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Balloon Opening of a Blocked Tear Duct

North Dakota 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?

$1,589

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,589 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $794 to the doctor who performs it, and $794 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$794$302 to $1,660
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$794$158 to $1,862

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $794 · 10th to 90th $158 to $2,570Professionalmedian $794 · 10th to 90th $234 to $1,950
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $794professional $794

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
$158.49
Median
$794.33
Typical High
$891.25
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$125.89
Typical High
$602.56
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$117.49
Typical High
$562.34
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$239.88
Typical High
$891.25
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$131.83
Typical High
$660.69
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$123.03
Typical High
$616.60
BCBS North Dakota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$269.15
Median
$407.38
Typical High
$2,041.74
BCBS North Dakota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
22 · Increased work
Typical Low
$323.59
Median
$489.78
Typical High
$2,454.71
BCBS North Dakota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$398.11
Median
$602.56
Typical High
$3,019.95
BCBS North Dakota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$281.84
Typical High
$1,412.54
BCBS North Dakota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$1,513.56
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,445.44
Median
$1,445.44
Typical High
$1,659.59
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$489.78
Typical High
$2,290.87
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$794.33
Typical High
$2,511.89
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$776.25
Median
$1,230.27
Typical High
$2,089.30
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,513.56
Median
$2,344.23
Typical High
$2,630.27
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$588.84
Typical High
$1,412.54

Where North Dakota 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 Dakota· 48th of 51

$1,589

$794 physician + $794 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.