Colorado Eye Institute

While the medical care I received at Colorado Eye Institute was adequate, the billing experience was unethical and non-transparent. As a self-pay patient, I was told the cost for upgraded cataract surgery would be $3,295 per eye. I later learned—only on the day of payment—that this did not include the actual surgery, anesthesia, or facility fees, which brought the total to $6,495 per eye. At no point prior to the procedure was I provided a legally required Good Faith Estimate, as mandated by the No Surprises Act and Colorado's financial transparency laws. When I raised this concern, the clinic acknowledged their mistake, but instead of fully taking responsibility, they shifted the blame to me for “not asking questions.” This is unacceptable and undermines the trust patients should be able to place in their healthcare providers. If you’re paying out of pocket, be extremely careful—ask for all documentation up front, in writing, and make sure you're being charged legally and ethically.… I’ll be pursuing formal complaints through the appropriate state and federal channels.