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Tear Duct Probing Under General Anesthesia

Iowa rates for HCPCS 68811

Passes a fine probe through the tear drainage channel from the corner of the eye into the nose to open a blockage, and flushes the channel with fluid. It is the version done with the patient fully asleep under general anesthesia, which is usual for young children. It is done for a blocked tear duct causing constant watering or repeated sticky eyes.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Tear Duct Probing Under General Anesthesia cost?

$2,384

Typical total for the visit. In Iowa, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,384 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $295 to the doctor who performs it, and $2,089 to the hospital or surgery center where it takes place. Done somewhere without a facility charge, you pay only the first.

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.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$295$224 to $355
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$2,089$955 to $4,365

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $2,089 · 10th to 90th $347 to $6,457Professionalmedian $295 · 10th to 90th $151 to $501
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $2,089professional $295

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
$467.74
Median
$3,235.94
Typical High
$6,760.83
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$239.88
Typical High
$239.88
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$954.99
Median
$1,737.80
Typical High
$2,137.96
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$295.12
Typical High
$398.11
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$331.13
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$295.12
Median
$1,621.81
Typical High
$6,165.95
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$1,071.52
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$295.12
Median
$295.12
Typical High
$363.08
Midlands
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,047.13
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$2,137.96
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$269.15
Median
$269.15
Typical High
$269.15
Oscar Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$263.03
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,258.93
Median
$3,548.13
Typical High
$7,413.10
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$147.91
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$501.19
Wellmark
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$245.47
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$288.40
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
$70.79
Median
$120.23
Typical High
$120.23
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$28.18
Median
$47.86
Typical High
$47.86
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$107.15
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$177.83
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$21.38
Median
$35.48
Typical High
$35.48
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$23.99
Typical High
$23.99
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$165.96

Where Iowa sits

The same service costs 11.0 times more in Colorado than in Montana. 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.

Physician feeFacility fee

Iowa· 15th of 51

$2,384

$295 physician + $2,089 facility

CO $4,556MT $413

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.