Cataract Surgery Cost in North Carolina (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay

What does a cataract surgery cost in North Carolina?

You could pay $2,238 or $2,807 for the same cataract surgery in North Carolina - depending entirely on which facility you choose. The median cash price across 35 reporting hospitals is $2,242. This data comes directly from hospital price transparency files published under federal law.

Where cataract surgery costs vary in North Carolina

Pins show hospitals with price-transparency data (colored by vs. state average) and nearby ambulatory surgery centers, imaging centers, and other facilities (colored by type). Click any pin for facility name and estimated cost range.

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Atrium Health (formerly Carolinas HealthCare) and Wake Forest Baptist Health have merged into one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the Southeast. Duke Health and UNC Health anchor the Research Triangle academic tier, creating a market where major academic centers hold outsized pricing leverage. North Carolina has been an active target for FTC scrutiny of hospital consolidation. 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

A small number of hospitals (6) report prices above $5,078, including Catawba Valley Health System at $8,087, which drives most of the overall spread - excluding them, most facilities cluster in a much tighter band. Setting matters too: the median outpatient price is $2,242 versus $7,387 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.

Frequently asked questions: cataract surgery costs in North Carolina

How much does a cataract surgery cost in North Carolina?

Across 35 North Carolina hospitals that publish prices, a cataract surgery ranges from $328 to $23,680, with a median of $2,242. Most facilities fall between $2,238 and $2,807. 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 North Carolina?

Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our North Carolina data is Iredell Memorial Hospital, Inc. at about $559. By metro, Winston-Salem has the lowest median ($2,238). Freestanding ambulatory surgery and imaging 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 North Carolina hospitals?

Prices vary up to 72.2× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In North Carolina, the median cash (self-pay) price is $2,242 versus a median negotiated rate of $2,205 - about 1× higher. Asking for the cash price or 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 North Carolina?

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.

CostKits compiles hospital price transparency data to help families make informed decisions. Track and manage your healthcare costs (free account).