Cataract Surgery Cost in Boulder, CO (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay
What does a cataract surgery cost in Boulder, CO?
You could pay $845 or $1,095 for the same cataract surgery in Boulder, CO - depending entirely on which facility you choose. The median cash price across 4 reporting hospitals is $922. This data comes directly from hospital price transparency files published under federal law. The sections below break this down by coverage and by insurer.
Three low-priced facilities in Boulder, CO, from hospital price files
- Boulder Community Health · Boulder, CO $880
- AdventHealth Avista · Louisville, CO $965
- GOOD SAMARITAN MEDICAL CENTER, LLC DBA $2,269
All 4 facilities are listed below, free.
Where cataract surgery costs vary in Boulder, CO
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.
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Insurance covers cataract surgery - but the premium lens it won't cover can add $1,500–$3,000 per eye.
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- ✓ Why the standard lens is covered but a toric/multifocal upgrade is billed directly to you
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Cheapest Cataract Surgery Providers in Boulder, CO
Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.
| # | Facility | City | Price | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boulder Community Health | Boulder, CO | $880 | -$42 |
| 2 | AdventHealth Avista | Louisville, CO | $965 | +$43 |
| 3 | GOOD SAMARITAN MEDICAL CENTER, LLC DBA | CO | $2,269 | +$1,347 |
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
- Boulder Community Health is the lowest-cost option at $880 - $42 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 $922, and it's often lower than what insurance pays before your deductible is satisfied.
- Ask whether this procedure can be done at a freestanding ambulatory surgical center - they're typically 30-60% cheaper than a hospital for identical care, and most aren't in this hospital-only dataset.
| Coverage | Hospitals with a rate | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicare (national rate) | — | $2,358 to $4,223 | $2,358 |
| With insurance (commercial, average) | 3 | $2,535 to $3,796 | $3,654 |
| Without insurance (cash price) | 4 | $638 to $1,878 | $922 |
| Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield | 3 | $1,617 to $4,766 | $3,654 |
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 Boulder, CO?
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 Boulder, CO?
Across 3 Boulder, CO hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for cataract surgery average $2,535 to $3,796 per hospital, with a median near $3,654. 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 Boulder, CO?
Cash (self-pay) prices for cataract surgery at 4 Boulder, CO hospitals range from $638 to $1,878, with a median of $922. 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 and Blue Shield in Boulder, CO?
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield negotiated rates for cataract surgery at 3 Boulder, CO hospitals range from $1,617 to $4,766, with a median near $3,654. 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.
UCHealth and CommonSpirit Health (formerly SCL Health) dominate the Front Range market, with Centura Health (now Intermountain) adding competition in the Denver corridor. Denver and Boulder wage indices are among the highest in the Mountain West, pushing Medicare-adjusted rates up relative to rural Colorado. The urban-rural price gap in Colorado is one of the widest in the country. 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.
Received a bill? Check it for errors → Estimate YOUR cost before you go → Managing more than one bill? See the family tracker →
Why prices vary - and what it means for your coverage
A small number of hospitals (1) report prices above $2,036, including GOOD SAMARITAN MEDICAL CENTER, LLC DBA at $2,269, which drives most of the overall spread - excluding them, most facilities cluster in a much tighter band. Facility classification matters as much as the hospital itself - a hospital-owned outpatient center adds a facility fee that a freestanding clinic does not. 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 | ~$922 |
| Deductible met - 20% coinsurance | ~$184 |
| Out-of-network provider | $2,028+ |
Frequently asked questions: cataract surgery costs in Boulder, CO
How much does a cataract surgery cost in Boulder, CO?
The typical price is $922, with most facilities between $845 and $1,095. Full market pricing - including cash rates, gross charges, and outlier facilities - ranges more widely, from $534 to $2,269 across all 4 Boulder, CO 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 Boulder, CO?
Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Boulder, CO data is LONGMONT UNITED HOSPITAL in Longmont at about $534. 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 Boulder, CO hospitals?
Prices vary up to 4.2× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Boulder, CO, the median cash (self-pay) price is $922 versus a median negotiated rate of $3,654 - 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 Boulder, CO?
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 an EOB line by line
Other procedures in Boulder, CO
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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