Comprehensive eye exam cost in Iowa

Prices at 14 hospitals in Iowa, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $286 — 39% above the US median ($206), roughly 2.1× the Medicare rate.

Lowest cash prices

HospitalLocationCashInsurerCMS ratingER waitReadmit
Unitypoint Health-Marshalltown Marshalltown, IA $286 $125 ★ 3/5 154 min 15.2%
Trinity Muscatine Muscatine, IA $286 $137 ★ 4/5 135 min 13.9%
Trinity Regional Medical Center Fort Dodge, IA $286 $131 ★ 2/5 168 min 15.2%
St Lukes Hospital Cedar Rapids, IA $286 $132 ★ 4/5 168 min 15.1%
Unitypoint Health-Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi Des Moines, IA $286 $141 ★ 3/5 188 min 13.5%
Trinity-Bettendorf Bettendorf, IA $286 $131 ★ 3/5 210 min 15.2%
Allen Hospital Waterloo, IA $286 $131 ★ 3/5 159 min 15.6%
Finley Hospital Dubuque, IA $286 $143 ★ 3/5 114 min 16.0%
St Lukes Regional Medical Center Sioux City, IA $286 $132 ★ 2/5 180 min 15.6%
Grinnell Regional Medical Center Grinnell, IA $286 $126 ★ 2/5 104 min 14.9%
Jones Regional Medical Center Anamosa, IA $286 $153 ★ 4/5 113 min 14.7%
University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down Iowa City, IA $312 $325 ★ 4/5 157 min 15.0%
University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics Iowa City, IA $312 $325 ★ 2/5 210 min 13.5%

CMS rating = overall hospital star rating (1–5); ER wait = median minutes in the emergency department; Readmit = 30-day readmission rate (lower is better) — all from Medicare’s Care Compare; “—” = not reported. Data last updated June 2026. Prices from hospitals’ machine-readable files (45 CFR §180); Medicare benchmark from CMS PFS/CLFS/IPPS. Prices below 15% of the median are excluded as likely partial or mis-coded charges. Estimates — confirm with the hospital. Report an incorrect price.

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$358
Cash / self-pay
$286
Insurer-negotiated
$132
Medicare pays
$138
$286$307
Median cash $286  ·  Medicare $138  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $286 — about 2.1× the Medicare rate ($138). On the higher side. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($277).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $358 list price could save about $72 (20%).

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Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.

Comprehensive eye exam cost in other states

All Comprehensive eye exam prices (national) → · All hospitals in Iowa →