From the itching and fatigue to the burning and leg pain, living with varicose veins can seem impossible. At the same time, you don’t want to pay out of pocket for treatment, so you need to know if your insurance covers the treatment before moving forward. Fortunately, most insurance companies, including Medicare, cover testing and treatment for varicose veins as long as they’re deemed medically necessary. Find out when treatment is medically necessary and what you need to do to receive your insurance company’s approval.
Varicose vein treatment can be divided into two categories: medically necessary and cosmetic. Your insurance company likely sets guidelines regarding medically necessary treatments. You must meet the guidelines to receive approval for treatment.
Regardless of your insurance company, it will likely consider your treatment to be medically necessary if your varicose veins cause cramping, swelling, venous stasis, pain, wounds, and/or heaviness and the symptoms impact your qualify of life. If your varicose veins are only bothering you because of how they look, your insurance company will likely view treatment as cosmetic. You can still undergo the treatment, but you’ll have to pay for it yourself.
If you have varicose veins symptoms, your insurance company will require that you have a diagnostic ultrasound. Insurance companies generally cover patients who receive abnormal results from the ultrasound. Still, your insurance company might make you undergo a conservative treatment, such as wearing compression stockings, first. Then, if you still have symptoms and depending on what is required, the insurance company will cover treatments such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA), endovenous laser ablation (EVLA), Venaseal, and Sclerotherapy.
Dr. Vinay Madan and the Center for Varicose Veins can evaluate you to determine if varicose vein treatment is medically necessary. If so, the medical team will work with your insurance carrier to get your treatment approved. Dr. Madan specializes in minimally invasive and nonsurgical treatments, such as VenaSeal, radiofrequency ablation, endovenous laser ablation, and sclerotherapy, and can help you overcome the symptoms. Contact the Center for Varicose Veins to discuss your case and see if your insurance policy will cover the treatment.
