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Balloon Opening of a Blocked Tear Duct

Washington, DC 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?

$4,074

Typical facility fee. In Washington, DC, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $4,074 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $1,413 to $4,571.

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 3 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $4,074 · 10th to 90th $200 to $7,762Professionalmedian $1,072 · 10th to 90th $355 to $2,042
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $4,074professional $1,072

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
$199.53
Median
$4,073.80
Typical High
$7,762.47
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$354.81
Median
$1,071.52
Typical High
$2,041.74
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2,344.23
Median
$10,000.00
Typical High
$26,302.68

Where Washington, DC 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.

Washington, DC· 12th of 50

$4,074

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.