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Complete Removal of a Tear Gland

Virginia 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?

$1,175

Typical negotiated rate. In Virginia, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,175 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $1,122 from a physician practice, and about $4,365 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 8 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$1,122$977 to $1,288
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$4,365$1,738 to $7,413

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $4,365 · 10th to 90th $891 to $10,965Professionalmedian $1,122 · 10th to 90th $851 to $1,585
$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $4,365professional $1,122

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
$1,348.96
Median
$5,370.32
Typical High
$14,125.38
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$1,348.96
Typical High
$3,548.13
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4,677.35
Median
$6,456.54
Typical High
$7,244.36
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$977.24
Median
$1,174.90
Typical High
$1,380.38
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$1,479.11
Median
$1,778.28
Typical High
$2,089.30
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,000.00
Median
$1,096.48
Typical High
$1,288.25
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$524.81
Median
$1,778.28
Typical High
$3,311.31
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$870.96
Median
$1,023.29
Typical High
$1,513.56
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$912.01
Median
$1,023.29
Typical High
$1,288.25
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,148.15
Median
$1,148.15
Typical High
$1,258.93
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$1,174.90
Typical High
$1,778.28
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,174.90
Median
$1,174.90
Typical High
$1,174.90
Sentara
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$741.31
Median
$2,238.72
Typical High
$10,232.93
Sentara
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$741.31
Median
$1,174.90
Typical High
$6,025.60
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,548.82
Median
$6,760.83
Typical High
$17,378.01
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$691.83
Median
$954.99
Typical High
$1,621.81
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
$426.58
Median
$676.08
Typical High
$676.08
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$269.15
Typical High
$269.15
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$630.96
Median
$1,023.29
Typical High
$1,023.29
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$204.17
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$85.11
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$134.90
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$588.84
Median
$954.99
Typical High
$954.99

Where Virginia 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.

Virginia· 35th of 51

$1,175

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.