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

What does a cataract surgery cost in Pennsylvania?

Where you have a cataract surgery done in Pennsylvania swings the bill from $728 to $1,579 for identical care. The median cash price across 68 reporting hospitals is $970. The numbers are pulled directly from federally mandated hospital price transparency files.

Where cataract surgery costs vary in Pennsylvania

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.

26+ people checked prices near them this month.

Pennsylvania has a highly fragmented hospital market - Penn Medicine, Jefferson Health, Temple Health, and Tower Health compete in Philadelphia; UPMC and Highmark/Allegheny Health Network are engaged in one of the country's most litigated payer-provider disputes in Pittsburgh. The UPMC vs. Highmark conflict has directly affected patients' ability to use their insurance at in-network facilities. Rural Pennsylvania prices are substantially lower than the two major metro markets. 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 (5) report prices above $3,764, including Wayne Memorial Hospital at $8,033, 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 $970 versus $1,515 inpatient (about 1.6× 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.

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 Pennsylvania

How much does a cataract surgery cost in Pennsylvania?

Across 68 Pennsylvania hospitals that publish prices, a cataract surgery ranges from $312 to $24,495, with a median of $970. Most facilities fall between $662 and $1,579. 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 Pennsylvania?

Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Pennsylvania data is Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center at about $325. By metro, Pittsburgh has the lowest median ($606). 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 Pennsylvania hospitals?

Prices vary up to 78.5× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Pennsylvania, the median cash (self-pay) price is $970 versus a median negotiated rate of $602 - 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 Pennsylvania?

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).