Light therapy is an innovative treatment that is being used to help treat a number of conditions ranging from seasonal affective disorder to skin conditions. Although multiple studies claim that this form of therapy is beneficial, it isn’t covered by every health insurance provider. Thankfully, there are certain approaches you can take to get coverage and enjoy the benefits of light therapy without spending a fortune.
Christopher Ravn
Key Takeaways
1. Light therapy lamps are devices used to provide light therapy treatment, which helps with a wide range of medical conditions such as seasonal affective disorder.
2. Health insurance coverage for this treatment is limited and sporadic – so your insurance company might not cover it.
3. Opting for this therapy can be expensive without health insurance, but investing in an at-home light therapy lamp such as EVY LIGHT offers a cost-effective solution.
4. There are certain scenarios where your insurance provider, or Medicare, will cover light therapy treatment. You’ll need to speak with your doctor to receive coverage.
Table of Contents
1. Are Light Therapy Lamps Actually Covered By Insurance As Of Today?
2. Does Medicare Cover Light Box Therapy?
3. How To Get An Insurance Reimbursement For Light Devices
4. Can You Get A Prescription For A Light Therapy Lamp?
5. Do You Need A Prescription For A Light Therapy Lamp?
6. Do You Need A Prescription For Your Insurance To Pay For A Light Therapy Lamp?
7. How To Choose The Right Light Lamp Box For Your Sad Therapy
8. Light Therapy Benefits And Insurance Billing For Patients
9. Frequently Asked Questions About ‘Are Light Therapy Lamps Covered By Insurance?
Are Light Therapy Lamps Actually Covered By Insurance As Of Today?
As it stands, coverage for light therapy treatments varies widely between insurance companies. This problem is made worse by insurers only covering things based on the type of light therapy, the condition you’re looking to treat and a host of other insurer-specific guidelines.
For example, some insurance companies will categorize light therapy as an essential treatment for some conditions, while others will view it as a non-essential option, thereby excluding it from coverage. This is problematic because light therapy treatment can become very expensive if you aren’t adequately covered by your health insurance.
Are SAD Lights Covered By Insurance?
Insurance coverage for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is more common than some other forms of light therapy treatment. However, even if the insurance company agrees that the treatment is essential, you’ll still most likely need to provide them with a formal diagnosis and prescription from your doctor.
What’s more, some insurers will only cover the therapy sessions, while others may also cover the cost of the light therapy device itself. The nuances will vary between insurers, so make sure you check out a few to find the right one for your needs.
Is Infrared Light Covered By Insurance?
Infrared light therapy has been shown to be a useful treatment for a wide variety of conditions. For insurance companies, though, the scope of this treatment appears to be quite limited. Coverage for this treatment is quite variable and will depend on the type of insurance plan you have. For example, some may offer coverage if the therapy is part of rehabilitation, while others won’t recognize the treatment at all.
Is Blue Light Covered By Insurance?
Blue light therapy, which is often used to treat skin conditions like psoriasis or sleep disorders, is another difficult treatment to find coverage for. As it’s quite a new innovation, most insurers don’t recognize the validity of the treatment. With that said, insurers update their guidelines regularly so as new evidence around this treatment emerges, more insurers will cover it.
Is 40hz Light Covered By Insurance?
40 Hz light therapy is another relatively new form of treatment that insurers are yet to fully recognize. Although research has shown that it holds a great deal of potential in treating neurological conditions, most insurers view the treatment as experimental and therefore won’t cover it.
Does Medicare Cover Light Box Therapy?
Medicare currently offers very limited coverage for light box therapy treatments. As it typically only covers treatments deemed medically necessary and well-established, getting coverage for light box therapy is difficult. A formal diagnosis that could benefit from this treatment, such as SAD, can help you get coverage – but it isn’t a guarantee. Even if it is covered, it will likely fall under Part B of Medicare, which focuses on outpatient medical services.
How To Get An Insurance Reimbursement For Light Devices
If you want to get an insurance reimbursement for a light therapy device, such as a light box for treating SAD, then you’ll need to convince your insurer it’s an essential treatment. First, check that your policy doesn’t already cover the treatment – if it does, then all you have to do is make a claim.
If your insurance doesn’t cover it as standard, then you’ll need to speak with a doctor to receive a formal diagnosis. This will justify the treatment and should help convince the insurance company to cover it. A letter from your doctor outlining your condition and treatment might also help with this. To further bolster your reimbursement claim, you might benefit from using this resource by sending it, along with details from your doctor, to your insurance provider.
How To Get Your Insurance Company To Pay For Your Light Box
Getting your insurance company to pay for your light box is difficult, particularly if they don’t cover it in their standard policy. To give yourself the best chance of convincing them to cover your light box treatment, you’ll want to know your policy inside and out. Check for any sections that discuss coverage for treatments relating to your light box sessions.
If the policy is iron-clad and definitively won’t cover your light box treatment as standard, then you’ll have to gather medical evidence to support your claim. Speak with your doctor and look online for any journals, scientific studies or other resources that strengthen the validity of your treatment. Then send this information, along with a formal diagnosis from your doctor, to show your insurance company why the treatment is essential.
How To Request Medicare To Pay For Your Light Box
Medicare doesn’t typically cover light box therapy treatment, so requesting them to pay for your light box will largely depend on your specific circumstances. So to start, make sure that you understand how the Medicare benefits work to learn about what treatments and equipment types are covered.
In some cases, a light box could be classified as Durable Medical Equipment (DME) if it’s deemed medically necessary. If this is the case for you, then Medicare will pay for your light box.
Can You Get A Prescription For A Light Therapy Lamp?
Obtaining a prescription for a light therapy lamp is definitely achievable – it just requires you to have a diagnosis with a suitable condition. Here’s how you can go about getting a prescription for your light therapy lamp:
Speak With Your Doctor
Schedule an appointment with a healthcare professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, general practitioner, or any other doctor familiar with your medical history and condition. They can evaluate whether light therapy is an appropriate treatment for you.
Obtain a Formal Diagnosis
In order to receive a prescription, your doctor will need to provide you with a formal diagnosis that requires this treatment. This might be SAD or another disorder where light therapy could help you.
Discuss Light Therapy
Next, you’ll want to discuss the option of light therapy with your doctor. They can provide information about how light therapy works, its benefits, potential side effects, and how to use a light therapy lamp correctly.
Get Your Prescription
If your doctor agrees that light therapy is suitable for you, they can write a prescription for a light therapy lamp. This prescription might include specific instructions regarding the type of lamp, such as the intensity of the light or duration of exposure. This will ensure that you get the most benefit out of the treatment.
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View Our LightDo You Need A Prescription For A Light Therapy Lamp?
Although light therapy lamps can fall under the category of a medical device, you don’t require a prescription to have or use one. Many devices are available over the counter that provide all of the functionality and benefits of a light therapy lamp. They can be used to help with the symptoms of SAD and a host of other conditions.
With that said, it’s always a good idea to speak with a doctor if you believe that light therapy might negatively impact you. For example, if you have a medical condition or take medication that could negatively interact with the light therapy lamp. This might include skin conditions like lupus or eye conditions such as retinal disease.
Do You Need A Prescription For Your Insurance To Pay For A Light Therapy Lamp?
All insurance companies look for some proof of prescription before covering the costs of treatment or devices. This is also true for light therapy lamps, so you’ll need to present your valid prescription to them if you want coverage. There are a few factors at play here, such as:
- Medical Necessity: For insurance companies to cover a light therapy lamp, there must be a documented medical reason. This is where a prescription comes into play. The prescription acts as a formal statement from a healthcare provider that the light therapy lamp is a necessary part of your treatment plan.
- Formal Diagnosis: Along with the prescription, a formal diagnosis of the condition being treated is usually required. This diagnosis should come from your doctor.
- Documentation: As well as the prescription, most insurance companies will also want documentation from your doctor explaining why the light therapy lamp is essential for your treatment. This documentation should outline how the lamp will help with your specific medical condition.
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How To Choose The Right Light Lamp Box For Your Sad Therapy
Choosing the right light lamp for your SAD therapy sessions is important because you want a device that meets your needs. Look out for devices designed with SAD in mind, such as the EVY LIGHT. These products have all of the functionality required to achieve optimal results from treatment. This includes the right light frequency and brightness. You can also use this handy guide from the Mayo Clinic to help you find the most appropriate light lamp box.
There are a few other important things you’ll want to consider when choosing your light lamp box, such as:
- Safety and UV Filtering: Make sure that the light box filters out harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays to protect your eyes and skin. The light should be glare-free and not emit any harmful UV light.
- Light Type: Full-spectrum and LED lights are commonly used in light therapy boxes. Full-spectrum lights are more similar to natural sunlight, while LED lights can be more energy-efficient.
- Adjustability: Features like adjustable brightness, angle, and even color temperature can enhance your light therapy experience, allowing you to tailor the therapy to your needs.
Which Is The Best Light Lamp For Therapy?
The best light lamp for therapy sessions is the one that works for you. With that said, there aren’t too many that have been designed with brain health specifically in mind. EVY LIGHT, on the other hand, was made to facilitate light therapy sessions in a simple, straightforward way. It offers a great deal of functionality, is cost-effective and even comes with a handy application to track progress and customize your sessions.
OptoCeutics products like EVY LIGHT have the added benefit of using patented Invisible Spectral Flicker (ISF) technology instead of the standard stroboscopic lighting. This helps mitigate some of the known side effects found in stroboscopic devices, such as headaches, nausea and seizures.
Light Therapy Benefits And Insurance Billing For Patients
The benefits associated with light therapy treatment make it a versatile treatment option for many conditions. In particular, these devices have the ability to help people suffering from SAD, sleep disorders and even certain skin conditions. These benefits include:
- Helping With SAD: Light therapy compensates for the lack of sunlight in fall and winter months, reducing symptoms of SAD such as depression, lethargy, and sleep disturbances.
- Improving Sleep Disorders: By regulating melatonin production and circadian rhythms, light therapy can help correct sleep disorders like insomnia and delayed sleep phase disorder.
- Treating Skin Conditions: Light therapy is used to treat skin conditions like psoriasis, acne, and eczema. Specific wavelengths of light can reduce inflammation and promote healing in the body.
- Boosting Mental Health: Light therapy can improve symptoms of non-seasonal depression and other mood disorders.
Which Is The Best Light Lamp For Therapy?
Billing your insurance company for light therapy sessions is usually a straightforward process, provided they cover the treatment. Here’s a quick breakdown of how to navigate this procedure:
- Check Coverage: Before starting treatment, verify whether your insurance plan covers light therapy. This can be done by contacting the insurance provider directly.
- Document Your Condition: Get a formal diagnosis and a prescription for light therapy from your doctor This should include the medical necessity for the treatment.
- Billing Codes: Use the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes and International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes that correspond to the light therapy treatment.
- Submit Your Claim: Finally, submit your claim to the insurance company, including all relevant billing codes, detailed invoices and session details.
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Frequently Asked Questions About ‘Are Light Therapy Lamps Covered By Insurance?'
Does Medicare Cover Light Box Therapy?
At the moment, light box therapy coverage is incredibly limited with Medicare. Since Medicare usually covers treatments that are considered medically necessary, light box therapy may not fall under this category.
Can You Get A Prescription For A Light Therapy Lamp?
Yes, you can obtain a prescription for a light therapy lamp from your doctor. Your medical provider may choose to prescribe light therapy lamps for conditions like Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), certain sleep disorders, and other situations where light therapy is deemed beneficial.
