go back

Balloon Opening of a Blocked Tear Duct

Connecticut 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?

$4,237

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $4,237 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $347 to the doctor who performs it, and $3,890 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$347$245 to $851
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$3,890$2,239 to $5,370

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $3,890 · 10th to 90th $912 to $7,943Professionalmedian $347 · 10th to 90th $200 to $1,122
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $3,890professional $347

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
$3,467.37
Median
$5,248.07
Typical High
$7,943.28
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$263.03
Median
$288.40
Typical High
$1,047.13
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,445.44
Median
$3,715.35
Typical High
$8,128.31
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$275.42
Typical High
$549.54
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$295.12
Median
$407.38
Typical High
$831.76
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,000.00
Median
$2,290.87
Typical High
$3,801.89
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$218.78
Median
$416.87
Typical High
$1,318.26
ConnectiCare
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$630.96
Median
$1,023.29
Typical High
$1,230.27
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$776.25
Median
$4,786.30
Typical High
$8,709.64
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$630.96
Typical High
$2,238.72
2 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
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$794.33
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$181.97
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$741.31

Where Connecticut 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

Connecticut· 2nd of 51

$4,237

$347 physician + $3,890 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.