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Balloon Opening of a Blocked Tear Duct

Pennsylvania 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?

$2,110

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,110 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $631 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 10 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$631$170 to $851
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,479$1,000 to $2,818

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,479 · 10th to 90th $692 to $5,248Professionalmedian $631 · 10th to 90th $151 to $1,000
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $1,479professional $631

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
$588.84
Median
$2,951.21
Typical High
$8,511.38
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$645.65
Typical High
$1,000.00
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$741.31
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$691.83
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,981.07
Median
$6,025.60
Typical High
$56,234.13
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$776.25
Median
$794.33
Typical High
$1,174.90
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$616.60
Median
$645.65
Typical High
$933.25
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$549.54
Median
$1,202.26
Typical High
$2,238.72
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$363.08
Typical High
$794.33
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,023.29
Median
$1,023.29
Typical High
$1,412.54
Geisinger
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,047.13
Median
$1,318.26
Typical High
$2,290.87
Geisinger
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$741.31
Typical High
$1,348.96
Highmark BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$724.44
Median
$1,778.28
Typical High
$7,943.28
Highmark BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$190.55
Martin's Point
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$645.65
Median
$2,630.27
Typical High
$8,317.64
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$616.60
Typical High
$1,000.00
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$741.31
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$691.83
Oscar Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$616.60
Median
$616.60
Typical High
$660.69
UPMC Health Plan
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$1,737.80
Typical High
$4,786.30
UPMC Health Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$512.86
Typical High
$812.83
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$812.83
Median
$1,318.26
Typical High
$4,265.80
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$512.86
Typical High
$912.01
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
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$1,148.15
Median
$1,202.26
Typical High
$1,737.80

Where Pennsylvania 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

Pennsylvania· 30th of 51

$2,110

$631 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.