Countdown to Summer: Why Now is a Great Time to Get a Vein Treatment
Before you know it, we’ll be going from this
to this,
so now is the perfect time to get summer-ready with a vein treatment. But having to bare your legs at the pool isn’t the only motivation for getting a vein treatment done now. Matter of fact, we came up with 6 great reasons.
Great Reason #1: Cooler temps
Compression hose must be worn after any vein treatment, including sclerotherapy (which is considered a cosmetic procedure and therefore is not covered by insurance and does not require a wait time). Compression hose are worn for the first 24-48 hours and then all day until your follow-up appointment. So take advantage of the cooler temps and cover-up opportunities now, so you can show off those better looking, better feeling legs soon!
Great Reason #2: Get a jump on that insurance deductible.
As vein disease is a medical condition, minimally invasive vein treatments are covered by Medicare and most insurance. That’s great news! However, most insurance companies require a “wait period” before giving the green light for a covered person to proceed with a vein treatment.
Great Reason #3: You won’t mind the insurance “waiting period” as much.
An insurance wait period requires you to practice conservative vein treatments first. Conservative treatments for varicose veins will not “cure” your vein disease or stop the progression of the disease, but they will help your legs feel better and reduce some of the symptoms of vein disease, including feelings of achiness, restlessness, swelling, tiredness, and pain.
Some standard conservative varicose vein treatments include:
- Wearing of compression tights and/or socks – Compression therapy is the preferred, go-to conservative treatment option for relieving symptoms associated with mild to moderately severe vein disease or whenever circulation is compromised, such as sitting or standing for extended periods.
- Over-the-counter pain meds, like Advil, Tylenol or others can take the edge off pain.
- Leg elevation – propping legs with pillows in your bed at night or on an ottoman or stable surface for 10-15 minutes a couple of times during the day eases swelling and pressure.
- Exercise – light to moderate exercising for 30 minutes per day helps get blood flowing and relieves symptoms
- Weight loss – if necessary
Great Reason #4: Some of you get to cut to the front of the line.
Wait periods can range from 6 weeks to 3 months, depending on the insurance carrier. And for some lucky ones, there is no wait at all.
Current insurance waiting times for vein treatment procedures are:
- Medicare – no wait, if there are skin changes (advanced vein disease symptoms, such as darkening of the skin, itchy rash, ulcers, healed ulcers or bleeding varices. Medicare requires a 3-month conservative treatment period for people who are symptomatic (uncomfortable feelings associated with varicose veins and no skin changes)
- United Health Care — no wait
- BlueCross BlueShield — 6 weeks
- All others 3 months
Great Reason #5: There’s a dedicated team of insurance specialists to serve you.
Hamilton Vein Center has a team of insurance and billing specialists who work with our patient coordinators to share estimates and insurance benefits information. We want you to be completely informed about the type of treatment you are receiving and the coverage by your insurance company. If you ever have any questions or concerns, we are here to answer them.
Great Reason #6: You made a commitment to look better and feel better in 2013.
Taking that first step and coming in for your vein consultation and screening to see if the discomfort you are experiencing is related to vein disease is such an important one. As soon as vein disease is diagnosed, we can get you on the road to feeling better that day with an appointment for a vein treatment. Do it now, and you’ll be ready to pull on those shorts just in time for summer.
Call 281-565-0033 to schedule your vein consult and screening today!