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

What does a cataract surgery cost in Madison, WI?

The same cataract surgery in Madison, WI might cost you $626 at one facility and $1,942 at another - the building you walk into drives the difference. The median cash price across 6 reporting hospitals is $1,180. These figures come straight from hospital price transparency files published under federal law.

Where cataract surgery costs vary in Madison, WI

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.

Advocate Aurora Health (formed in the Illinois-Wisconsin merger) and Ascension Wisconsin are the dominant systems in the Milwaukee market, while UW Health anchors the Madison market. Wisconsin's hospital market is moderately competitive in major metros but increasingly concentrated in rural areas. Prices tend to run near or slightly below the Midwest median. 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

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.

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 Madison, WI

How much does a cataract surgery cost in Madison, WI?

Across 6 Madison, WI hospitals that publish prices, a cataract surgery ranges from $504 to $2,357, with a median of $1,180. Most facilities fall between $599 and $1,942. 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 Madison, WI?

Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Madison, WI data is Upland Hills Health in Dodgeville at about $504. By metro, Madison has the lowest median ($1,942). 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 Madison, WI hospitals?

Prices vary up to 4.7× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Madison, WI, the median cash (self-pay) price is $1,180 versus a median negotiated rate of $1,681 - about 0.7× 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 Madison, WI?

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).