Price Checker / CPT 66821
How much does After Cataract Laser Surgery cost?
CPT 66821 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is roughly 4.1x the fair price. This is well above fair — push back or dispute it.
Fair price
$1,250–$1,450
What this should cost
With insurance
~$161,200
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$1,800
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $5,516 is $4,166 over the fair price (about 4.1x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for After Cataract Laser Surgery
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heart of Texas Healthcare System , TX | $10,109 | — | 2613% |
| Community Medical Center Falls City, NE | $7,450 | — | 2055% |
| Cumberland Healthcare Cumberland, WI | $4,567 | — | 1262% |
| Coffey County Hospital Burlington, KS | $3,706 | — | 950% |
| Mackinac Straits Health System Saint Ignace, MI | $1,750 | — | 393% |
Were you billed for this procedure?
Send us your bill and we'll compare every line item against Medicare rates and your hospital's published prices. Free review, no obligation.
About After Cataract Laser Surgery
CPT code 66821 refers to after cataract laser surgery (billing description: "After cataract laser surgery"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $275 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $335 in a doctor's office.
The Medicare rate is the closest thing to an objective "what this work is actually worth." A fair cash price for the uninsured is generally 1.5–3x that rate. Hospital sticker (gross) charges are often far higher — but almost nobody actually pays them.
What to do if you were overcharged
- 1Send us your bill — we'll identify this code and compare it against the rates shown above.
- 2Get a dispute letter — citing the Medicare rate and your hospital's own published pricing data.
- 3We negotiate for you — 25% of savings, no savings = no fee.