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Balloon Opening of a Blocked Tear Duct

Kentucky 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?

$1,647

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,647 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $234 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,413 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$234$200 to $661
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,413$794 to $2,344

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,413 · 10th to 90th $209 to $4,169Professionalmedian $234 · 10th to 90th $148 to $832
$50$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $1,413professional $234

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
$162.18
Median
$794.33
Typical High
$1,479.11
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$645.65
Typical High
$831.76
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$724.44
Median
$1,995.26
Typical High
$4,265.80
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$380.19
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$331.13
Typical High
$562.34
CareSource
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$1,737.80
CareSource
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$234.42
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$34.67
Median
$851.14
Typical High
$1,318.26
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$741.31
Typical High
$3,981.07
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$169.82
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$707.95
Median
$1,174.90
Typical High
$3,890.45
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$549.54
Typical High
$851.14
4 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
Facility
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$125.89
Typical High
$616.60
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$117.49
Typical High
$575.44
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$501.19
Typical High
$616.60
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$467.74
Typical High
$575.44

Where Kentucky 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

Kentucky· 47th of 51

$1,647

$234 physician + $1,413 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.