go back

Balloon Opening of a Blocked Tear Duct

Colorado 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 July 2026.

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

$5,129

Typical facility fee. In Colorado, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $5,129 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $3,236 to $7,413.

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.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $5,129 · 10th to 90th $977 to $9,772Professionalmedian $1,230 · 10th to 90th $191 to $1,862
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $5,129professional $1,230

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. 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
Global
Typical Low
$977.24
Median
$5,128.61
Typical High
$8,912.51
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3,548.13
Median
$6,760.83
Typical High
$10,964.78
Denver HMP
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$660.69
Typical High
$1,348.96
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$1,230.27
Typical High
$1,862.09
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$275.42
Typical High
$1,862.09
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2,238.72
Median
$5,011.87
Typical High
$10,471.29

Where Colorado sits

The same service costs 9.1 times more in Indiana than in Maine. 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.

Colorado· 4th of 50

$5,129

IN $6,457ME $708

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.