The question is: is PRP covered by insurance? It depends, my friends; some insurance companies cover this PRP therapy, while others don’t. Don’t fret, though.
Platelet-rich plasma therapy, commonly known as PRP therapy, is gaining popularity in medicine as it heals the injury using the body cells. A blood sample is taken from the patient’s body, usually from the peripheral veins located in the arm, hands, legs, or feet.
After the blood is drawn, it is placed in a particular device called a centrifugal machine. This machine spins the blood sample drawn from the patient at a very high speed that separates all the blood contents according to their densities. One of the main separated constituents of blood samples is PRP; it is composed of the two components of the blood, the platelets, and the plasma. Plasma is the liquid element of the blood. The function of platelet is healing or clot formation. Finally, the separated PRP from the blood sample is injected into the patient’s body again on the injury.
Generally, PRP therapy is not covered by insurance companies. However, this procedure is recognized: as an experimental approach towards treatment. So, you don’t need to worry this article will guide you on the steps to cover the payment plan with your insurance company. Now you know what PRP therapy is. And I guess you’ve realized why it is expensive. So, what insurance company covers PRP therapy? To find out the answer to all these questions, keep reading!
Benefits Of PRP Therapy
PRP therapy is used commonly for healing sports wounds. Athletes usually favor this therapy as it heals sports injuries without any surgeries. It is a rapid healing treatment procedure and has long-lasting effects. The most common sites for sports traumas are bones, joints, soft tissue, and muscles. Regular treatment for these sports accidents is surgery, but PRP therapy can treat them by regenerating the cells and tissues. PRP therapy has proven beneficial for knee osteoarthritis also, as it prevents the advancement of the disease. Know the five benefits of PRP treatment.
Cost Of PRP Treatment
The expense of a single PRP treatment ranges from $1000 to $2500 depending upon the procedure length, location, clinic, and the physician. A high experienced physician might cost you more than a regular physician or technician.
Is PRP Covered By Your Insurance?
So, is PRP covered by insurance? There are many insurance companies, out of which only a few cover the cost of PRP therapy, one of those is Tricare. Tricare is government-managed health care insurance. Tricare includes PRP therapy in its insurance plan for knee-chronic osteoarthritis and lateral epicondylitis. The Medicare & Medicaid Services will provide resources only for patients suffering: chronic diabetes, pressure wounds, and venous ulcers.
The Medicare center takes PRP therapy as a trial and will decide the coverage based on the results from the treatment. In addition, the injury must heal and, the body must be, functioning ordinarily after the end of the trial. The last option is to persuade your insurance company that PRP therapy is not a research trial but is treatment method. You may also read about insurance for PRP treatment.
Ways For PRP To Be Covered By Insurance
Most of the insurance companies straight away deny paying for PRP therapy. If your company does the same, you will have to convince them to cover the treatment. It is not going to be an easy argument, but you can do it. The first and the most necessary starting point is to get advice from a highly experienced doctor. So, you can prove the physician success rate to the insurers. Then, collect all the data on PRP therapy research that confirms the treatment success rate. The crucial section of this research must be the interviews of the doctors with the successful results on their patients.
You can also request the universities that manage medical trials or research and study programs to study your case of PRP therapy. The university research report is most likely to persuade your insurance company to cover treatment. University research reports cannot misrepresent any trial as they are, meant for future studies.
Next, you will have to present a strong-convincing point to the money insurance company; yes, you read it right, money. The insurance companies always look for their benefits. You will have to show the difference; in the cost of the injury’s regular treatment and PRP therapy. The PRP treatment heals the injury without any surgery, and as we all know, surgical procedures are expensive than any other treatment. Usually, insurance companies cover surgery but, if they are convinced; that PRP therapy costs less, they will eventually cover the PRP treatment.
The other conventional treatment method for injuries is steroid injections. The corticosteroid is prescribed: for chronic pains. The steroid provides only instant pain relief to the patient but, it cannot heal the cause. While on the other hand, PRP therapy not only manages pain but heals the wound as well. There are many side effects from the steroid treatment. However, with PRP therapy, there are little to none.
It’s A Wrap!
To summarize it all, PRP therapy is becoming quite popular across the world in treatment procedures. Though many physicians are against this treatment as it is declining the number of surgeries. As hardly any insurance companies cover PRP therapy, only rich people can afford it. But with your valid convincing points given above, you can persuade your insurance company to pay for the treatment. Hopefully, we have answered your question regarding: is PRP covered by insurance? Have a great time, my friends. You may also read what insurance companies cover PRP therapy.