Laser therapy is an increasingly popular option for people looking to address their medical needs without undergoing more intrusive or expensive treatments. It's important to know whether laser therapy is covered by insurance so that you can make sure you're getting the care and coverage you need. Read on to learn more about laser therapy and its coverage options.
What Is Laser Therapy?
Laser therapy is a type of medical treatment done by ophthalmologists that uses low-level lasers or light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to treat a variety of conditions. It works by applying energy to the affected area, which has been known to reduce inflammation and stimulate tissue healing. Laser therapy can be used for various skin issues such as acne, psoriasis, and wrinkles; and also pain management, wound healing, arthritis, gum disease treatments, hair removal, and more.
The laser emits a beam of light which generates a photochemical reaction when it comes into contact with cells in the body. This reaction triggers the production of cellular energy and increases blood circulation around the treated area. This helps reduce inflammation and enhance the healing process. As well as being non-invasive and safe to use, laser therapy provides fast results with minimal side effects or downtime.
Here’s a list of conditions that would require laser therapy:
- Acne: Laser therapy can reduce redness, inflammation and acne scarring with minimal downtime.
- Pain Management: Laser treatment is often used to treat acute and chronic pain from conditions such as back pain, arthritis, tendonitis and nerve damage.
- Wound Healing: Laser therapy improves the rate of wound healing by stimulating the body’s natural healing process. It helps reduce inflammation, swelling and scarring of wounds.
- Arthritis: Low intensity laser therapy has been found to reduce joint pain and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Gum Disease Treatments: Laser treatment can be used to remove bacteria and inflammation from the gums to help prevent progression of gum disease.
- Hair Removal: Laser hair removal is a fast, painless way to rid yourself of unwanted hair permanently.
Laser Therapy Cost
According to Montana Laser and Medical Center, for the majority of clinics, you can expect to pay somewhere between $50 and $150 per session, with nine treatments being the average. All in all, 6-12 sessions don’t come with a significant price tag when compared to the potential costs you could incur from missing out on activities and other associated expenses.
Factors That Affect The Laser Therapy Cost
The cost of laser therapy sessions can vary depending on a variety of factors, such as the condition being treated, the area of treatment, the type of device used and even the provider’s experience. In this section, we discuss some of the primary factors that affect the overall cost of laser therapy.
- Condition: The condition being treated will affect the overall cost of laser therapy. For example, treating skin cancer may be more expensive than treating a facial scar.
- Area of Treatment: Larger areas may require more treatments and can increase the overall cost of laser therapy.
- Device Used: Different devices used in laser therapy will also affect the overall cost. Lower-end lasers may be cheaper to purchase but could lead to longer sessions and higher long-term costs.
- Provider’s Experience: An experienced provider will likely charge a higher rate than someone who is less experienced. Make sure to ask questions about your provider's expertise before selecting them for treatment.
Is Laser Therapy Covered By Insurance?
Many insurance providers do not cover laser therapy, as the treatments are considered elective or cosmetic. However, some insurance plans may cover treatment for specific medical conditions. It is important to speak with your provider and insurance company to understand what type of coverage is available and whether or not any additional out-of-pocket costs will be required. Additionally, some providers may offer discounts or payment plans that can make laser therapy more affordable. It is also a good idea to ask your provider about any special offers they have on laser therapy that may help lower the overall cost. By doing research and speaking with your provider, you can find ways to get the most out of your treatment while staying within budget.
The following conditions may be covered under insurance for laser therapy, with details on the insurance plans that cover them:
- Skin cancer - Many ACA plans and employer plans may cover the cost of skin cancer treatments, such as photodynamic therapy (PDT) and laser surgery.
- Acne scars - Some Medicare Advantage plans and other private health insurance plans may include coverage for acne scar removal using lasers.
- Psoriasis - Some private health insurance policies may provide partial or full coverage for laser therapy to treat psoriasis.
- Hyperpigmentation & Melasma - Depending on your plan, some ACA plans and other private health insurance policies may offer coverage for the treatment of hyperpigmentation and melasma using laser therapy.
- Birthmarks and age spots - Certain employer-sponsored plans or Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) may offer coverage for laser treatments to reduce the appearance of birthmarks and age spots.
- Vascular lesions - Most ACA policies will share in a portion of the costs associated with vascular lesion removal by lasers.
- Hair removal - Many group or individual policies will also provide partial or full coverage for hair removal using lasers.
- Tattoo removal - Coverage depends on your specific policy; however, many employers’ plans will allow you to use pre-tax dollars to pay for tattoos removal performed with a laser device.
Other Financing Options For Laser Therapy If You Don't Have Insurance
If you don’t have insurance, you can still receive laser therapy treatments for a variety of conditions. There are various financing options available to help make the cost of laser therapy more affordable. These may include payment plans and reduced prices from clinics and physicians that specialize in laser treatments. Let's explore some of the other financing options for laser therapy if you don't have insurance.
If you don’t have insurance, there are other financing options available to help make laser therapy more affordable. Here is a list of alternative ways to pay for treatments:
- CareCredit - This form of payment allows you to spread the cost of your laser treatment over time with low interest rates and monthly payments.
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) - FSAs offer pre-tax dollars that can be used to pay for laser treatments, as well as medications and supplies related to the treatment.
- Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs) - MSAs are often included with high-deductible health plans, allowing people to set aside funds to use towards medical expenses like laser therapy.
- Reduced prices from clinics or physicians – Many doctors and clinics offer discounts on services if you cannot afford the full amount due up front.
- Payment plans – Payment plans allow you to split the cost of treatments into multiple payments over a period of time.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, laser therapy can often be covered under insurance, depending on the treatment and plan. However, there are alternative financing options available to make the costs more affordable if you don’t have insurance. FirstQuote Health can help you compare rates and get quotes from providers that may offer coverage for laser therapy treatments.