Laser therapy is a common procedure to treat several conditions like tumors, cancers, kidney stones, and impaired vision. Is laser therapy covered by insurance? This question has been asked by many patients nowadays and yet there is no definitive answer to it.
Laser therapy may or may not be covered by insurance. There are some factors that determine whether or not insurance covers laser therapy, such as your state and your insurance provider. That is why you can never find one answer that fits all.
What Is Laser Therapy?
Laser therapy refers to a medical treatment that utilizes a strong light beam to burn or destroy tissue at high precision. Similar to open surgery, it may cause bleeding and scarring but generally, it does not cause significant health risks.
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Laser treatments are generally faster than traditional surgeries, even some patients are allowed to leave the hospital after the procedure. Besides, most patients heal faster and have less pain, which becomes the benefit of laser operation.
Depending on the medical conditions, laser treatment can be expensive and may need repetition. The average cost is between $50 and $150 per session depending on the healthcare provider and type of treatment. If you cannot afford laser treatment, try to find out if it is covered by your insurance.
Does Insurance Cover Laser Therapy?
Each insurance provider is different. Most insurance provides coverage for a wide range of treatments and medical procedures that are necessary medically but it is not the case with laser therapy.
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Some companies may cover laser treatment but others cannot help you pay for the therapy. The best way to figure it out is by contacting your insurance company and asking about the policy related to laser treatment.
Is laser therapy covered by insurance? It depends on your provider, insurance plan, and several other factors like the type of laser therapy and the clinics. Certain clinics may accept insurance but the rest only provide a self-pay service, which means you have to use your own money or health savings plan.
But your insurance plan and provider may be somewhere in between. Some insurance may cover laser therapy partially, which means you will get insurance reimbursement but it does not cover the entire cost of laser treatment. So, you have to pay for the rest from your pocket.
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Covered and Uncovered Laser Therapy
In some circumstances, insurance may cover laser therapy. For example, Medicare which is a health insurance program for disabled individuals and the elderly does not usually cover cold laser therapy (CLT). But if the therapy is part of the approved clinical trial, the cost might be covered.
To get covered, ask your healthcare provider to file a written request for the coverage which explains why CLT is important for your condition. For your information, cold laser therapy refers to a medical treatment that uses low levels of light to stimulate cells to reduce inflammation.
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Is laser therapy covered by insurance when it comes to cosmetic treatment? Intense pulsed light laser treatment which is commonly performed for rosacea is not covered by insurance. The reason is that this kind of laser therapy is considered cosmetic treatment and it is not covered by insurance.
According to some sources, only 3 percent of patients have coverage to treat rosacea and remove visible blood vessels. The lack of coverage for laser treatment triggers frustration in many patients in most states, forcing them to pay out-of-pocket.
Overall, laser therapy is not a cheap treatment as it requires a high level of precision and sophisticated tools and technology. Is laser therapy covered by insurance? The answer can vary. If you want to play safe, contact your insurance provider to find out if laser therapy is covered by your insurance.
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