Does Insurance Cover Varicose Vein Treatment?
In recent years, unhealthy veins have been linked to a number of other health concerns. They can also produce serious skin issues including slow-healing venous ulcerations, venous stasis dermatitis, and heavy bleeding when the vein is scraped. Varicose vein symptoms such as restlessness, swelling, cramping, and heaviness in the legs can significantly reduce someone’s quality of life. As a result, insurance companies are increasingly covering varicose vein treatment. It’s easier than ever to get your procedure approved, if you visit a vein doctor who accepts insurance. This might not be the case if you visit a cosmetic vein specialist since their procedures are often considered elective by insurance companies. Book an appointment with board certified vein doctors in California if you want insurance to cover varicose vein treatment.
Are All Methods for Treating Varicose Veins Covered?
All major insurance plans cover certain varicose vein treatments if they’re deemed medically necessary. The way to prove necessity is to see a vein doctor who can verify your symptoms and take ultrasound images of the cause in deeper veins. Most varicose veins stem from a faulty valve in a deeper vein, which is part of a condition called Chronic Venous Insufficiency. Good vein doctors can show this to your insurance carrier to prove that you need treatment. Some companies don’t cover every treatment option. For instance, if a procedure is not approved by the FDA, or it’s too invasive for your particular veins, they might not cover it.
The best vein specialists will recommend the least invasive method that will erase your varicose veins. Doctors who suggest invasive surgery for a typical varicose vein might not be trained in the latest methods. Surgery has been largely replaced by minimally invasive procedures which insurance companies cover. Here are some of our popular California vein treatments that patients often get covered.
- Sclerotherapy (Varithena or Asclera)
- Endovenous Laser Ablation (VenaCure)
- Radiofrequency Ablation (ClosureFast)
- Mechanochemical Ablation (ClariVein)
- Vein Adhesives (VenaSeal)
Is Spider Vein Treatment Deemed Medically Necessary?
Spider vein treatment is often deemed medically necessary as well. But there are some differences between spider veins and varicose veins. When they develop in the legs, both types of vein damage are typically caused by Chronic Venous Insufficiency. That’s because leg veins must pump blood against gravity from the feet to the heart. So, they’re more prone to backward blood flow which increases pressure in the blood vessels and causes spider and varicose veins in the legs. If your spider veins result from Chronic Venous Insufficiency, your treatment should be covered. That’s a common and recognized medical condition in most insurance plans.
Spider veins can also develop in areas like the face from external pressure. Things like sunburn, extreme temperature, and squeezing a pimple can cause these tiny veins to branch out from the pressurized point. Since this is an injury, not an underlying medical condition, facial spider veins are not always covered. It’s important to see a vein doctor, not a cosmetic vein specialist, since vein doctors have the diagnostic tools to prove why you need vein treatment. Many dermatological and cosmetic centers don’t accept insurance, even if your plan covers such treatments.
Who Contacts Your Insurance Company About Coverage?
If you choose one of our top California vein treatment centers, we’ll handle the insurance details for you. Our insurance team contacts your insurance company and provides all the necessary paperwork, diagnoses, and doctors’ notes on your behalf. We’re adept at acquiring the coverage our patients deserve. Since our vein doctors are trained in ultrasonography, they can use vein mapping tests and other diagnostic strategies to find proof of your medical condition. We’ll tell you what your coverage is before vein treatment, so you know exactly what to expect. Your vein doctor will explain each of the treatments you’re eligible for, and you can decide which one you’d like to do. We can even combine treatment methods as needed for customized results. Most of our patients have no out-of-pocket expenses for their vein treatments.
Which Insurance Plans Pay for Varicose Veins in Full?
Most major carriers now provide significant insurance coverage for veins. Everyone’s insurance plan varies, which is why we walk you through the process. Insurance claim language can be intentionally confusing to patients. So, we handle it for you. Some plans require patients to try compression stockings first for a few weeks or months. If those don’t work, the company will cover treatment. Our vein doctors will provide the right size of compression stockings to maximize their efficacy. We’ll also document your progress to prove whether compression therapy was sufficient for treating varicose veins, or whether a procedure is required. Most patients find that a minimally invasive procedure is the quicker, more effective, and less disruptive solution.
What’s the Fee Without Insurance Coverage for Varicose Veins?
Without insurance coverage for varicose veins or spider veins, the fees can range from several hundred to several thousand dollars. It depends on the number of veins being treated, the type of procedure, and the additional complications that require treatment. For instance, some patients need to treat the visible damage, as well as broken valves in deeper veins. They might also need treatment for venous ulcerations, venous stasis dermatitis, or hyperpigmentation resulting from Chronic Venous Insufficiency.
The best way to keep your costs low is to see a qualified vein doctor who accepts insurance. It’s also important to see a vein doctor at the first sign of trouble. Then, you can prevent additional complications and an ongoing proliferation of veins you’ll need to treat. Unless you treat the deeper vein issues, more surface damage can accumulate. Our vein specialists have a wide range of treatment options to make vein care affordable for everyone. Visit our San Diego vein center near Sorrento Canyon Golf Center, or our San José vein center near A Grace Subacute Care, or our Palo Alto vein center near Mollie Stone’s Markets to learn more about treating varicose veins and spider veins.