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Balloon Opening of a Blocked Tear Duct

Alaska rates for HCPCS 68816

Opens a blocked tear duct by passing a fine probe down the drainage channel from the eyelid towards the nose, then inflating a small balloon inside it to stretch the passage open. It treats a constantly watery, sticky eye caused by tears that cannot drain away.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Balloon Opening of a Blocked Tear Duct cost?

$3,523

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $3,523 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $832 to the doctor who performs it, and $2,692 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$832$631 to $3,388
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$2,692$2,138 to $6,457

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $2,692 · 10th to 90th $1,230 to $8,913Professionalmedian $832 · 10th to 90th $269 to $3,388
$100$500$2K$10Kfacility $2,692professional $832

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Small sample; interpret with caution. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$870.96
Median
$7,079.46
Typical High
$14,125.38
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$239.88
Median
$870.96
Typical High
$9,549.93
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,698.24
Median
$2,754.23
Typical High
$8,511.38
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$512.86
Typical High
$2,290.87
Moda Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$229.09
Median
$1,230.27
Typical High
$6,165.95
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$223.87
Median
$870.96
Typical High
$4,265.80
Premera BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,621.81
Median
$2,344.23
Typical High
$3,311.31
Premera BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$630.96
Median
$630.96
Typical High
$3,388.44
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,174.90
Median
$2,754.23
Typical High
$8,511.38
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$60.26
Median
$512.86
Typical High
$2,290.87
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,905.46
Median
$6,165.95
Typical High
$8,912.51
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$257.04
Median
$616.60
Typical High
$2,137.96

Where Alaska sits

The same service costs 3.5 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

Alaska· 8th of 51

$3,523

$832 physician + $2,692 facility

CO $4,667MT $1,347

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.