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Balloon Opening of a Blocked Tear Duct

Virginia 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 July 2026.

How much does Balloon Opening of a Blocked Tear Duct cost?

$2,754

Typical facility fee. In Virginia, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,754 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $316 to $5,370.

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.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $2,754 · 10th to 90th $195 to $8,318Professionalmedian $977 · 10th to 90th $832 to $1,202
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $2,754professional $977

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Small sample; interpret with caution. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$3,235.94
Typical High
$7,079.46
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3,090.30
Median
$3,981.07
Typical High
$4,466.84
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$234.42
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$977.24
Typical High
$1,202.26
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$851.14
Typical High
$1,047.13
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$616.60
Typical High
$1,318.26
Sentara
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$8,709.64
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3,801.89
Median
$6,309.57
Typical High
$13,182.57

Where Virginia sits

The same service costs 9.1 times more in Indiana than in Maine. 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.

Virginia· 25th of 50

$2,754

IN $6,457ME $708

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.