Are varicose veins covered by insurance?
If you have varicose veins, you may be wondering if your health insurance will cover treatment. The good news is that varicose vein treatment is often deemed medically necessary and is therefore covered by most health insurance plans.
There are a few different ways to treat varicose veins, and your insurance coverage will likely cover at least one of them. The most common treatments are radiofrequency ablation, endovenous laser therapy, sclerotherapy, and ambulatory phlebectomy. Endovenous laser ablation and radiofrequency ablation use laser energy or thermal energy to heat and destroy the saphenous vein responsible for your vein problems. Sclerotherapy involves injecting a solution into the veins, which causes them to collapse and disappear, but this technique is only suitable for small varicose veins and spider veins.
Endovenous ablation and radiofrequency ablation are generally considered to be medically necessary because they address the root cause of spider veins and varicose veins — chronic venous insufficiency. These procedures address the underlying circulatory disorder responsible for your superficial vein problems, making them essential for your health. Meanwhile, sclerotherapy and ambulatory phlebectomy usually remove the visible spider veins and varicose veins, so they’re not always covered by health insurance plans. However, when combined with primary vein treatments, you may also receive coverage for them.
Most health insurance plans will cover at least some of the costs associated with varicose vein treatment. We always provide free insurance verification to help you understand your insurance coverage and varicose vein treatment options.
Long Island Vein Centers is a group of state-of-the-art vein centers in Long Island. We have offices in West Islip, Jericho, and West Hamptons, in strategic locations that make our vein centers accessible to patients across Long Island. If you’re in or around the south shore, for example, you can find our vein center on the Montauk highway bordering Suffolk County and Nassau County — 500 Montauk Highway, Suite G, West Islip. Please schedule an appointment to claim your free insurance verification.
When are my varicose vein treatments covered by health insurance plans?
When you have leg heaviness, restless leg syndrome, and other symptoms that affect your daily life and work
In general, most health insurance plans will cover varicose vein treatment if it is deemed medically necessary. This means that your doctor must believe that the treatment is necessary in order to improve your overall health and well-being. If your varicose veins are accompanied by leg heaviness, leg swelling, restless leg syndrome, leg pain, and other symptoms that affect your daily life, you have a stronger chance of receiving insurance coverage.
When you are diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency
In most cases, varicose veins, spider veins, and other vein problems are caused by chronic venous insufficiency, the root cause of most vein problems. Venous insufficiency is a medical condition wherein the collapse of vein valves causes blood to flow backward and accumulate in the leg veins, eventually leading to numerous vein problems. Our vein doctors always perform ultrasound diagnostic tests to prove the necessity of your vein treatments and improve your insurance coverage potential.
When you meet all of the conditions imposed by your insurance provider
Different health insurance providers have different stipulations for insurance coverage. Some insurance providers, for example, require that you wear compression stockings for a few weeks or months before your varicose vein treatments to become eligible for insurance coverage. Your health insurance is only covered when you meet all the conditions. Our insurance team will verify the terms and conditions of your health insurance plans to help you maximize your insurance coverage.
Is it worth getting varicose veins removed?
It’s no secret that varicose veins can be unsightly. But for many people, cosmetic concerns are just the tip of the iceberg. Varicose veins can cause aching, throbbing, and even pain. They can also lead to more serious problems, like blood clots, ulcers, and bleeding. If you’re dealing with varicose veins, you may be wondering if it’s worth it to get them removed. And the short answer is YES!
Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted veins that usually occur in the legs. They’re caused by valves in the veins that are not working properly. This can cause blood to pool in the veins and the veins to become enlarged. If left untreated, blood will continue accumulating in the leg veins, leading to increased vascular dilation and bulging veins. Over time, the varicose veins’ walls will weaken and increase the risk of burst varicose veins, which would lead to profuse bleeding.
You may also suffer from some of the advanced complications of underlying chronic venous insufficiency, such as leg ulceration and deep vein thrombosis. DVT is a condition wherein the accumulation of blood in leg veins may eventually lead to blood clots, which can then break away and travel to the lungs, leading to a potentially fatal pulmonary embolism.
Can sclerotherapy be covered by insurance?
Sclerotherapy is a medical procedure used to treat spider veins and small varicose veins. During sclerotherapy, a chemical solution is injected into the vein, which causes the vein to collapse and fade away.
Spider veins are usually considered to be a cosmetic issue, and as such, most health insurance plans will not cover the cost of sclerotherapy. However, there are some exceptions. If your spider veins are causing pain or other symptoms, your insurance company may be willing to cover the cost of treatment. In addition, if your spider veins are caused by an underlying medical condition, such as venous insufficiency, you may be eligible for insurance coverage.
Our insurance team will review the terms and conditions of your insurance plan to determine if you’re eligible for insurance coverage. We actively help you maximize your insurance coverage possibilities.