Does Insurance Cover Varicose Vein Treatment? Date of Publication: June 22, 2020 Here are the factors that decide whether insurance covers varicose vein treatment: The majority of insurance types (including Medicare and Molina) will cover varicose vein treatments that are deemed “medically required care” but not “cosmetic care.” Varicose veins (swollen leg veins) must produce symptoms such as leg discomfort for insurance coverage. Varicose veins must produce symptoms such as leg discomfort, heaviness, chronic swelling, nighttime cramps, or burning for vein therapy to be deemed medically required. Indicative of therapy for varicose veins are leg ulcers (open wounds) caused by the condition, recurring blood clots or phlebitis, burst veins that bleed, and ankle skin discolouration.
- Symptoms impact daily activities.
- The symptoms must be severe enough to interfere with the individual’s ability to do everyday tasks or job.
- For instance, a teacher with varicose veins may be unable to stand and do their duties because they must frequently raise their legs.
- A waitress at a restaurant who experiences leg pain after a few hours may no longer be able to perform lengthy shifts.
Symptoms might interfere with a person’s lifestyle by reducing the amount of activity they can perform or preventing them from cooking or performing housework owing to leg discomfort.6 to 12 weeks of conservative therapy must be attempted. In the majority of situations, insurance demands that many weeks of conservative treatment have been attempted.
- Compression stockings, leg elevation, exercise, weight loss, anti-inflammatory medicine such as ibuprofen or vasoactive drugs such as horse chestnut or Vascular, and hot/cold packs are examples of conservative treatments.
- PRIOR TO APPROVING TREATMENT, MANY INSURANCE TYPES REQUIRE 6 to 12 weeks of wearing medical-grade compression stockings.
You should schedule your appointment immediately and begin incorporating conservative management into your lifestyle. You should start a daily journal to document that you are utilizing conservative therapy. If your primary care physician has already prescribed compression stockings, it is good to get a note or prescription from him or her, as this will count towards your conservative management time period.
- Varicose veins without associated symptoms
- Spider veins
Does Your Vein Disorder Meet the Criteria for Medical Necessity? If you responded “yes” to each of the four areas, you are likely to fulfill the vein therapy medical necessity criterion. This questionnaire has been streamlined for patient convenience and comprehension. 
Varicose veins may result in at least one of the following symptoms.
- Leg discomfort
- Heaviness
- Persistent swelling
- Pain, heaviness, or pulsing
And/Or have you had any of the following varicose vein complications?
- Leg ulceration
- Ruptured bleeding vein
- Blood clot recurrence or phlebitis
Do your symptoms (leg discomfort, etc.) interfere with your everyday activities?
- It does influence my job.
- Yes, it impacts my dwelling.
- Yes, it impacts my regular activities or leisure time.
Have you already attempted conservative treatment for your vein disease, but it has not been totally successful?
- Yes, I have tried compression socks and at least two of the following:
- Leg elevation
- Exercise
- Weight reduction
- Ibuprofen or another NSAID
- Cold or warm packs
- Venoactive medications such as Vascular or over-the-counter dietary supplements including horse chestnut or grapeseed extract.
Have you undergone an ultrasound that revealed underlying venous reflux disease?
- Yes, my ultrasound revealed and confirmed reverse blood flow in my veins ( venous reflux )
- The ultrasonography testing revealed that my veins operate normally.
However, some individual insurance policies do not cover varicose vein therapy; this is typically due to an employment exclusion. Sometimes in this situation, one may request that varicose vein treatments be included in the coverage. You can contact the number listed on the back of your insurance card to inquire whether it covers vein treatments.
Are varicose veins considered a disability?
Regarding Work-Related Permanent Damage – Varicose veins are a, In many instances, the Permanent Disability rating schedule permits a permanent impairment and disability rating for lower extremity impairments resulting from varicose veins and other peripheral vascular disorders.
Vein stripping 2 no longer required general anesthesia or extensive incisions to remove a troublesome vein. There are less invasive treatment alternatives, and the majority of troublesome veins, from spider veins to varicose veins, may be addressed without surgery.
The use of heat, adhesive, or a fluid injected directly into the veins are among the more recent treatments. The treatment for varicose veins should be individualized for each patient. Your therapy may consist of a single or a mix of procedures, depending on your specific vein condition. Varicose vein therapy is often covered by insurance when vein disorders are creating health difficulties; but, in other circumstances, treatment is deemed cosmetic.
Check with your insurance provider for your coverage. The most conservative treatment approach is compression therapy. Not requiring a prescription, compression stockings are meant to provide particular pressure to the legs to reduce pain and edema. Endovenous ablation is a procedure that employs radiofrequency or laser radiation to cauterize a malfunctioning vein and redirect blood flow to healthy veins.
VenaSealTM is a medical adhesive that does not require heat and is an excellent alternative for those whose troublesome veins may be close to the skin’s surface. Sclerotherapy is performed by injecting a fluid directly into the veins, which causes them to shrink and collapse. All of them are outpatient procedures, and patients should be able to resume regular activities within 24 hours.
Microphlebectomy is another minimally invasive procedure that includes removing a problematic vein through microscopic incisions in the skin. The incisions are so small that sutures are not required, and the procedure is performed under local anesthesia.
Does NHS cover varicose veins?
Will the National Health Service treat my varicose veins? – No is the easy answer. The NHS does not often treat varicose veins for cosmetic reasons, but will treat individuals enduring pain, discomfort, or serious problems as a result of their varicose veins, provided they fulfill certain grading requirements.