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Complete Removal of a Tear Gland

Illinois rates for HCPCS 68500

Removes the whole tear-producing gland that sits under the bone at the outer top corner of the eye socket. It is done for disease of the gland itself, such as long-standing inflammation or infection, rather than for a growth in the gland; taking out a growth, harmless or cancerous, is a different operation. The gland is taken out entirely rather than in part.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Complete Removal of a Tear Gland cost?

$1,349

Typical negotiated rate. In Illinois, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,349 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $1,175 from a physician practice, and about $3,236 from a hospital or other facility.

These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$1,175$1,072 to $1,585
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$3,236$2,239 to $5,495

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $3,236 · 10th to 90th $1,175 to $8,913Professionalmedian $1,175 · 10th to 90th $933 to $1,862
$50$200$1K$5K$20Kfacility $3,236professional $1,175

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$831.76
Median
$2,187.76
Typical High
$7,762.47
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,047.13
Median
$1,174.90
Typical High
$1,445.44
BCBS Illinois
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,630.27
Median
$4,265.80
Typical High
$13,489.63
BCBS Illinois
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,096.48
Median
$1,584.89
Typical High
$1,698.24
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$741.31
Median
$3,090.30
Typical High
$3,890.45
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$891.25
Median
$1,174.90
Typical High
$1,621.81
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$954.99
Median
$1,479.11
Typical High
$3,981.07
Hally Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$100.00
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,258.93
Median
$1,288.25
Typical High
$1,380.38
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$33.11
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,174.90
Median
$3,090.30
Typical High
$9,332.54
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$912.01
Median
$1,202.26
Typical High
$2,187.76
6 more rates with less common billing modifiers

A modifier changes what was billed, for example a reduced or repeated service. Each of these modifiers carries under 10% of the published rates for this code. Modifier combinations, and modifiers with fewer than 30 rates for a carrier, are not listed.

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$524.81
Median
$588.84
Typical High
$588.84
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$234.42
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$794.33
Median
$891.25
Typical High
$891.25
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$177.83
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$117.49
Typical High
$117.49
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$741.31
Median
$831.76
Typical High
$831.76

Where Illinois sits

The same service costs 7.2 times more in Alaska than in Utah. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Touch or drag across it to read any state, then open that state for its carriers and full range.

Illinois· 28th of 51

$1,349

AK $4,266UT $589

Median negotiated rate in each state, from every insurer that publishes one. States where no insurer publishes a rate for this service are not shown.