Answer:
I assume from your question that you are referring to the large veins that stick out from the skin surface as raised lumps, and not small spider veins. Spider veins are a cosmetic problem and treatment for them is not covered by insurance. The best treatment for spider veins is injection sclerotherapy. Laser treatment for spider veins is only used as a secondary method and is not as effective as injections. Laser treatment is also much more expensive and painful.
Treatment for varicose veins is often medically necessary, especially when the veins are associated with venous insufficiency or poor blood flow in the legs. Duplex ultrasound is a non-invasive diagnostic test used to check the status of blood flow in the leg veins and is usually a required test that must show vein disease before medical insurance would cover the cost of a procedure.
If veins are treated to reduce leg pain, reduce leg swelling, and to reduce skin ulceration and skin inflammation, insurance may cover the cost of a procedure called endovenous ablation of the saphenous vein. This procedure requires the insertion of a glass thread into the vein through a needle puncture. The glass thread is hooked up to a laser outside of the body. Light energy travels through the glass thread into the vein and can close off the diseased vein as the light energy of the laser is converted into heat energy. The procedure requires a local anesthetic but minimal downtime and no hospitalization. A second procedure called foam sclerotherapy is often done to close off smaller varicose veins that do not close with the endovenous laser ablation. Foam treatment is not usually covered by insurance.
Treatment for varicose veins is often medically necessary, especially when the veins are associated with venous insufficiency or poor blood flow in the legs. Duplex ultrasound is a non-invasive diagnostic test used to check the status of blood flow in the leg veins and is usually a required test that must show vein disease before medical insurance would cover the cost of a procedure.
If veins are treated to reduce leg pain, reduce leg swelling, and to reduce skin ulceration and skin inflammation, insurance may cover the cost of a procedure called endovenous ablation of the saphenous vein. This procedure requires the insertion of a glass thread into the vein through a needle puncture. The glass thread is hooked up to a laser outside of the body. Light energy travels through the glass thread into the vein and can close off the diseased vein as the light energy of the laser is converted into heat energy. The procedure requires a local anesthetic but minimal downtime and no hospitalization. A second procedure called foam sclerotherapy is often done to close off smaller varicose veins that do not close with the endovenous laser ablation. Foam treatment is not usually covered by insurance.