1. Medically Necessary
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal imbalance which leads to symptoms in women such as oily skin, difficulty losing weight or weight gain, infertility, acne and excessive hair growth. While electrolysis and oral medications may help alleviate hirsutism related to PCOS, laser hair removal remains the most effective long-term solution.
Laser hair removal differs from shaving and plucking by targeting the root of each follicle to permanently disable it, leading to permanent reduction in growth over time. Patients typically report positive outcomes after multiple sessions – particularly on facial and chest hair growth.
Preparations is not necessary prior to receiving laser treatments, although it’s best to avoid waxing and plucking in the area being treated. While you should expect some discomfort during treatments in areas known for having sensitive skin, to get the most from them it is vitally important that you follow your physician’s treatment plan.
In order to qualify for insurance coverage, it will be necessary for you to present both a medical diagnosis and recommendation from a physician about laser hair removal – two documents which will enable you to submit a claim with your provider.
Be mindful that many insurance companies require counseling before covering unwanted hair removal treatments, in order to determine that you truly suffer from an underlying medical condition such as PCOS that requires treatment.
Transgender individuals may have their laser hair removal covered as part of gender affirmation surgery and care; however, this option will vary based on your insurance provider. You will need to review their policy to ascertain their requirements in order for these treatments to be considered medically necessary; some insurers require a doctor’s note from a specialist that states your unwanted hair growth is causing emotional distress or disrupting daily routine.
2. Medically Necessary for Treatment
Facing unwanted hair can be a constant source of frustration and self-consciousness, but when caused by medical conditions such as PCOS it becomes even more pronounced. If you experience excessive hair growth due to PCOS-induced hirsutism (excessive hair growth), laser treatment could be considered medically necessary and covered under your insurance policy. Because no two policies are alike it’s essential that you review and discuss all options available with a healthcare provider prior to making decisions regarding your own healthcare needs.
Hirsutism can leave women feeling self-conscious about their bodies, which is why so many opt for laser hair removal as a treatment option. Women living with PCOS may struggle with embarrassing stubble or ingrown hairs that make them feel embarrassed about themselves; with laser treatments, unwanted hair is destroyed at its source so it will never grow back – this provides an immense confidence boost and frees up time otherwise spent grooming before leaving the house.
Laser hair removal can also help women suffering from PCOS to gain confidence by eliminating unwanted facial hair, especially around their cheeks, chin or upper lips. Laser treatments are gentle and safe without causing side effects whatsoever compared to other methods used for hair removal.
If you are experiencing excessive hair growth due to PCOS, it’s essential to seek treatment from an endocrinologist or hormone specialist. They will be able to assess the situation and recommend specific therapy based on your circumstances; laser hair removal could also help alleviate unwanted growth.
Although often perceived as “cosmetic procedures,” non-presurgical hair removal is covered by many health insurance plans if medically necessary for your condition. MassHealth uses guidelines derived from generally accepted standards, medical literature reviews and federal/state policies/laws applicable to their program when determining medical necessity of such procedures.
3. Medically Necessary for Gender Affirmation
Reducing body hair growth is no simple task; especially for women living with PCOS. Constant shaves, waxes or plucks to eliminate unwanted hair can take time and effort that may require multiple treatments over years in order to reach the desired level of hair reduction.
According to a report published by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, hair removal can be considered medically necessary for gender affirmation purposes as it allows individuals to attain physical appearance of preferred gender before undertaking gender-affirming surgery. Individuals seeking such hair removal must possess sufficient capacity to understand treatment options and long-term consequences of these decisions before seeking such treatments.
Capacity to consent to gender affirming surgery can be a difficult decision. These procedures can have life-altering impacts for those undergoing them and it’s crucial that individuals can carefully weigh both its benefits and risks to make the best choice possible for their mental, sexual and emotional well-being.
Insurance coverage for gonadal and pelvic gender affirming surgeries can be hard to come by, despite efforts at expanding access. Health care policies generally do not cover them unless medically necessary to treat gender dysphoria; so individuals must advocate for themselves and receive the care needed in order to feel secure within their bodies.
Many states have implemented restrictions that prevent genital modification (GM) health care from Medicaid and private insurance policies, and our research shows that those in states with gender-affirming protections are more likely to cover permanent hair removal for GM patients than those without such protections – this finding is especially significant since out-of-pocket costs often stand in the way of receiving care as part of gender affirmation journey.
4. Medically Necessary for Psoriasis
Laser therapy of plaque psoriasis can be effective. Trehan and Taylor (2002) conducted an in-house, self-controlled study using excimer laser on 16 patients who were experiencing multiple stable psoriasis plaques; treating half of each plaque with laser while leaving half untreated (control). Trehan and Taylor noted that all treated plaques had decreased to flat red macules within one month following one excimer laser treatment; significantly faster than standard phototherapy treatments using NB-UVB light.
The authors noted that 308-nm excimer laser’s selectivity over nonselective UVB light allows treatment of only lesions while sparing surrounding skin, thereby decreasing inflammation cell infiltration while normalizing epidermal proliferation and keratinization.
Aetna considers laser hair removal of the pubic area medically necessary when an active case of AAKN that does not respond adequately to topical therapy and other measures, including reconstruction surgery, must be documented in their medical record for coverage considerations of this benefit. Laser depilation should never be undertaken for cosmetic reasons alone such as tattoo removal or gender affirmation procedures, though.
