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Complete Removal of a Tear Gland

Kentucky 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?

$977

Typical negotiated rate. In Kentucky, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $977 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $955 from a physician practice, and about $2,138 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$955$871 to $1,122
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$2,138$1,122 to $3,802

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $2,138 · 10th to 90th $851 to $8,128Professionalmedian $955 · 10th to 90th $759 to $1,660
$50$200$1K$5Kfacility $2,138professional $955

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
$794.33
Median
$1,071.52
Typical High
$2,630.27
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,047.13
Median
$1,071.52
Typical High
$1,148.15
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$954.99
Median
$2,884.03
Typical High
$8,511.38
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$724.44
Median
$891.25
Typical High
$1,122.02
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$1,096.48
Median
$1,318.26
Typical High
$1,698.24
CareSource
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$933.25
Median
$1,513.56
Typical High
$2,691.53
CareSource
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$954.99
Median
$1,318.26
Typical High
$1,548.82
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,174.90
Median
$1,949.84
Typical High
$2,290.87
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$870.96
Median
$1,258.93
Typical High
$4,677.35
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$33.11
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$741.31
Median
$1,479.11
Typical High
$5,128.61
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$831.76
Median
$954.99
Typical High
$1,584.89
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
$537.03
Typical High
$562.34
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$223.87
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$776.25
Median
$812.83
Typical High
$851.14
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$162.18
Typical High
$169.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$107.15
Typical High
$112.20
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$724.44
Median
$758.58
Typical High
$794.33

Where Kentucky 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.

Kentucky· 44th of 51

$977

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.