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Balloon Opening of a Blocked Tear Duct

Vermont 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?

$2,374

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,374 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $676 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,698 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$676$275 to $1,122
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,698$1,698 to $2,399

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,698 · 10th to 90th $50 to $2,455Professionalmedian $676 · 10th to 90th $224 to $1,445
$100$200$500$1K$2Kfacility $1,698professional $676

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Small sample; interpret with caution. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$288.40
Typical High
$812.83
BCBS Vermont
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,398.83
Median
$2,398.83
Typical High
$2,398.83
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$50.12
Median
$50.12
Typical High
$2,454.71
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$257.04
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$1,445.44
MVP Health Care
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,412.54
Median
$1,412.54
Typical High
$1,412.54
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,698.24
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$1,698.24
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$213.80
Median
$758.58
Typical High
$1,737.80

Where Vermont 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

Vermont· 26th of 51

$2,374

$676 physician + $1,698 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.