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

What does a cataract surgery cost in Rhode Island?

Where you have a cataract surgery done in Rhode Island swings the bill from $927 to $1,129 for identical care. The median cash price across 5 reporting hospitals is $989. The numbers are pulled directly from federally mandated hospital price transparency files.

Where cataract surgery costs vary in Rhode Island

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.

Lifespan (Rhode Island Hospital, Miriam Hospital) and Care New England (Women & Infants, Kent Hospital) dominate a market that is effectively a single metro area - Providence and its immediate suburbs. Rhode Island approved a merger between the two systems, which when complete will create a near-monopoly in the state's hospital market. Prices here already trend above the Northeast average. 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 (1) report prices above $1,542, including Rhode Island Hospital at $2,432, 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.

What you pay out of pocket on top of this depends on your deductible, your plan's out-of-pocket maximum, and whether every provider involved is in-network - not just the facility.

Frequently asked questions: cataract surgery costs in Rhode Island

How much does a cataract surgery cost in Rhode Island?

Across 5 Rhode Island hospitals that publish prices, a cataract surgery ranges from $805 to $20,234, with a median of $989. Most facilities fall between $912 and $1,129. 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 Rhode Island?

Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Rhode Island data is Newport Hospital in Newport at about $805. By metro, Providence has the lowest median ($989). 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 Rhode Island hospitals?

Prices vary up to 25.1× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Rhode Island, the median cash (self-pay) price is $989 versus a median negotiated rate of $989 - 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 Rhode Island?

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).