How Costly is Varicose Veins Treatment, and Is It Worth It?

Varicose veins treatment is a good solution for cosmetic concerns and is highly effective in treating pain and discomfort associated with the condition. Vein treatments can be costly, but your health insurance provider may cover many options.  

Vein Centers specialize in treating venous conditions. It’s essential to see a vein expert to get a proper diagnosis and discover the available treatment options for your case. If you are a good candidate for a specific treatment, the next step would be to contact your insurance company. They can provide information on whether or not your recommended procedure will be covered.  As a general rule, most insurance companies won’t cover any treatments for cosmetic vein issues alone. They need to see that the procedure is treating any underlying disease you may have that’s causing the varicose veins. 

One of the common underlying diseases that many patients have is venous insufficiency.  Venous Insufficiency is what leads to varicose veins. Weak or damaged valves cause varicose veins in the veins. When the cardiovascular system works correctly, the heart pumps oxygen-rich blood to the body through large arteries. Veins are responsible for returning the deoxygenated blood to the heart so the circulatory process can be repeated. However, when the veins fail to usher the blood back up toward the heart, the blood begins to pool in the veins. This causes the veins to appear enlarged, twisted, and bulging at the skin's surface. 

What Services Are Offered At Vein Clinics?

Vein clinics offer various services to treat venous insufficiency, varicose, and spider veins. Most procedures are noninvasive and highly effective at treating the pain and discomfort associated with these venous conditions. 

1. Conservative Therapy: Varicose vein treatment using conservative therapy ensures treatment does not interfere with daily activities. Leg elevation and compression stockings can offer relief from pain and other symptoms. Avoid standing or sitting for prolonged periods. Also, lifestyle changes can be effective strategies in finding relief— like a healthy diet rich in flavonoids and regular, moderate exercise regimens. 
2. Radio Frequency Ablation: This treatment utilizes precision, focused radio-frequency energy using a  small catheter inserted into the vein and then heated. The heat from the radio-frequency energy running through the catheter shrinks and collapses the malfunctioning portion of the vein, sealing it off from the rest of its healthier network. 
3. Ambulatory Phlebectomy: Also known as micro-phlebectomy, ambulatory phlebectomy is a micro-extraction procedure that removes the bulging varicose veins. 
4. Sclerotherapy: This ultrasound-guided procedure targets and eliminates varicose veins hidden beneath the skin. A solution is injected into the affected area, making the vein scar. Then, using Sclerotherapy, the blood reroutes to healthier veins and absorbs into the body after injection. 
5. VenaSeal: During this procedure, a small amount of cyanoacrylate, or medical glue, is placed into a catheter and injected into the vein. When the vein is closed, it naturally redirects blood to other, healthy veins. To ensure proper  VenaSeal treatment ultrasound will be scheduled a few weeks after your treatment to ensure the veins are in good condition.

Does Insurance cover Vein Treatment? 

“Is varicose vein treatment covered by insurance?” It’s one of the FAQ’s we get at BASS Vein Center. To be safe and accurate, it is best to contact your insurance carrier to see if the recommended or desired vein treatment is covered. The good news is that the offices at BASS Vein Center will get them for you to see if the treatment is covered.  We have worked with most commercial plans, including Aetna, BCBS, Anthem Blue Cross, Cigna, and United Healthcare. We also work with Medicare and Medical or county programs like CCHP and CHCN. In addition, contracts at the BASS Vein Center include HMOs like John Muir and Sutter Select. Unfortunately, most insurance companies do not cover procedures for cosmetic reasons. Specifically, cosmetic sclerotherapy— a popular treatment for spider veins— is not covered by insurance, but it is an available option by our vein doctors.