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Tear Duct Probing Under General Anesthesia

North Carolina 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?

$1,718

Typical total for the visit. In North Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,718 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $204 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,514 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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$204$166 to $245
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,514$977 to $2,042

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,514 · 10th to 90th $550 to $4,365Professionalmedian $204 · 10th to 90th $132 to $427
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $1,514professional $204

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
$128.82
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$7,585.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$128.82
Typical High
$316.23
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,071.52
Median
$1,548.82
Typical High
$2,137.96
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$426.58
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$602.56
Median
$1,737.80
Typical High
$2,137.96
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$346.74
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$446.68
Median
$851.14
Typical High
$1,513.56
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$181.97
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$245.47
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$8,709.64
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$331.13
10 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
$64.57
Median
$64.57
Typical High
$83.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$25.70
Median
$25.70
Typical High
$33.11
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$95.50
Typical High
$125.89
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$19.05
Median
$19.05
Typical High
$25.12
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$12.88
Median
$12.88
Typical High
$16.60
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$89.13
Median
$89.13
Typical High
$117.49
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$776.25
Median
$1,412.54
Typical High
$3,235.94
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$263.03
Median
$467.74
Typical High
$1,071.52
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$275.42
Median
$354.81
Typical High
$436.52
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$91.20
Median
$117.49
Typical High
$144.54

Where North Carolina 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

North Carolina· 29th of 51

$1,718

$204 physician + $1,514 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.