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Balloon Opening of a Blocked Tear Duct

South 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?

$2,041

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,041 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $661 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,380 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$661$204 to $1,000
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,380$794 to $4,898

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,380 · 10th to 90th $525 to $9,120Professionalmedian $661 · 10th to 90th $120 to $1,288
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $1,380professional $661

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
$194.98
Median
$5,623.41
Typical High
$21,877.62
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$575.44
Typical High
$1,047.13
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$141.25
Typical High
$141.25
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$512.86
Median
$1,258.93
Typical High
$7,762.47
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$776.25
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$602.56
Median
$1,258.93
Typical High
$1,995.26
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$954.99
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$257.04
Median
$1,047.13
Typical High
$1,380.38
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$562.34
Median
$776.25
Typical High
$954.99
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$870.96
Typical High
$1,412.54
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$2,511.89
Typical High
$14,791.08
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$512.86
Typical High
$1,023.29
4 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
$147.91
Median
$208.93
Typical High
$794.33
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$741.31
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$1,148.15
Typical High
$1,778.28
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$281.84
Median
$389.05
Typical High
$602.56

Where South 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

South Carolina· 37th of 51

$2,041

$661 physician + $1,380 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.