Is Vein Treatment Covered By Insurance?

Spider vein treatment is generally not covered by insurance when it's purely cosmetic. However, if spider veins cause symptoms like pain or discomfort, treatment may be covered. Insurance typically requires proof of medical necessity, such as failed conservative treatments and a diagnosis of venous reflux, before approving coverage for spider vein procedures.

Many people are surprised to learn that varicose and spider veins are not just a cosmetic issue; they are often a sign of an underlying medical condition known as vein disease. Because vein disease (also known as chronic venous insufficiency) is a progressive medical condition that can lead to painful symptoms such as swelling, burning sensations, and blood clots, most insurance companies will cover the cost of vein treatment. In fact, at Metro Vein Centers we accept over 200+ insurance plans and 97% of vein treatments are covered by insurance.

What treatments are covered? What can you expect? How much will vein treatment cost? Keep reading to learn more!

Misinformation and Misconceptions

Because vein disease can cause visible symptoms, it’s often written-off as a purely cosmetic issue. While visible spider veins alone indeed are cosmetic (and can be treated), if paired with concerns such as pain or discomfort, this can indicate a deeper medical concern. Just because the problem is visible, it does not mean that the solution requires an out-of-pocket payment. To determine the root of your concerns, a board-certified vein doctor at Metro Vein Centers will conduct an evaluation that may include a vein ultrasound to check if the valves in your veins are functioning properly. Following this consultation, your doctor will customize a treatment plan that best suits your unique symptoms. If you have only spider veins that you would like removed, your best option is a cosmetic treatment that would not be covered by insurance. If you have blood clots, DVTs, low-functioning veins, or other signs of chronic venous insufficiency, your treatments may be covered by insurance as a medical necessity.

Vein disease can produce some unsightly changes to the body, but the dangers of complications such as DVTs set it apart as an important medical concern. Many people ignore their symptoms or postpone treatment, either because they believe their issue is an inevitable part of growing older, or because they see it as unavoidable or inevitable. Vein disease has many risk factors that also play a role in these misconceptions. Age, gender, pregnancies, medical predispositions, genetics and lifestyle choices can increase your risk of developing vein disease.

Varicose veins do not fade with time; in fact, they will get worse the longer you wait to get treatment. State-of-the-art treatment options are minimally invasive, FDA-approved, and performed by our team of board-certified vein doctors.

We accept over 200 insurance plans, more than any other vein clinic, and we’ll make sure your treatments are covered! We’ll be sure to speak with your provider to determine if you have met your deductible, how much your copays may be, and any other fees you can expect to face as you pursue medical treatment for your vein disease.

Medical Treatment for Varicose Veins

Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when your veins can’t efficiently pump blood back to your heart. This leads to poor circulation in the legs and causes bulging veins, leg ulcers, and intense leg pain over time, and worsens the longer left untreated.

Your vein doctor will determine the best way to help you find relief. Based on your symptoms, the location of your diseased veins, and other important factors (such as your activity levels and lifestyle), a customized treatment plan will be drawn up and your appointments will be scheduled.

Following your free vein evaluation, our patient care team will reach out to your insurance provider to determine your coverage options before we move forward with treatment. Our minimally invasive treatments require very minimal (or no) downtime. They can include removing the problem vein with a small incision, using surgical foams or bioadhesive to close off the problem veins, and using laser or gentle heat to seal veins so they can be reabsorbed by the body. The end goal is always the same: improving blood flow by redirecting it from the diseased vein back through healthy veins with fully functional valves.

Your varicose vein treatment options include:

• Endovenous Laser Ablation: EVLA uses optic fiber and laser technology to treat varicose veins. Under ultrasound guidance, your vein doctor will insert a tiny fiber into the unhealthy vein. A small laser beam is used to gently heat the problem area until the diseased and nonfunctional vein closes. This treatment will help blood reroute, and healthier blood flow is achieved immediately.

• Radiofrequency Ablation: RFA is a varicose vein treatment that uses pulsating radiofrequency energy. Your vein doctor will insert a tiny tube into your unhealthy vein, and once the radiofrequency starts emitting heat—none of which you will feel, as our specialists will administer a localized anesthetic—the vein will immediately close and blood circulation will improve.

• Varithena: This is a foam medication (the same used for sclerotherapy, in a higher dose) that your vein doctor will inject into the diseased vein. We use ultrasound technology to guide this treatment, making sure we pinpoint the exact problem area with our medicine. The injection gently closes the varicose vein. Your blood will naturally redirect to healthy veins.

• VenaSeal: This is a medical bioadhesive that is injected into diseased veins. With only a single injection required, it has a 99% success rate after six months, and is considered one of the best options for permanent removal of varicose veins. Your vein doctor will use ultrasound technology to pinpoint the diseased valve and administer the adhesive. No compression garments are required post-treatment!

• Microphlebectomy: This treatment is done with the aid of local anesthetic (numbing). Your vein doctor will create 2–3 mm incisions on problem areas of the leg to permanently remove larger, twisted veins pressing against the surface of the skin. Because microphlebectomy removes the vein, it allows for immediate, visible results. Because of this immediate visible improvement, it is among the most popular treatments.

• Sclerotherapy: While this treats both varicose and spider veins, it is reserved for smaller varicose veins. A diluted, medicinal foam is injected into the veins, causing them to quickly close and be reabsorbed into the body.

Cosmetic Treatments

If you are experiencing spider veins without any associated symptoms of vein disease, most insurance companies deem treatment for these visible veins a cosmetic concern. Spider vein treatments without painful or uncomfortable symptoms are not often covered by insurance for this reason. The price range for these treatments varies based on surface area (or how much skin is covered with web-like blue, green, purple, or red veins and the severity of the spider veins (namely how dark/pigmented they are, the thickness, and the spread).

At some vein clinics, sclerotherapy cost ranges from $350-$700 per session with an average cost of around $500. Typically, sclerotherapy requires between 1-3 sessions to achieve permanent spider vein removal. As part of our commitment to affordable vein treatment, Metro Vein Centers offers laser spider vein removal and sclerotherapy at $350 per session and has discounted pricing for multiple treatments.

Your spider vein treatment options include:

• Sclerotherapy: This can be used to treat both varicose and spider veins using an injectable foam. Once injected into small veins, the solution adheres to the vein walls, causing unsightly veins to quickly close and be reabsorbed into the body. The spider veins are essentially dissolved and results are permanent after an average of two treatments.

• Excel V+ Laser: This is a 100% non-invasive treatment that allows your vein doctor to eliminate veins from the outside, with no need for any incisions or injections. Laser vein removal is designed to minimize the appearance of small and medium spider veins using targeted laser beams.

Though these cosmetic treatments are not covered by insurance, many patients find themselves with both cosmetic spider veins and the painful symptoms associated with vein disease. Treatments can be performed for both cosmetic and medical concerns by our team of vein specialists, and our patient care team will discuss coverage options with your provider.

Insurance Coverage for Vein Treatment

Communicating with your insurance provider can seem like a daunting and confusing process. Our patient care team will happily take that stress off of your shoulders! We are proud to work with over 200 insurance providers, with 97% of our vein treatments covered by insurance! We’ll handle talks with your provider to make sure your treatment process is smooth and stress-free, from evaluation to your last visit at our clinic. Our goal is to provide the highest quality customized care. Let us know how we can help you!

All are welcome in our clinics. Even if you don’t have insurance, our evaluations are free as part of our commitment to increasing access to vein disease education. If you’re interested in a free consultation with a vein specialist, book your appointment online or call us at 866-831-9522. Our team is happy to answer any inquiries about treatment options, scheduling, or insurance coverage. We’re here to help you begin your journey toward healthy, happy legs, and we’ll be with you every step of the way. We’ve got you covered!