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Tear Duct Probing Under General Anesthesia

South 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?

$1,507

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,507 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $158 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,349 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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$158$115 to $224
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,349$871 to $5,012

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,349 · 10th to 90th $661 to $9,120Professionalmedian $158 · 10th to 90th $89 to $257
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $1,349professional $158

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
$165.96
Median
$5,888.44
Typical High
$21,877.62
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$190.55
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$691.83
Median
$1,288.25
Typical High
$7,762.47
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$257.04
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$602.56
Median
$1,202.26
Typical High
$1,862.09
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$275.42
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$645.65
Typical High
$1,380.38
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$269.15
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$69.18
Median
$128.82
Typical High
$251.19
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$2,511.89
Typical High
$14,791.08
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$309.03
8 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
$83.18
Median
$83.18
Typical High
$83.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$33.11
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$125.89
Typical High
$125.89
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$25.12
Median
$25.12
Typical High
$25.12
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$16.60
Median
$16.60
Typical High
$16.60
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$117.49
Typical High
$117.49
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$269.15
Median
$288.40
Typical High
$398.11
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$89.13
Median
$95.50
Typical High
$134.90

Where South 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

South Carolina· 42nd of 51

$1,507

$158 physician + $1,349 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.