Is Laser Hair Removal Covered by Health Insurance?
Shaving, tweezing, threading, waxing, bleaching, creams — the beauty market offers no shortage of ways to remove or reduce the appearance of unwanted body hair. While these options may initially be appealing for their ease and affordability, they do not produce lasting results and can wind up being costlier and more time-consuming in the long run. Laser hair removal is a popular alternative offered at the Vein Care Center for patients who wish to reduce the growth of excessive or unwanted hair and enjoy long-lasting results.
Laser hair reduction is a noninvasive treatment that uses pulses of concentrated light to target melanin in a hair follicle. When the light is absorbed, it damages the follicle and inhibits its ability to produce future growth. The skin is not harmed during the process. Optimal results are achieved over a series of sessions spread weeks apart. Laser hair reduction can be performed on a variety of areas, including the face, legs, abdomen, arms, underarms, back, chest and bikini line.
In most cases, laser hair reduction is considered an elective cosmetic procedure and is paid for out of pocket. However, in cases where it is deemed medically necessary due to a condition that causes excessive hair growth, laser hair reduction may be partially or fully covered by insurance. These conditions include:
Folliculitis
Folliculitis is an infection that develops in the hair follicles. This condition can occur almost anywhere on the skin or scalp when the follicles are damaged, irritated or blocked. Although folliculitis is not life-threatening, it causes patches of red bumps that resemble an acne breakout and can be itchy, sore and embarrassing. Severe cases can lead to further infection, permanent damage to the follicles, hair loss, scarring and dark spots on the skin. Medication is a suitable treatment for milder cases, but when oral or topical prescriptions prove ineffective, laser hair reduction may be a more fitting way of addressing the issue.
Cushing’s Syndrome
Cushing’s syndrome can develop when the body is exposed to high levels of the hormone cortisol, often as a result of taking glucocorticoid or corticosteroid medicine over an extended period. Common symptoms include a rounded face, stretch marks, high blood pressure, weight gain and fatty tissue deposits, fragile skin that bruises easily, bone loss, extreme fatigue, weak muscles, low libido and extra hair growth on the body and face.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, commonly known as PCOS, is a hormonal imbalance affecting women that interferes with normal reproductive processes. It is associated with irregular periods, oily skin, acne, weight gain or difficulty losing weight, infertility and trouble sleeping. It is also one of the leading causes of hirsutism, abnormal hair growth in women that appears in a masculine distribution (arms, chest, abdomen, face). PCOS treatment focuses on managing each patient’s specific concerns. For PCOS patients experiencing hirsutism, laser hair reduction can offer a solution.
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia refers to a group of hereditary disorders characterized by abnormal production of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone by the adrenal glands. This genetic defect also causes overproduction of male sex hormones, which causes male characteristics to develop early in boys and appear in girls and women. For female patients, symptoms can include irregular periods, a deep voice, infertility and increased facial hair growth.
Cancer
In rare cases, a tumor in the ovaries or adrenal glands can cause hirsutism. Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a cancer of the adrenal glands that can produce cortisol, aldosterone, estrogen or testosterone, leading to the development of male characteristics in female patients. Stromal cell cancer, a type of ovarian cancer, can also lead to excess testosterone production, causing acne and excessive pubic, underarm and facial hair growth.
Assessing Your Eligibility
The only way to be sure your laser hair reduction will be covered by insurance is to review your policy and contact your provider. If you suffer from a medical problem that causes uncomfortable hair growth that has a demonstrable negative impact on your life, and a doctor has determined laser hair reduction is the most appropriate course of action, your insurance company may pay for the treatment. An insurance company will only provide coverage for laser hair reduction if they have sufficient reason to consider it a medically necessary procedure.
To increase the chance of having your claim approved, ask your doctor to advocate on your behalf. A knowledgeable medical professional is in the strongest position to present a compelling case to your insurance company. Be sure to visit a doctor and qualified laser specialist like. Dr. Manu Aggarwal for your treatment. Though some spas, medspas and esthetician offices offer laser hair reduction, insurance will only cover the procedure when it is performed in the office of a medical doctor, such as at the Vein Care Center.
Laser Hair Reduction at Vein Care Center
At VCC, we have treated patients who successfully secured insurance coverage for laser hair reduction due to a medical condition and have helped them achieve excellent results. Compared to traditional methods of hair removal such as shaving, plucking and waxing, laser hair removal is a proven method for long-lasting hair reduction.
We use both Cutera® excel V and excel HR lasers (Nd:YAG 1064nm and Alexandrite 755nm) to provide effective hair reduction for a range of patients with different hair types and skin tones. The Nd:YAG laser is suitable for most areas of the body and all skin types, and has the safest wavelength for hair reduction on darker skin types and tanned skin. The Alexandrite laser is highly absorbed by melanin making it ideal for finer hair and lighter skin tones. We can use the Alexandrite laser to treat darker skin types when trying to address finer hair on the face or other areas of the body.
Laser hair reduction in Ohio can be delegated to a Physician Assistant, Certified Nurse Practitioner or a Registered Nurse. Dr. Manu B. Aggarwal is on site when staff with these qualifications perform the procedure. Our laser hair reduction packages include seven sessions so most patients are able to see optimal results with a single package. Some patients may, however, require additional sessions depending on their condition. If laser hair reduction is not the most effective treatment in your case, we also offer electrolysis.
Contact our office today at 419-227-4472 to schedule a free screening and learn more about your options.