Laser hair removal involves using laser light to disable hair follicles, thus preventing future hair growth.
Cosmetic procedures typically aren’t covered by insurance; however, for certain rare health conditions it may become medically necessary.
Clients suffering from these ailments can avail of discounted clinic insurance policies to protect themselves and your business against claims made against it by clients.
1. Medically Necessary
Laser hair removal uses pulses of laser light that target pigment and damage the follicle, stopping further production of hair in that area and making future treatments unnecessary. Results are permanent reducing future maintenance.
Laser hair removal treatments are typically administered by a doctor or physician’s assistant, so it’s essential that you find an experienced licensed professional familiar with your skin type. If seeking treatment at a spa or salon, ensure the staff includes a licensed doctor to oversee and approve of the process. Also recommended: Limit sun exposure before and after treatments especially if your complexion is darker.
To qualify for medically necessary laser hair removal, it’s necessary to have a diagnosed medical condition which results in excessive and unwanted hair growth. This could include hormonal issues or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). A doctor’s recommendation will give you the best chance at having laser hair removal covered by insurance.
Once your doctor determines that laser hair removal is medically necessary, the next step should be calculating how much it will cost in your specific situation. Your costs will depend on factors like location and specialist chosen; additionally it’s wise to inquire whether the clinic offers patient payment plans or financing so as not to end up with medical debt in case your treatment isn’t covered by insurance.
As laser hair removal is generally considered cosmetic surgery, it won’t usually be covered by private health insurance plans. But there are exceptions – particularly for transgender individuals seeking gender affirmation through laser hair removal – where some or all expenses might be covered by their provider. Psoriasis patients and people living with fibromyalgia could also potentially qualify for coverage for some or all their laser hair removal expenses through insurance plans.
2. Gender Affirmation
Laser hair removal has become an important nonsurgical gender affirmation procedure for transgender people, and has quickly become one of the most sought-after cosmetic treatments nationwide. It helps reduce or remove unwanted hair in all parts of the body and face, including armpits, bikini area, back face and legs – and has proven itself safe, effective and permanent.
Body hair reduction can also play an integral part in transgender transitioning, helping make facial and chest hair less obvious and giving patients a more masculine appearance. For many transgender people this experience serves as an affirmation and body positivity boost as they go through their transition journey.
Although insurance policies recognize the significance of transgender care, insurance policies still tend not to cover it. Indeed, recent efforts by some states to restrict which surgeries transgender youths may undergo are deeply troubling; such policies often based on misguided fears may prevent children from receiving necessary healthcare that reflects their lived gender identity.
Transgender youths living under these laws may be denied gender-affirming surgeries such as phalloplasty or vaginoplasty as well as nonsurgical options like hormone therapy, skin flaps/grafts or facial plastic surgery – even when these services are legal under state laws; some health insurance providers still refuse coverage.
OptumHealth published a study which assessed 123 private insurance policies available through the Affordable Care Act marketplace and 38 state Medicaid policies to ascertain whether they provided permanent hair removal coverage for gender minority (GM) and transgender (T) individuals. They used medical policies pertaining to gender affirming care and certificate of coverage documents as bases for analysis.
Of the 123 private insurers analyzed, six specifically excluded gender-affirming care while nine remained silent on the topic. Seven policies provided hair removal coverage as part of gender dysphoria surgeries while 10 carriers stated they would grant coverage upon appeal if an indication for surgery existed.
3. Folliculitis
Folliculitis, an infection of hair follicles, is not life-threatening but may result in painful red bumps that resemble acne breakouts and scarring/dark spots on your skin. While medications may help treat mild cases of Folliculitis, laser hair removal offers a better solution by killing off hair follicles to stop bacteria, fungus and viruses from infiltrating them further.
Skin rejuvenation treatments are typically conducted by dermatologists or plastic surgeons and typically do not fall under health insurance coverage. Some healthcare providers may be able to convince an insurance provider of its necessity; however, this cannot be guaranteed.
Patients undergoing laser hair removal often experience temporary discomfort during the procedure. A local anesthetic may be used by their doctor to reduce this pain, and in advance of having this procedure performed they must refrain from shaving, plucking or waxing the area being treated in order to ensure optimal results. Furthermore, sun exposure could potentially cause pigmentation issues due to pigmentation problems in certain skin tones.
After laser hair removal sessions, patients’ skin may appear red and swollen; this usually resembles sunburn and can last for hours after treatment. Sunscreen is necessary to protect the patient’s skin after their laser session has taken place and to safeguard against sun damage in general; tanning beds and indoor tanning must also be avoided in order to stay clear of unwanted red marks on their bodies.
Most people find their hair regrows lighter and less visible after treatment; however, not every hair follicle may be destroyed and some may regrow darker or thicker than before. Some doctors advise taking several courses of treatments in order to achieve maximum effectiveness.
Laser hair removal may not be covered by health insurance plans, but many clients have discovered they can use flexible spending accounts (FSA) or pay with flexible payment plans (FFP) instead. When considering this payment option, clients should inquire at their treatment office about package options and payment plans, discounted rates for multiple treatments at once or package deals, yearly touch up plans as well as any possible discounts or yearly payments plans – making laser hair removal one of the most cost-effective ways of eliminating unwanted body hair.
4. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Under private health insurance plans, hair removal for cosmetic purposes or an ongoing health issue typically isn’t covered; however, in certain instances your insurance provider might agree to cover part or all of your laser hair reduction treatment.
One such situation would be suffering from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a hormone imbalance affecting women that leads to irregular periods, acne and oily skin issues, weight gain or difficulty losing it, infertility and difficulty sleeping – sometimes even leading to hirsutism or unwanted hair growing in masculine patterns on face or body.
Laser hair removal is a specialized technique that uses beam light to destroy hair follicles responsible for producing unwanted hair growth. This procedure is considered safe cosmetic treatment, and has proven highly effective and permanent hair reduction treatment; moreover, its cost compares favorably to electrolysis or waxing methods of permanent hair reduction.
You should contact your physician if there are specific medical reasons that necessitate laser hair removal for you, such as an illness that necessitates it, such as hidradenitis pilaris – a skin disease caused by bacteria infections that is treatable with laser treatments designed specifically to kill bacteria from affected areas.
If you are considering gender reassignment surgery, your insurance may provide for laser hair removal treatments as part of transgender affirmation and transition care. Some insurers consider hair removal an essential part of care for transgender affirmation and transitioning.
Even if your insurance company won’t cover laser hair removal treatment, investing in it could still save a substantial amount of money over the long term. Studies have found that women spend approximately $23,000 annually on hair removal services alone; opting for laser hair reduction treatment instead could potentially save some of this expense.
