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Balloon Opening of a Blocked Tear Duct

Michigan 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?

$2,082

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,082 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $603 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 7 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$603$209 to $933
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,479$1,230 to $2,138

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,479 · 10th to 90th $813 to $3,162Professionalmedian $603 · 10th to 90th $195 to $1,122
$50$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $1,479professional $603

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
$204.17
Median
$1,047.13
Typical High
$4,897.79
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$204.17
Median
$616.60
Typical High
$1,071.52
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$501.19
Typical High
$794.33
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$467.74
Typical High
$741.31
BCBS Michigan
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,479.11
Median
$1,479.11
Typical High
$2,570.40
BCBS Michigan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$281.84
Typical High
$1,380.38
CareSource
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,348.96
Median
$1,348.96
Typical High
$1,348.96
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$457.09
Typical High
$1,258.93
Health Alliance Plan
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,071.52
Median
$1,862.09
Typical High
$4,897.79
Health Alliance Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$912.01
Typical High
$1,122.02
Health Alliance Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$851.14
Health Alliance Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$794.33
Priority Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$457.09
Typical High
$1,071.52
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$602.56
Median
$1,230.27
Typical High
$5,011.87
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$645.65
Typical High
$954.99
1 more rate 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 Michigan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$331.13
Median
$331.13
Typical High
$2,041.74

Where Michigan 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

Michigan· 32nd of 51

$2,082

$603 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.