Does Medicare Cover Varicose Vein Treatment?

If you’re over the age of 65 with twisted or bulging veins in your legs, you might be curious to find out whether Medicare covers varicose vein treatments.

The risk of varicose veins increases with age. Aging causes normal wear and tear on the valves inside your veins that help regulate blood flow. Over time, that wear can lead to weakened valves, which allow some blood to flow backward. This causes blood to pool and collect, which is the reason your veins may be more visible than they were when you were younger. This reflux can even lead to significant pain and discomfort if it’s left untreated.

Will Medicare cover my varicose vein treatment?

Medicare and Medicare Advantage will cover varicose vein treatments when they are medically necessary, which is largely the case with large and bulging varicose veins. However, before Medicare can approve any treatments or procedures, your doctor must confirm that treatment is medically necessary.

Which varicose vein treatments does Medicare cover?

Some of the varicose vein treatments covered by Medicare include:

  • Sclerotherapy
    Often considered the treatment of choice for smaller varicose veins, sclerotherapy involves injecting a solution directly into the vein. This solution causes the vein to eventually disappear, forcing blood to reroute through healthier veins.
  • Endovenous ablation therapy
    Endovenous ablation is a procedure used to close off damaged varicose veins. Endovenous means that the procedure is done inside the vein. Ablation means a doctor uses heat to break down and close off these damaged veins. 
  • VenaSeal™
    VenaSeal is medical-grade glue that’s placed inside a varicose vein using a tiny catheter. It seals the vein wall together in seconds. This procedure is fast, minimally invasive and does not require post-treatment support stockings.

You deserve pain-free legs and the skilled specialists at Carolina Vein Specialists can help with no vein stripping and only the most advanced procedures. We offer leading-edge Medicare varicose vein treatments in our Winston-Salem and Greensboro offices so you can get back to doing what you love quickly. Call 336-536-6756 to schedule an appointment.