The answer to the question is unknown and remains to be seen how it will play out. As with most Americans I have no absolute answers to insurance and government programs that are highly confusing and prone to frequent changes and surprises. What I do know is that much of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) has yet to be fully implemented due to the struggles with the implementation. Doctors seem to be out of the discussion when it comes to insurance and the Affordable Care Act. They will have to take the same wait and see what will happen as patients will have to do. Across the entire medical treatment spectrum the current trend is you can still get the treatment or treatments you need if medically necessary or want if you can afford to pay out-of-pocket. Vein centers may be required to be accredited in vascular ultrasound. This quality assurance measure will weed out those facilities that don’t want to adhere to the strict requirements and may assist in the approval process for those facilities that do. Ultimately the patient must question the vein center that they are considering working with. The patient should engage their respective insurance about what is and isn’t covered. By asking the insurance companies very specific questions about treatments you may be considering/required can and will save you a lot of time and confusion.
It is likely that treatment of vein disease is part of minimum standards under Obama care. However, insurance companies are writing policies with ever higher deductibles and co-insurances so even the gold or platinum level plans will have pretty high deductibles. As a consumer it is important to be able to understand your responsibilities and plan accordingly. Using a flexible spending account for example can save you up to 30% due to the money being pre-tax. Even when things are covered, they may pinch your wallet more than in previous years. Some insurance plans are trying to call more and more vein disease cosmetic concerns, this have been going on for decades. The vein treatment facility has a great deal of impact in navigating these waters.
Varicose veins of the lower legs
The Affordable Care Act is virtually impossible to understand in predicting future benefits. The customary vein treatments may be covered, but this is an educated guess. If you have concerns, it may be adventitious to make an appointment a vein specialist sooner rather than later. Very few people have read the 6000 pages involved in the Affordable Care Act. However, there will be no pre-existing conditions on policies which may be a plus when it comes to vein treatment. The downside may be the pre-required conservative therapy requirements may be tighter. Currently most insurance companies require the patient to wear medical grade compression hose, elevate legs, etc. for 6 weeks to 6 months but the new law may delay treatment and for many people they will not benefit or improve by doing the conservative measures. It would be beneficial for you to have a conversation with your primary care physician and start doing these things before you receive an evaluation.
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