Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) Reimbursable?
Yes!
Because HBOT is considered to be a legitimate medical treatment by both the FDA and the American Medical Association, virtually every healthcare provider in the U.S. – including Medicare, Medicaid, and workers’ compensation plans – will pay for HBOT treatments, as long as they are medically approved.
Most of the time, insurance companies will only pay for HBOT treatments for issues that are either “accepted” by the FDA or considered to be an “off-label” indication. For ailments that are not approved by the FDA, some insurance companies will only pay for HBOT sessions after other treatment plans have been tried and failed.
In most cases, HBOT treatments cost at least $100-$200 per session, so it is something that most people cannot afford to get without insurance. That’s why, before your treatment begins, a good HBOT facility will help get your insurance situation sorted out – and make sure that you do, in fact, have coverage.
Some insurance companies may require prior authorization before you can start an HBOT treatment regimen. Other insurance companies may only have contracts with specific HBOT facilities, so make sure that your insurance company will pay for the treatments you get before you start.
Depending on the details in your specific health insurance plan, you may have to pay a co-pay for each visit. Some insurance companies will foot the entire HBOT bill; others will make you front the costs for each session, then reimburse you later.
No matter who winds up paying for everything, when you go through an HOBT treatment session, you will get two bills – one from the HBOT facility itself, and one from the attending hyperbaric physician. After all, the attending hyperbaric physician will be working directly with your doctor to make sure that your treatment is progressing properly.
However, you don’t have to worry about being intimidated or overwhelmed with insurance problems. Your HBOT facility can help you take care of all the necessary paperwork. In fact, HOBT facilities will provide you with incredibly detailed bills that you can submit directly to your insurance company for reimbursement.
Or, if your insurance company is paying the bills directly, all of the correspondence will go straight to them from the HOBT facility – and you will not have to worry about anything!
And just like any other legitimate medical treatment, you will need to get a prescription for your HBOT treatment sessions. That’s because the FDA considers pure oxygen to be a drug.
