Cataract Surgery Cost in Colorado (2026)
Somewhat above the national average · RPP 105.2 · CO
What Drives Pricing Here
Three factors explain most of why cataract surgery costs what it does in Colorado.
Regional Price Parity
Colorado's cost-of-living index sits at 105.2 — above the national benchmark (100). This directly scales facility and staffing overhead, which flow through to every procedure price.
Specialist Availability
19 facilities perform this procedure in Colorado — competition keeps pricing honest and gives you real leverage to shop quotes.
Vs. National Benchmark
At +5.2% above the national average ($5,000), Colorado sits in premium territory. Likely drivers: high demand, metro concentration, or tier-one facility networks.
Cataract Surgery in Colorado: What to Know
Colorado offers diverse cataract surgery options. Children's Hospital Colorado is a regional referral center for pediatric cataract surgery, performing more of these procedures than any other center in the Rocky Mountain area. For adults, ICON Eyecare, with multiple front range locations including Aurora and Lone Tree, offers femtosecond laser-assisted surgery using advanced technology like the LenSx® Cataract Laser. Additionally, Four Corners Eye Clinic on the Western Slope, in cities like Durango, was the first to offer RxSight® Light Adjustable Lenses™ for post-operative adjustments.
To potentially reduce costs, consider Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) in Colorado, such as Pinnacle Surgery Center in Colorado Springs, which are often more cost-effective than hospitals. Medicare beneficiaries, for example, can save hundreds on co-payments at ASCs. Verify current pricing directly with providers.
Estimated Cost Breakdown in Colorado
Expect to pay moderately more for cataract surgery in Colorado. These are the cost components driving the total.
Facility Fee
OR time and hospital staffing
Most significant cost
Surgeon Fee
Expertise and experience level
Implants & Supplies
Post-Op Care
Recovery and aftercare
Anesthesia
Anesthesiologist or CRNA fee
Total Estimated Cost
Colorado all-in range
Financing Options
Many Colorado clinics partner with CareCredit or Alphaeon. A typical 24-month, 0% APR term on $5,260 looks like:
- Soft credit check — no hard pull
- Instant approval decisions
- HSA/FSA eligible for qualifying cases
Cost estimates are adjusted for regional pricing. See how we calculate state-level costs →
Ranges adjusted for Colorado's regional price parity (105.2). See the national percentage breakdown →
Facility Costs in Colorado
Below are the top facilities performing cataract surgery in Colorado, ranked by volume. Rates shown are negotiated amounts from CMS Medicare data.
| Facility | City | Negotiated Rate | Medicare | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University Of Colorado Hospital Authority | Aurora | $2,128 | $1,691 | 1,384 |
| Animas Surgical Hospital, Llc | Durango | $2,090 | $1,663 | 1,042 |
| University Of Colorado Hospital Authority | Aurora | $3,953 | $3,146 | 366 |
| Adventhealth Castle Rock | Castle Rock | $2,136 | $1,700 | 290 |
| Animas Surgical Hospital, Llc | Durango | $3,859 | $3,067 | 234 |
| Uchealth Yampa Valley Medical Center | Steamboat Springs | $2,269 | $1,803 | 231 |
| Delta County Memorial Hospital | Delta | $2,293 | $1,825 | 205 |
| Adventhealth Avista | Louisville | $2,128 | $1,693 | 132 |
| Denver Health Medical Center | Denver | $2,141 | $1,699 | 124 |
| Valley View Hospital Association | Glenwood Springs | $2,282 | $1,818 | 99 |
Cataract Surgery Cost in Nearby States
Among neighboring states, Colorado has the highest cataract surgery costs. Patients near the border may find savings nearby.
Expert Answers for Colorado Patients
Local regulations, insurance nuance, and surgical standards specific to Colorado.
Compare Colorado with any other state
See national pricing, all 50 state comparisons, and detailed cost factors in the main cataract surgery cost guide.
View full cataract surgery guideHow much does cataract surgery cost in Colorado?
Can I use insurance for cataract surgery in Colorado?
How do I compare cataract surgery facilities in Colorado?
Is it worth traveling to another state for cataract surgery?
How quickly can I recover from cataract surgery?
Is cataract surgery covered under Colorado's Medicaid program?
Can I pay for cataract surgery with pre-tax health savings?
How we calculate cataract surgery costs in Colorado
Cost estimates combine procedure-specific pricing data with regional cost-of-living and provider-supply adjustments. Primary sources:
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Hospital pricing transparency files — CMS-required machine-readable data published by hospitals under the CMS Hospital Price Transparency rule (effective January 2021). Provides actual negotiated rates between hospitals and insurers.
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HCUP (Healthcare Cost & Utilization Project) — AHRQ's HCUP databases provide nationally-representative procedure cost data by state, payer, and patient demographics.
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Bureau of Labor Statistics — Healthcare Practitioner Occupational Wages — BLS OEWS data on surgeon, anesthesiologist, and surgical staff wages by state, used to model regional labor-cost differences in procedure pricing.
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BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis state-level price-level indices, used to adjust national procedure averages for Colorado's cost-of-living relative to the national mean.
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FAIR Health Consumer Cost Lookup — the FAIR Health database aggregates billed and allowed amounts from over 36 billion claim records, providing a check on procedure-cost ranges by ZIP code.
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Medicare Provider Utilization & Payment Data — CMS public-use files on Medicare-allowed amounts and submitted charges by HCPCS/CPT code and state, used as a baseline for procedure-cost ranges.
Estimates are illustrative and reflect typical pricing ranges; actual costs depend on insurance coverage, surgical complexity, anesthesia type, hospital vs. ambulatory setting, and individual patient factors. Always confirm pricing directly with providers and your insurance carrier. See our methodology page for full calculation details.