Does Insurance Cover Vein Treatment?
Despite the fact that varicose veins can be both unsightly and uncomfortable, many sufferers never seek treatment for their condition. Treatment costs can keep patients out of their doctors’ offices, but unfortunately, this won’t help to solve the vein problem. If you are putting off vein treatment due to concerns about paying for the treatment, you may be pleased to discover insurance helps pay for these treatments much more frequently than you realize.
Spider vs. Varicose Veins
Patients are often mistaken in assuming vein conditions are merely a cosmetic problem. This is often the case for spider veins, those visible networks of superficial veins that can be seen on the skin’s surface. However, protruding, swollen varicose veins are often a sign that an underlying vein condition exists. If that condition can be identified and diagnosed, you are more likely to qualify for insurance coverage for at least a portion of your vein treatment.
Identifying Symptoms
The first step in determining eligibility for insurance coverage will be to identify symptoms associated with your varicose veins. Common symptoms of this condition include:
-Heaviness or fatigued legs at the end of the day
-Leg cramping or restless legs, especially at night
-Swelling of the lower leg, ankle and foot
-Skin irritation, burning or itching around the vessel
-Changes to the skin’s color or texture
-Formation of open sores around the ankle, known as venous ulcers
If you have any of these symptoms, your insurance company will likely want you to document their severity and duration with your physician.
Getting a Vein Assessment
The next step will be to undergo an assessment with a vein specialist. At Center for Vein Restoration, we offer an accredited, state-of-the-art vascular lab for assessing and diagnosing venous conditions. Using a combination of testing methods, including ultrasound and a physical examination, we can diagnose the precise cause of your varicose veins and determine if risk factors are present for any other conditions. The examination is quick, painless and will also help us determine which vein treatment might work the best for you.
Following Protocol
Insurance companies tend to be sticklers for protocol and that is also true for varicose vein diagnosis and treatment. In many cases, insurance providers will want their members to try non-invasive methods of vein treatment, such as compression stockings, before moving to another type of procedure. Compression stockings usually must be worn for around six months and the results of the treatment need to be noted by your physician. While compression stockings will help you manage your vein symptoms, they will not eliminate those swollen vessels so you will likely be moving to the next step in treatment once that prescribed time period has passed.
Treatments that are Covered
Once you qualify for insurance coverage for your varicose veins, we can select the best treatment for your specific needs. At Center for Vein Restoration, we offer treatments that use lasers and radiofrequency energy to close off diseased veins with minimal discomfort and downtime. We also offer injectable treatments and minimally-invasive procedures that remove large vessels in small sections without large incisions or visible scarring afterward. Most of these do qualify for insurance coverage under the right circumstances.
If you are suffering with varicose veins because you are afraid you cannot afford treatment, we can help. Contact Center for Vein Restoration today to find out if you qualify for insurance coverage and what your options might be in varicose vein treatment.