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Balloon Opening of a Blocked Tear Duct

Idaho 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?

$2,055

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,055 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $575 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,479 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 9 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$575$263 to $1,549
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,479$1,318 to $3,236

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,479 · 10th to 90th $776 to $5,754Professionalmedian $575 · 10th to 90th $224 to $1,820
$50$200$1K$5Kfacility $1,479professional $575

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
$1,621.81
Median
$4,466.84
Typical High
$7,244.36
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$239.88
Median
$707.95
Typical High
$1,862.09
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$602.56
Typical High
$1,412.54
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$562.34
Typical High
$1,318.26
BCBS Idaho
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,318.26
Median
$1,819.70
Typical High
$6,025.60
BCBS Idaho
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$1,230.27
Typical High
$1,819.70
BCBS Idaho
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$218.78
Median
$1,230.27
Typical High
$1,621.81
BCBS Idaho
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$870.96
Typical High
$1,258.93
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,202.26
Median
$1,348.96
Typical High
$1,819.70
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$1,348.96
Moda Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$1,412.54
Typical High
$5,495.41
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$707.95
Typical High
$1,862.09
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$1,412.54
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$1,318.26
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$33.11
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$263.03
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$1,621.81
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$229.09
Median
$1,412.54
Typical High
$2,041.74
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$275.42
Median
$275.42
Typical High
$1,445.44
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$295.12
Median
$295.12
Typical High
$1,548.82
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,890.45
Median
$5,495.41
Typical High
$7,585.78
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$263.03
Median
$1,202.26
Typical High
$1,698.24
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$776.25
Median
$776.25
Typical High
$3,890.45
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$281.84
Median
$776.25
Typical High
$1,445.44
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,047.13
Median
$1,412.54
Typical High
$1,621.81
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$575.44
Typical High
$1,348.96
6 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
BCBS Idaho
Setting
Facility
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$1,995.26
Median
$2,511.89
Typical High
$9,120.11
BCBS Idaho
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$363.08
Median
$446.68
Typical High
$3,090.30
BCBS Idaho
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$147.91
Typical High
$204.17
BCBS Idaho
Setting
Professional
Modifier
63 · Small infant
Typical Low
$302.00
Median
$354.81
Typical High
$2,454.71
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$588.84
Median
$588.84
Typical High
$3,090.30
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$38.90
Median
$38.90
Typical High
$204.17

Where Idaho 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

Idaho· 33rd of 51

$2,055

$575 physician + $1,479 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.