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Balloon Opening of a Blocked Tear Duct

Montana 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?

$1,347

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,347 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $324 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,023 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$324$229 to $1,288
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,023$234 to $1,445

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,023 · 10th to 90th $229 to $1,738Professionalmedian $324 · 10th to 90th $148 to $1,413
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $1,023professional $324

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
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$239.88
Typical High
$1,071.52
BCBS Montana
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$245.47
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$1,318.26
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$245.47
Median
$1,737.80
Typical High
$5,011.87
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$245.47
Median
$407.38
Typical High
$1,318.26
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$229.09
Median
$371.54
Typical High
$1,548.82
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$147.91
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$1,513.56
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$245.47
Median
$1,737.80
Typical High
$5,011.87
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$147.91
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$1,318.26
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,445.44
Median
$2,238.72
Typical High
$3,162.28
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$446.68
Typical High
$1,412.54

Where Montana 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

Montana· 51st of 51

$1,347

$324 physician + $1,023 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.