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

What does a cataract surgery cost in North Dakota?

You could pay $573 or $2,043 for the same cataract surgery in North Dakota - depending entirely on which facility you choose. The median cash price across 15 reporting hospitals is $787. This data comes directly from hospital price transparency files published under federal law.

Where cataract surgery costs vary in North Dakota

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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Sanford Health and CHI St. Alexius divide most of North Dakota's hospital market, with Bismarck and Fargo each effectively dominated by one system. The state's oil-economy wage growth has increased hospital labor costs, pushing prices above what the rural market structure would otherwise suggest. Critical access hospitals cover most of the rural tier. 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 $787 versus $564 inpatient, 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.

None of the prices above are what you'll necessarily owe: your deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, and each provider's network status all still apply.

Frequently asked questions: cataract surgery costs in North Dakota

How much does a cataract surgery cost in North Dakota?

Across 15 North Dakota hospitals that publish prices, a cataract surgery ranges from $324 to $10,934, with a median of $787. Most facilities fall between $556 and $2,043. 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 Dakota?

Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our North Dakota data is PAM Cubed Rehabilitation Hospital of Fargo LLC in Fargo at about $503. By metro, Fargo has the lowest median ($555). 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 Dakota hospitals?

Prices vary up to 33.7× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In North Dakota, the median cash (self-pay) price is $787 versus a median negotiated rate of $500 - about 1.6× 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 Dakota?

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).