How much does a cataract surgery cost in San Diego?
Removal of a cataract with insertion of a standard artificial lens one eye. Below: the rates insurers have actually negotiated with 6 San Diego-area hospitals, and the cash (self-pay) prices where published — from the hospitals' own federally required price files.
$1,399
lowest median negotiated rate
Scripps Green Hospital
$33,975
highest (adult hospitals)
UC San Diego Health
24.3×
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 6 hospitals · file dates 2026-03-30 → 2026-04-01 · retrieved 2026-08-14
Tip: if you haven't met your deductible, ask each hospital for its discounted cash price — it is often far below the billed charge.