Cataract surgery cost in California
In California, 58 hospitals publish a cash price for cataract surgery with lens implant: from $936.62 to $37,598.58, with a median of $5,044.00. The lowest price is at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles). The highest price is 40.1× the lowest.
- The median here, $5,044.00, is 30% above the US median of $3,876.10.
- California ranks 28th of 36 states by median, cheapest first.
- 6 of 58 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
California law (Health and Safety Code §127405): if you are uninsured or have high medical costs and your family income is at or below 400% of the federal poverty level, a hospital may not expect you to pay more than it would expect from Medicare or Medi-Cal, whichever is greater. That can be less than the cash prices below; ask the hospital for its discount payment policy. A separate physician fee may still apply. Other states' laws.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 66984. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Nov 8, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$936.62Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Median$5,044.00half of hospitals charge less
Highest$37,598.58in California
Lowest saves$4,107.38vs the median
Hospitals in California, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center lowest Los Angeles · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Outpatient Surgical Group 8 | $936.62 | $1,440.95 | Nov 26, 2025 source file |
| Bear Valley Community Hospital Big Bear Lake · Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA CATARACT EXCAP W/ INSERT OF LENS 1 STAGE | $1,823.50 | $2,605.00 | Jun 11, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Green Hospital La Jolla · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA HC Cataract Rml W/Iol 1 Stg | $1,943.50 | $7,774.02 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas Encinitas · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA HC Cataract Rml W/Iol 1 Stg | $1,943.50 | $7,774.02 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla La Jolla · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA HC Cataract Rml W/Iol 1 Stg | $1,943.50 | $7,774.02 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista San Diego · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA HC Cataract Rml W/Iol 1 Stg | $1,943.50 | $7,774.02 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego San Diego · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA HC Cataract Rml W/Iol 1 Stg | $1,943.50 | $7,774.02 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Oroville Hospital Oroville · Chico, CA Removal of cataract with insertion of lens | $2,538.00 | $5,076.00 | — source file |
| Centinela Hospital Medical Center Inglewood · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Xcapsl ctrc rmvl w/o ecp | $2,953.00 | $12,115.40 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Encino Hospital Medical Center Encino · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Xcapsl ctrc rmvl w/o ecp | $2,953.00 | $5,180.18 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| La Palma Intercommunity Hospital La Palma · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Xcapsl Ctrc Rmvl W/O Ecp | $2,953.00 | $12,508.10 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Paradise Valley Hospital National City · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Xcapsl ctrc rmvl w/o ecp | $2,953.00 | $16,498.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| St Jude Hospital Fullerton · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA HC CATARACT REMOVE W/IOL ETRACAPSULAR | $4,018.56 | $8,372.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| NorthBay Medical Center Fairfield · Vallejo, CA Cataract Surg W/Iol 1 Stage | $4,025.00 | $4,025.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Modoc Medical Center Alturas · Alturas, CA Removal of cataract with insertion of prosthetic lens | $4,434.49 | $4,434.49 | Sep 28, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Baldwin Park Baldwin Park · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $5,044.00 | $9,700.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Downey Downey · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $5,044.00 | $9,700.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Fontana Fontana · Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $5,044.00 | $9,700.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Los Angeles Los Angeles · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $5,044.00 | $9,700.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Moreno Valley Moreno Valley · Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $5,044.00 | $9,700.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Orange County - Anaheim Anaheim · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $5,044.00 | $9,700.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Panorama City Panorama City · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $5,044.00 | $9,700.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Riverside Riverside · Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $5,044.00 | $9,700.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Clairemont Mesa San Diego · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $5,044.00 | $9,700.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Zion San Diego · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $5,044.00 | $9,700.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Marcos San Marcos · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $5,044.00 | $9,700.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South Bay Harbor City · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $5,044.00 | $9,700.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - West LA Los Angeles · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $5,044.00 | $9,700.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Woodland Hills Woodland Hills · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $5,044.00 | $9,700.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Fnd Hospital - Irvine Irvine · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $5,044.00 | $9,700.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Ontario Medical Center Campus Ontario · Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $5,044.00 | $9,700.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Riverside University Medical Center Moreno Valley · Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA HC Extracap Cataract Rmvl W Insert Intraoc Lens | $6,080.42 | $6,080.42 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Keck Hospital of USC Los Angeles · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Xcapsl Ctrc Rmvl Insj Io Lens Prosth W/O Ecp | $7,774.00 | $7,774.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital & Rehab Center - Vallejo Vallejo · Vallejo, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $8,624.00 | $15,400.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Antioch Antioch · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $8,624.00 | $15,400.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Fremont Fremont · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $8,624.00 | $15,400.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Fresno Fresno · Fresno, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $8,624.00 | $15,400.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Manteca Manteca · Stockton-Lodi, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $8,624.00 | $15,400.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Modesto Modesto · Modesto, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $8,624.00 | $15,400.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Oakland/Richmond Oakland · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $8,624.00 | $15,400.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Redwood City Redwood City · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $8,624.00 | $15,400.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Roseville Roseville · Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $8,624.00 | $15,400.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Sacramento Sacramento · Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $8,624.00 | $15,400.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Francisco San Francisco · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $8,624.00 | $15,400.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Jose San Jose · San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $8,624.00 | $15,400.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Leandro San Leandro · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $8,624.00 | $15,400.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Rafael San Rafael · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $8,624.00 | $15,400.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Santa Clara Santa Clara · San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $8,624.00 | $15,400.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Santa Rosa Santa Rosa · Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $8,624.00 | $15,400.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South Sacramento Sacramento · Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $8,624.00 | $15,400.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South San Francisco South San Francisco · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $8,624.00 | $15,400.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Vacaville Vacaville · Vallejo, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $8,624.00 | $15,400.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Walnut Creek Walnut Creek · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $8,624.00 | $15,400.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Fnd Hospital - Richmond Campus Richmond · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA XCAPSL CTRC RMVL INSJ IO LENS PROSTH W/O ECP | $8,624.00 | $15,400.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Ridgecrest Regional Hospital one side Ridgecrest · Bakersfield-Delano, CA Xcapsl ctrc rmvl w/o ecp | $9,532.53 | $17,985.90 | Nov 6, 2026 source file |
| Mad River Community Hospital Arcata · Eureka-Arcata, CA CATARACT SURGERY W/IOL STAGE | $12,304.09 | $12,304.09 | Jul 22, 2025 source file |
| Pacifica Hospital of the Valley Sun Valley · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Removal of cataract with insertion of lens | $27,945.00 | $27,945.00 | — source file |
| UC San Diego Medical Center San Diego · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Removal of cataract with insertion of lens | $37,598.58 | $68,361.06 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Hospital The hospital that published the price, its city and the line exactly as written in its price file.
Cash price The hospital's own price for a patient paying without insurance (“discounted cash” in its price file). Hospitals must publish it under federal law, 45 CFR 180.50. Call to confirm it before booking. More
List price The hospital's full chargemaster price (“gross charge”) before any discount. Almost nobody pays it; the gap to the cash price shows what the self-pay discount is worth. More
File date When the hospital last updated its price file, as the file says itself. A dash means the file gives no date.
No cash discount This line's cash price equals the hospital's full list price. Many hospitals still reduce bills for uninsured patients: ask the billing office for its self-pay discount in writing. More
Check the item The description in the hospital file looks like a supply or device (a catheter, a brace, an implant), not this procedure. The hospital may have filed it under the wrong code: ask before relying on this price.
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 16 | $936.62 | $5,044.00 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 10 | $1,943.50 | $2,448.25 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 10 | $8,624.00 | $8,624.00 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 6 | $1,823.50 | $5,044.00 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 3 | $8,624.00 | $8,624.00 |
| Vallejo, CA | 3 | $4,025.00 | $8,624.00 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 2 | $8,624.00 | $8,624.00 |
| Alturas, CA | 1 | $4,434.49 | $4,434.49 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 1 | $9,532.53 | $9,532.53 |
| Chico, CA | 1 | $2,538.00 | $2,538.00 |
| Eureka-Arcata, CA | 1 | $12,304.09 | $12,304.09 |
| Fresno, CA | 1 | $8,624.00 | $8,624.00 |
| Modesto, CA | 1 | $8,624.00 | $8,624.00 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 1 | $8,624.00 | $8,624.00 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 1 | $8,624.00 | $8,624.00 |
Market A metro area (as the Census Bureau defines it) or, outside metro areas, a town. Each links to every hospital price there.
Hospitals How many hospitals publish a cash price for this code here. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price.
Lowest The lowest cash price among those hospitals.
Median The middle cash price: half of the hospitals charge less, half charge more. One price per hospital. More
What cataract surgery is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Cataract surgery explained.
Cataract surgery with lens implant in other states
- Alabama$2,377.70
- Alaska$5,374.00, 1 hospital
- Arizona$2,362.30
- Arkansas$2,385.65
- Colorado$5,804.80
- Connecticut$6,898.50, 3 hospitals
- Delaware$2,812.63, 2 hospitals
- Florida$4,592.37
- Georgia$10,558.00
- Hawaii$4,096.40, 4 hospitals
- Idaho$4,309.38
- Illinois$5,765.89
- Indiana$5,261.29
- Iowa$4,570.40
- Kansas$2,831.10
- Kentucky$4,459.21
- Louisiana$2,141.91
- Maine$1,778.70, 3 hospitals
- Massachusetts$9,170.17
- Michigan$2,786.53
- Minnesota$3,244.01
- Mississippi$3,215.10
- Missouri$4,458.95
- Montana$1,824.71
- Nebraska$3,621.00
- New Hampshire$1,347.34, 1 hospital
- New Jersey$3,043.33
- New Mexico$2,717.00, 1 hospital
- New York$2,698.92
- North Carolina$3,380.05
- North Dakota$3,496.52
- Ohio$7,459.54
- Oklahoma$3,433.23
- Oregon$5,314.97
- Pennsylvania$3,698.84
- Puerto Rico$937.50, 2 hospitals
- South Carolina$2,565.00
- South Dakota$4,389.08, 4 hospitals
- Tennessee$2,985.73
- Texas$4,003.33
- Utah$3,153.97, 4 hospitals
- Vermont$3,650.00, 3 hospitals
- Virginia$6,522.66
- Washington$3,637.30
- West Virginia$2,755.00
- Wisconsin$4,048.18
- Wyoming$2,310.21, 3 hospitals
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.