Eye exam (follow-up) cost without insurance
The median hospital cash price for eye exam, returning patient, intermediate is $146.72 across 416 US hospitals; most list between $57.40 and $385.45. The lowest outpatient cash price in any of 200 markets is $18.45. Prices come from each hospital's own price file; pick your area below to compare hospitals side by side.
Collected Nov 11, 2026 Each price links to its source file All Eye exam costs
Compared with Medicare
$136.02 is Medicare's 2026 national base rate for this service in a hospital outpatient department, including the patient's share and before the local wage adjustment. The median hospital cash price, $146.72 across 416 hospitals, is 1.1× that.
Researchers often measure hospital prices as a multiple of Medicare's rate, and it is a concrete number to mention when you ask a hospital for a cash discount. Source: CMS.
Cash or insurance?
If you have insurance but have not met your deductible, you pay the rate your plan negotiated with the hospital, not the cash price. Hospital price files list those rates too: for eye exam (follow-up), the highest negotiated rate in a hospital's file has a median of $270.34 and the lowest a median of $51.34. At 227 of 258 hospitals that publish both, the cash price is below the highest negotiated rate.
With a high deductible, cash can cost less. But a cash payment may not count toward your deductible or out-of-pocket maximum: ask your plan for its rate at that hospital (most have a cost estimator) and whether it will credit a cash payment.
Plan's rate starts at the median highest negotiated rate and cash at the national median; put in your own numbers. Nothing you type leaves your device. To price a whole year with premiums, use the insurance or cash calculator.
What is CPT 92012?
An intermediate eye exam checks a specific problem or follows up a known condition.
What the price covers
The price covers the exam. Refraction for glasses (92015) is often billed separately.
Why prices differ
Private eye clinics and retail optical stores often charge less than hospitals.
What to ask
Ask whether the self-pay price for CPT 92012 includes refraction (92015).
Prices by state
Among 23 states with at least 5 hospitals listing a cash price, the median is lowest in Louisiana ($64.16), Tennessee ($79.80) and Pennsylvania ($80.80), and highest in Idaho ($612.00), Ohio ($304.75) and Florida ($303.83).
Median outpatient cash price, one line per hospital. Pick a state to see every hospital, cheapest first.
- Alabama$129.00, 3 hospitals
- Alaska$240.24, 3 hospitals
- Arizona$163.38, 3 hospitals
- Arkansas$108.60
- California$162.46
- Colorado$120.42, 2 hospitals
- Connecticut$135.00, 1 hospital
- District of Columbia$211.43, 2 hospitals
- Florida$303.83
- Georgia$161.46
- Idaho$612.00
- Illinois$116.80
- Indiana$1,806.68, 2 hospitals
- Iowa$233.10, 3 hospitals
- Kansas$113.19, 1 hospital
- Kentucky$136.50, 1 hospital
- Louisiana$64.16
- Maine$71.72, 2 hospitals
- Massachusetts$155.45
- Michigan$119.60
- Minnesota$100.10
- Mississippi$122.50
- Missouri$113.19
- Montana$118.40, 3 hospitals
- Nebraska$130.00, 3 hospitals
- Nevada$229.00, 1 hospital
- New Jersey$142.76
- New Mexico$111.65, 1 hospital
- New York$230.00
- North Carolina$146.00, 1 hospital
- North Dakota$84.40, 4 hospitals
- Ohio$304.75
- Oklahoma$262.74, 3 hospitals
- Oregon$99.45, 2 hospitals
- Pennsylvania$80.80
- South Carolina$120.25
- South Dakota$75.50, 1 hospital
- Tennessee$79.80
- Texas$196.23
- Vermont$80.47, 2 hospitals
- Virginia$152.50
- Washington$147.75
- West Virginia$81.17
- Wisconsin$95.63
Prices by market
Outpatient cash prices. “×” is how many times the highest price in that market exceeds the lowest.
| Market | Hospitals | Lowest | Median | Highest | × |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron, OH | 4 | $81.75 | $233.00 | $385.45 | 4.7× |
| Albuquerque, NM | 1 | $111.65 | $111.65 | $111.65 | 1.0× |
| Alexandria, LA | 2 | $98.28 | $207.86 | $317.44 | 3.2× |
| Amory, MS single city | 1 | $129.00 | $129.00 | $129.00 | 1.0× |
| Anchorage, AK | 1 | $269.00 | $269.00 | $269.00 | 1.0× |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 1 | $53.20 | $53.20 | $53.20 | 1.0× |
| Antigo, WI single city | 1 | $119.60 | $119.60 | $119.60 | 1.0× |
| Ashland, WI single city | 1 | $23.75 | $23.75 | $23.75 | 1.0× |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 9 | $161.46 | $161.46 | $161.46 | 1.0× |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 1 | $172.26 | $172.26 | $172.26 | 1.0× |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 1 | $161.46 | $161.46 | $161.46 | 1.0× |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 7 | $196.23 | $196.23 | $196.23 | 1.0× |
| Baker City, OR | 1 | $70.20 | $70.20 | $70.20 | 1.0× |
| Bangor, ME | 1 | $94.50 | $94.50 | $94.50 | 1.0× |
| Baraboo, WI | 1 | $205.68 | $205.68 | $205.68 | 1.0× |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 1 | $89.40 | $89.40 | $89.40 | 1.0× |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 5 | $1,046.76 | $1,046.76 | $1,046.76 | 1.0× |
| Beaver Dam, WI | 1 | $66.50 | $66.50 | $66.50 | 1.0× |
| Big Stone Gap, VA single city | 1 | $58.35 | $58.35 | $58.35 | 1.0× |
| Birmingham, AL | 1 | $43.50 | $43.50 | $43.50 | 1.0× |
| Bloomington, IL | 1 | $256.00 | $256.00 | $256.00 | 1.0× |
| Boise City, ID | 2 | $612.00 | $612.00 | $612.00 | 1.0× |
| Bonifay, FL single city | 1 | $53.10 | $53.10 | $53.10 | 1.0× |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 6 | $32.90 | $125.95 | $257.00 | 7.8× |
| Bozeman, MT | 2 | $118.40 | $118.40 | $118.40 | 1.0× |
| Brenham, TX | 1 | $204.08 | $204.08 | $204.08 | 1.0× |
| Brookings, SD | 1 | $75.50 | $75.50 | $75.50 | 1.0× |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 3 | $89.35 | $259.82 | $301.00 | 3.4× |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | 1 | $62.94 | $62.94 | $62.94 | 1.0× |
| Cades, SC single city | 1 | $53.50 | $53.50 | $53.50 | 1.0× |
| Callaway, NE single city | 1 | $208.00 | $208.00 | $208.00 | 1.0× |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | 1 | $385.45 | $385.45 | $385.45 | 1.0× |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | 1 | $362.00 | $362.00 | $362.00 | 1.0× |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 1 | $74.00 | $74.00 | $74.00 | 1.0× |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 13 | $25.08 | $81.25 | $417.00 | 16.6× |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 3 | $204.00 | $204.00 | $332.00 | 1.6× |
| Clarksburg, WV | 1 | $78.00 | $78.00 | $78.00 | 1.0× |
| Cleveland, OH | 20 | $45.15 | $273.35 | $385.45 | 8.5× |
| Clinton, MO single city | 1 | $102.32 | $102.32 | $102.32 | 1.0× |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | 1 | $196.23 | $196.23 | $196.23 | 1.0× |
| Columbia, KY single city | 1 | $136.50 | $136.50 | $136.50 | 1.0× |
| Columbia, MO | 1 | $104.40 | $104.40 | $104.40 | 1.0× |
| Columbus, OH | 2 | $199.24 | $234.62 | $270.00 | 1.4× |
| Cordova, AK single city | 1 | $188.00 | $188.00 | $188.00 | 1.0× |
| Corning, NY | 1 | $138.18 | $138.18 | $138.18 | 1.0× |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 1 | $85.14 | $85.14 | $85.14 | 1.0× |
| Cortland, NY | 1 | $138.18 | $138.18 | $138.18 | 1.0× |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1 | $94.40 | $94.40 | $94.40 | 1.0× |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | 7 | $156.80 | $332.00 | $332.00 | 2.1× |
| DeKalb, MS single city | 1 | $80.73 | $80.73 | $80.73 | 1.0× |
| Delhi, NY single city | 1 | $31.45 | $31.45 | $31.45 | 1.0× |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 2 | $98.48 | $120.42 | $142.35 | 1.4× |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 1 | $85.00 | $85.00 | $85.00 | 1.0× |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 2 | $183.07 | $183.07 | $183.07 | 1.0× |
| Devils Lake, ND single city | 1 | $35.99 | $35.99 | $35.99 | 1.0× |
| Duluth, MN-WI | 1 | $100.10 | $100.10 | $100.10 | 1.0× |
| Duncan, OK | 1 | $262.74 | $262.74 | $262.74 | 1.0× |
| Eagle River, WI single city | 1 | $119.60 | $119.60 | $119.60 | 1.0× |
| East Amery, WI single city | 1 | $61.00 | $61.00 | $61.00 | 1.0× |
| Eau Claire, WI | 2 | $66.50 | $93.05 | $119.60 | 1.8× |
| Elizabeth City, NC | 1 | $146.00 | $146.00 | $146.00 | 1.0× |
| Erie, PA | 1 | $130.43 | $130.43 | $130.43 | 1.0× |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | 1 | $18.45 | $18.45 | $18.45 | 1.0× |
| Fort Scott, KS single city | 1 | $113.19 | $113.19 | $113.19 | 1.0× |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 1 | $3,319.01 | $3,319.01 | $3,319.01 | 1.0× |
| Freeport, IL | 1 | $116.80 | $116.80 | $116.80 | 1.0× |
| Fresno, CA | 1 | $146.72 | $146.72 | $146.72 | 1.0× |
| Goldendale, WA single city | 1 | $176.00 | $176.00 | $176.00 | 1.0× |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | 1 | $35.99 | $35.99 | $35.99 | 1.0× |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 1 | $64.00 | $64.00 | $64.00 | 1.0× |
| Green Bay, WI | 1 | $62.04 | $62.04 | $62.04 | 1.0× |
| Greeneville, TN | 1 | $58.35 | $58.35 | $58.35 | 1.0× |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | 3 | $166.50 | $166.50 | $166.50 | 1.0× |
| Hailey, ID | 1 | $612.00 | $612.00 | $612.00 | 1.0× |
| Hamilton, AL single city | 1 | $129.00 | $129.00 | $129.00 | 1.0× |
| Hammond, LA | 2 | $96.14 | $177.09 | $258.03 | 2.7× |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 1 | $38.10 | $38.10 | $38.10 | 1.0× |
| Hartford, CT single city | 1 | $135.00 | $135.00 | $135.00 | 1.0× |
| Houghton, MI | 1 | $119.60 | $119.60 | $119.60 | 1.0× |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 2 | $123.66 | $123.66 | $123.66 | 1.0× |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 1 | $81.17 | $81.17 | $81.17 | 1.0× |
| Iowa City, IA | 2 | $233.10 | $233.10 | $233.10 | 1.0× |
| Iron River, MI single city | 1 | $119.60 | $119.60 | $119.60 | 1.0× |
| Ironwood, MI single city | 1 | $119.60 | $119.60 | $119.60 | 1.0× |
| Iuka, MS single city | 1 | $129.00 | $129.00 | $129.00 | 1.0× |
| Jackson, MS | 2 | $116.00 | $116.00 | $116.00 | 1.0× |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | 1 | $102.02 | $102.02 | $102.02 | 1.0× |
| Joplin, MO-KS | 4 | $113.19 | $113.19 | $129.35 | 1.1× |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 2 | $47.93 | $47.93 | $47.93 | 1.0× |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | 3 | $196.23 | $204.08 | $204.08 | 1.0× |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | 3 | $58.35 | $58.35 | $58.35 | 1.0× |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 2 | $166.19 | $327.60 | $489.00 | 2.9× |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | 1 | $53.60 | $53.60 | $53.60 | 1.0× |
| Ladysmith, WI single city | 1 | $66.50 | $66.50 | $66.50 | 1.0× |
| LaGrange, GA-AL | 1 | $161.46 | $161.46 | $161.46 | 1.0× |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 2 | $64.00 | $64.00 | $64.00 | 1.0× |
| Lebanon-Claremont, NH-VT | 1 | $98.00 | $98.00 | $98.00 | 1.0× |
| Lima, OH | 1 | $149.40 | $149.40 | $149.40 | 1.0× |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | 3 | $18.45 | $108.60 | $108.60 | 5.9× |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 11 | $292.24 | $292.24 | $1,085.20 | 3.7× |
| Madison, MN single city | 1 | $82.45 | $82.45 | $82.45 | 1.0× |
| Madison, WI | 1 | $119.60 | $119.60 | $119.60 | 1.0× |
| Mangum, OK single city | 1 | $287.85 | $287.85 | $287.85 | 1.0× |
| Marble Falls, TX single city | 1 | $196.23 | $196.23 | $196.23 | 1.0× |
| Marietta, OH | 2 | $67.25 | $79.52 | $91.79 | 1.4× |
| Massena-Ogdensburg, NY | 1 | $288.84 | $288.84 | $288.84 | 1.0× |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | 1 | $97.90 | $97.90 | $97.90 | 1.0× |
| McCall, ID single city | 1 | $612.00 | $612.00 | $612.00 | 1.0× |
| Medford, WI single city | 1 | $119.60 | $119.60 | $119.60 | 1.0× |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 1 | $84.04 | $84.04 | $84.04 | 1.0× |
| Meridian, MS | 2 | $40.95 | $59.67 | $78.39 | 1.9× |
| Merrill, WI single city | 1 | $119.60 | $119.60 | $119.60 | 1.0× |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 2 | $126.00 | $303.83 | $481.65 | 3.8× |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 2 | $89.24 | $100.87 | $112.50 | 1.3× |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 1 | $241.00 | $241.00 | $241.00 | 1.0× |
| Minocqua, WI single city | 1 | $66.50 | $66.50 | $66.50 | 1.0× |
| Minot, ND | 2 | $132.80 | $132.80 | $132.80 | 1.0× |
| Modesto, CA | 1 | $146.72 | $146.72 | $146.72 | 1.0× |
| Morgantown, WV | 1 | $170.00 | $170.00 | $170.00 | 1.0× |
| Morris, MN single city | 1 | $34.50 | $34.50 | $34.50 | 1.0× |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 1 | $114.40 | $114.40 | $114.40 | 1.0× |
| Mountain Home, AR | 1 | $293.75 | $293.75 | $293.75 | 1.0× |
| Nacogdoches, TX | 1 | $50.00 | $50.00 | $50.00 | 1.0× |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 3 | $79.80 | $91.06 | $166.47 | 2.1× |
| Neillsville, WI single city | 1 | $66.50 | $66.50 | $66.50 | 1.0× |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 9 | $24.08 | $46.34 | $89.91 | 3.7× |
| New Philadelphia-Dover, OH | 1 | $385.45 | $385.45 | $385.45 | 1.0× |
| New Ulm, MN | 1 | $23.02 | $23.02 | $23.02 | 1.0× |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 50 | $47.37 | $152.50 | $23,560.00 | 497.4× |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 2 | $130.00 | $130.00 | $130.00 | 1.0× |
| Oneonta, NY | 2 | $31.45 | $35.81 | $40.17 | 1.3× |
| Orangeburg, SC | 1 | $74.00 | $74.00 | $74.00 | 1.0× |
| Owosso, MI | 1 | $112.00 | $112.00 | $112.00 | 1.0× |
| Park Falls, WI single city | 1 | $66.50 | $66.50 | $66.50 | 1.0× |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | 1 | $78.00 | $78.00 | $78.00 | 1.0× |
| Peoria, IL | 1 | $256.00 | $256.00 | $256.00 | 1.0× |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 4 | $80.80 | $80.80 | $80.80 | 1.0× |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 2 | $163.38 | $255.32 | $347.25 | 2.1× |
| Plainview, TX | 1 | $61.32 | $61.32 | $61.32 | 1.0× |
| Platteville, WI | 1 | $74.25 | $74.25 | $74.25 | 1.0× |
| Pontotoc, MS single city | 1 | $129.00 | $129.00 | $129.00 | 1.0× |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 1 | $481.65 | $481.65 | $481.65 | 1.0× |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 1 | $128.70 | $128.70 | $128.70 | 1.0× |
| Presque Isle, ME single city | 1 | $48.93 | $48.93 | $48.93 | 1.0× |
| Reno, NV | 1 | $229.00 | $229.00 | $229.00 | 1.0× |
| Rhinelander, WI single city | 1 | $119.60 | $119.60 | $119.60 | 1.0× |
| Rice Lake, WI | 2 | $66.50 | $132.78 | $199.05 | 3.0× |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 5 | $216.52 | $292.24 | $292.24 | 1.3× |
| Rochester, NY | 3 | $391.06 | $391.06 | $571.20 | 1.5× |
| Rockford, IL | 1 | $107.12 | $107.12 | $107.12 | 1.0× |
| Ruleville, MS single city | 1 | $43.50 | $43.50 | $43.50 | 1.0× |
| Rushville, IL single city | 1 | $382.50 | $382.50 | $382.50 | 1.0× |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 3 | $146.72 | $146.72 | $146.72 | 1.0× |
| Salinas, CA | 1 | $212.25 | $212.25 | $212.25 | 1.0× |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 1 | $131.67 | $131.67 | $131.67 | 1.0× |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 5 | $57.75 | $292.24 | $292.24 | 5.1× |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 12 | $146.72 | $146.72 | $296.00 | 2.0× |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 3 | $111.20 | $146.72 | $146.72 | 1.3× |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 1 | $146.72 | $146.72 | $146.72 | 1.0× |
| Sayre, PA | 3 | $138.18 | $138.18 | $138.18 | 1.0× |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 3 | $72.42 | $132.30 | $150.90 | 2.1× |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | 1 | $481.65 | $481.65 | $481.65 | 1.0× |
| Shelbyville, TN | 1 | $91.06 | $91.06 | $91.06 | 1.0× |
| Shelton, WA | 1 | $147.75 | $147.75 | $147.75 | 1.0× |
| Sidney, MT single city | 1 | $105.27 | $105.27 | $105.27 | 1.0× |
| Sistersville, WV single city | 1 | $140.11 | $140.11 | $140.11 | 1.0× |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | 1 | $24.08 | $24.08 | $24.08 | 1.0× |
| Sneedville, TN single city | 1 | $57.04 | $57.04 | $57.04 | 1.0× |
| Springfield, MA | 1 | $243.00 | $243.00 | $243.00 | 1.0× |
| Springfield, MO | 3 | $129.35 | $129.35 | $188.80 | 1.5× |
| Staples, MN single city | 1 | $128.34 | $128.34 | $128.34 | 1.0× |
| Starkville, MS | 1 | $129.00 | $129.00 | $129.00 | 1.0× |
| Stevens Point-Plover, WI | 3 | $66.50 | $119.60 | $119.60 | 1.8× |
| Stigler, OK single city | 1 | $216.00 | $216.00 | $216.00 | 1.0× |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 1 | $146.72 | $146.72 | $146.72 | 1.0× |
| Suffolk, VA single city | 1 | $152.50 | $152.50 | $152.50 | 1.0× |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 1 | $51.10 | $51.10 | $51.10 | 1.0× |
| Temple, TX single city | 1 | $204.08 | $204.08 | $204.08 | 1.0× |
| Tomahawk, WI single city | 1 | $119.60 | $119.60 | $119.60 | 1.0× |
| Traverse City, MI | 1 | $177.65 | $177.65 | $177.65 | 1.0× |
| Truckee-Grass Valley, CA | 1 | $229.00 | $229.00 | $229.00 | 1.0× |
| Tullahoma-Manchester, TN | 1 | $91.06 | $91.06 | $91.06 | 1.0× |
| Tupelo, MS | 1 | $129.00 | $129.00 | $129.00 | 1.0× |
| Twin Falls, ID | 1 | $612.00 | $612.00 | $612.00 | 1.0× |
| Two Harbors, MN single city | 1 | $151.43 | $151.43 | $151.43 | 1.0× |
| Valdez, AK single city | 1 | $240.24 | $240.24 | $240.24 | 1.0× |
| Vallejo, CA | 2 | $146.72 | $146.72 | $146.72 | 1.0× |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 6 | $152.50 | $152.50 | $152.50 | 1.0× |
| Waco, TX | 1 | $196.23 | $196.23 | $196.23 | 1.0× |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 3 | $152.50 | $175.50 | $247.36 | 1.6× |
| Wausau, WI | 2 | $66.50 | $93.05 | $119.60 | 1.8× |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | 1 | $171.00 | $171.00 | $171.00 | 1.0× |
| West Point, MS single city | 1 | $129.00 | $129.00 | $129.00 | 1.0× |
| Willows, CA single city | 1 | $103.32 | $103.32 | $103.32 | 1.0× |
| Winamac, IN single city | 1 | $294.35 | $294.35 | $294.35 | 1.0× |
| Winfield, AL single city | 1 | $129.00 | $129.00 | $129.00 | 1.0× |
| Wisconsin Rapids-Marshfield, WI | 2 | $66.50 | $93.05 | $119.60 | 1.8× |
| Woodruff, WI single city | 1 | $119.60 | $119.60 | $119.60 | 1.0× |
| Worcester, MA | 1 | $324.00 | $324.00 | $324.00 | 1.0× |
| Yuma, AZ | 1 | $126.10 | $126.10 | $126.10 | 1.0× |
Common questions
What is CPT code 92012?
CPT 92012 is the billing code for eye exam, returning patient, intermediate. An intermediate eye exam checks a specific problem or follows up a known condition.
How is it different from 92014?
92014 is a comprehensive exam.
Is refraction included?
Usually not.
How much does Medicare pay for CPT 92012 (Eye exam (follow-up))?
$136.02 is Medicare's 2026 national base rate for this service in a hospital outpatient department, including the patient's share and before the local wage adjustment. The median hospital cash price, $146.72 across 416 hospitals, is 1.1× that.
Is it cheaper to pay cash or use insurance for eye exam (follow-up)?
It depends on your deductible. Until you meet it, you pay your plan's negotiated rate, not the cash price. In hospital price files the highest negotiated rate for eye exam (follow-up) has a median of $270.34 and the lowest a median of $51.34; at 227 of 258 hospitals the cash price is below the highest negotiated rate. A cash payment may not count toward your deductible, so ask your plan for its rate at that hospital first.
Which states have the cheapest eye exam (follow-up)?
Among 23 states with at least 5 hospitals listing a cash price, the median is lowest in Louisiana ($64.16), Tennessee ($79.80) and Pennsylvania ($80.80), and highest in Idaho ($612.00), Ohio ($304.75) and Florida ($303.83). Prices vary as much between hospitals in the same state, so compare hospitals near you.
Other eye exam prices
Median hospital cash price, one per hospital.