSPITAL - FRESNO | Fresno, CA | $8,209 | +$5,691 |
Prices are declared self-pay rates. Contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.
Before you book: three questions that change the price
- Is this the self-pay price, and does it include the doctor, anesthesia and any lab or pathology? Those are often billed separately.
- Can you give me the price in writing, with the billing codes it covers?
- What happens to the price if something extra is needed during the procedure?
Estimate your out-of-pocket cost → · When the bills arrive, we check them for errors →
Quick take
- Fresno Community Hospital and Medical Center is the lowest-cost option at $1,005 - $1,513 below the state median, just by choosing where you go.
- Ask for the cash price if your deductible isn't met - the median cash price here is $4,030, and it's often lower than what insurance pays before your deductible is satisfied.
- Freestanding ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) are often 30-60% cheaper than hospital outpatient departments for the same procedure and may not appear in this hospital-only dataset - ask your doctor if one is an option.
| Coverage | Hospitals with a rate | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicare (national rate) | — | $2,358 to $4,223 | $2,358 |
| With insurance (commercial, average) | 4 | $4,983 to $7,632 | $5,148 |
| Without insurance (cash price) | 5 | $1,005 to $7,527 | $4,030 |
| Anthem Blue Cross | 3 | $3,110 to $7,240 | $4,962 |
| Aetna | 3 | $5,491 to $7,120 | $7,120 |
| Cigna | 3 | $3,639 to $9,980 | $9,980 |
Rates are negotiated allowed amounts and cash prices from hospital price-transparency files (October 2026), shown at each hospital’s lowest-priced typical billing code for this procedure. Facility fees only. The typical range is the middle 80% of hospitals, not a quote for your visit.
How much does a cataract surgery cost with Medicare in Fresno, CA?
Medicare's national hospital outpatient payment for cataract surgery is about $2,358 to $4,223 (typically near $2,358). After the $257 Part B deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, about $472 on a $2,358 payment, with no out-of-pocket cap unless you have supplemental coverage or a Medicare Advantage plan.
Doctor, anesthesia and pathology fees are billed separately. Medicare rates are national CMS amounts, adjusted slightly by local wage levels.
How much does a cataract surgery cost with insurance in Fresno, CA?
Across 4 Fresno, CA hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for cataract surgery average $4,983 to $7,632 per hospital, with a median near $5,148. That is the amount your plan and you pay the hospital together; you owe your deductible, then coinsurance, up to your out-of-pocket maximum.
Each hospital’s figure is the average of the commercial insurers it lists. Medicare, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid rates are excluded.
How much does a cataract surgery cost without insurance in Fresno, CA?
Cash (self-pay) prices for cataract surgery at 5 Fresno, CA hospitals range from $1,005 to $7,527, with a median of $4,030. Ask for the cash or self-pay price and for any financial-assistance discount before you book; both can be lower than the posted price.
Cash prices are the hospital’s published discounted rate for patients paying without insurance.
How much does a cataract surgery cost with Anthem Blue Cross in Fresno, CA?
Anthem Blue Cross negotiated rates for cataract surgery at 3 Fresno, CA hospitals range from $3,110 to $7,240, with a median near $4,962. Your own cost depends on your plan’s deductible and coinsurance, and on whether the hospital is in your network.
Includes Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Anthem plans listed by each hospital.
How much does a cataract surgery cost with Aetna in Fresno, CA?
Aetna negotiated rates for cataract surgery at 3 Fresno, CA hospitals range from $5,491 to $7,120, with a median near $7,120. If a hospital is out of network for your Aetna plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.
How much does a cataract surgery cost with Cigna in Fresno, CA?
Cigna negotiated rates for cataract surgery at 3 Fresno, CA hospitals range from $3,639 to $9,980, with a median near $9,980. If a hospital is out of network for your Cigna plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.
California has the most competitive commercial hospital market in the country, with aggressive multi-system competition in every major metro driving meaningful price variation. Kaiser Permanente's integrated payer-provider model covers roughly 40% of the insured population in the state - if you're Kaiser-enrolled, the prices here largely don't apply. California's robust price transparency enforcement under SB 1204 means the data here is more complete than in most states. Medicare covers cataract surgery at a defined allowed amount wage-adjusted for your location - the main cost variable isn't geography but lens type. Standard monofocal lenses are fully covered; premium multifocal or toric lenses add $1,500–$3,000 per eye out-of-pocket regardless of insurance. Ambulatory surgery centers consistently charge less than hospital outpatient departments for the identical procedure.
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Why prices vary - and what it means for your coverage
Setting matters too: the median outpatient price is $2,518 versus $8,209 inpatient (about 3.3× more), so where a procedure happens often matters more than which hospital you pick. Setting drives most of the spread here: an ambulatory surgical center (ASC) is usually meaningfully cheaper than a hospital operating room for the same procedure, when your case qualifies.
On top of the facility price, your actual bill depends on your deductible, your out-of-pocket maximum, and whether every provider involved - not just the facility - is in-network.
| Your situation | Estimated out-of-pocket |
|---|---|
| Deductible not yet met | ~$2,518 |
| Deductible met - 20% coinsurance | ~$504 |
| Out-of-network provider | $5,540+ |
Frequently asked questions: cataract surgery costs in Fresno, CA
How much does a cataract surgery cost in Fresno, CA?
The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $496, with most facilities between $41 and $928 (based on 6 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Full market pricing - including cash rates, gross charges, and outlier facilities - ranges more widely, from $8 to $8,209 across all 5 Fresno, CA hospitals that publish prices. What you pay depends on the facility, your insurance, and whether you have met your deductible.
Where is the cheapest place to get a cataract surgery in Fresno, CA?
Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Fresno, CA data is REEDLEY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL at about $8. By metro, Fresno has the lowest median ($5,267). Freestanding ambulatory surgery centers are often cheaper still and may not appear in hospital price data - ask your doctor whether one is an option.
Why is a cataract surgery so much cheaper at some Fresno, CA hospitals?
Prices vary up to 1026.1× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Fresno, CA, the median cash (self-pay) price is $4,030 versus a median negotiated rate of $5,148 - cash is the lower number at many hospitals. Asking for the cash price as well as your insurer's negotiated rate is often the single biggest lever on what you pay.
How much will I actually pay out of pocket for a cataract surgery in Fresno, CA?
Your out-of-pocket cost depends on your deductible, coinsurance, out-of-pocket maximum, and whether the facility is in-network - not just the sticker price. If you have not met your deductible, you will typically pay the negotiated rate in full until you do. Use the CostKits cost forecaster to estimate your specific out-of-pocket amount before you go.
Before you book
- How to read your medical bill
- How to stop medical bill problems before they start
- How to negotiate your medical bills
- Allowed amount vs negotiated rate: what your EOB is really saying
- How to read a Medicare Summary Notice
Other procedures in Fresno, CA
Cataract Surgery, elsewhere
What matters before you schedule
ASC vs. hospital
Hospital outpatient departments typically charge 2-4x more than ambulatory surgery centers for the same cataract surgery - same outcome, very different bill. Call ahead and ask for a self-pay or cash quote at each setting you're considering.
What's on your bill
A cataract surgery involves multiple providers who bill separately - typically Facility Fee, Surgeon Professional Fee, Anesthesia. Check each line item against your Explanation of Benefits to catch billing errors.
Cost by type
Which type your doctor orders for this cataract surgery changes the billing code, and what you pay. For example: A recognized variation that can change the billing code and what you owe.
What to ask before you book
Get the CPT code from your doctor, confirm every provider involved (not just the facility) is in-network, ask for the cash-pay rate if you're uninsured or haven't met your deductible, and request a written estimate for cataract surgery before you schedule.
CostKits compiles hospital price transparency data to help families make informed decisions. Track and manage your healthcare costs (free account).
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About the Author
John Caruso, FSA, MAAA
Healthcare actuary with 20+ years of experience in insurance pricing, medical billing systems, and healthcare cost analytics.
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