go back

Balloon Opening of a Blocked Tear Duct

North Carolina 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?

$2,038

Typical total for the visit. In North Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,038 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $525 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,514 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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$525$288 to $832
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,514$1,096 to $2,089

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,514 · 10th to 90th $813 to $4,571Professionalmedian $525 · 10th to 90th $191 to $1,445
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $1,514professional $525

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
$151.36
Median
$851.14
Typical High
$7,585.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$776.25
Typical High
$1,122.02
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,071.52
Median
$1,584.89
Typical High
$2,137.96
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$229.09
Median
$467.74
Typical High
$2,041.74
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$1,737.80
Typical High
$2,630.27
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$549.54
Typical High
$1,202.26
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$1,318.26
Typical High
$1,513.56
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$776.25
Median
$776.25
Typical High
$1,174.90
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$8,709.64
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$524.81
Typical High
$1,000.00
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
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$467.74
Typical High
$630.96
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$436.52
Typical High
$588.84
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$1,258.93
Median
$1,949.84
Typical High
$3,235.94
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$660.69
Typical High
$1,071.52
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$1,148.15
Median
$1,148.15
Typical High
$1,778.28
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$389.05
Median
$389.05
Typical High
$588.84

Where North Carolina 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

North Carolina· 38th of 51

$2,038

$525 physician + $1,514 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.