How much does a cataract surgery cost in Houston?
Removal of a cataract with insertion of a standard artificial lens one eye. Below: the rates insurers have actually negotiated with 16 Houston-area hospitals, and the cash (self-pay) prices where published — from the hospitals' own federally required price files.
$2,538
lowest median negotiated rate
Ben Taub Hospital
$6,116
highest (adult hospitals)
Houston Methodist West Hospital
2.4×
price spread
same procedure, same metro
Median negotiated rate per hospital · sorted low → high · hover a bar for the full receipt
cash (self-pay) price
| Hospital | Gross charge | Cash price | Negotiated | Range | # rates | vs median |
|---|
* Specialty hospital (pediatric or cancer center) — rates reflect specialty case mix. † Median based on fewer than 3 published rates — treat as indicative. Bars show the median dollar-denominated commercial negotiated rate; hospitals sharing a health-system contract show similar rates.
SOURCE: standard-charges files from 16 hospitals · file dates 2026-02-28 → 2026-07-01 · retrieved 2026-08-03 → 2026-08-04
Paying cash can beat using insurance. At Ben Taub Hospital, the self-pay price is $2,188 — less than the $2,538 median commercial-insurer rate. If you haven't met your deductible, ask for the cash rate.