Spider Veins and Varicose Veins 101

Millions of people suffer from spider veins and varicose veins, but most don’t know the difference between the two. Below is a simple explanation of the differences and signs you should see a doctor.

What are Spider Veins

Spider veins are broken capillaries, no more than 2 mm in diameter, just below the skin’s surface that can look like spider legs. They are red, purple, or blue, and though rarely a serious health problem, spider veins can cause annoying leg discomfort, including itching or burning.  They can appear throughout your body but often appear on the legs. Heredity plays a key role in developing spider veins. Extensive spider veins can be a sign of blood backup in your body you can’t see on the skin. If that’s the case, you may have symptoms similar to varicose veins.

What are Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins are veins that have become enlarged. They’re usually dark purple or blue and bulge out from the skin. Though they may not have serious implications, varicose veins can cause aching pain, throbbing, and discomfort. Varicose veins can occur throughout the body but are most commonly seen in the legs. In some cases, however, varicose veins can lead to more serious health problems, including:

  • Sores or Skin Ulcers: These are painful and hard to heal. Sores and skins ulcers are caused by chronic (long-term) back-up of blood in the veins. Some won’t heal until the backward blood flow in the vein is repaired.
  • Bleeding: Bleeding occurs when the skin over the veins becomes thin and easily injured. If untreated, the skin can break and significant blood loss becomes a concern.
  • Superficial Thrombophlebitis: Superficial thrombophlebitis is a blood clot that forms in a vein just below the skin. It can cause skin redness, a firm, tender, warm vein, along with pain and swelling.
  • Deep Vein Thrombosis: Deep vein thrombosis is when a blood clot occurs in a deeper vein. It can cause a pulling feeling in the calf, pain, warmth, redness, and swelling. While some deep vein thrombosis has no significant symptoms, if the blood clot travels to the lungs, it can be fatal.

Should You See A Doctor?

Contact a doctor immediately to discuss treatment options if you have any of the following:

  • Swollen, red, or tender veins that are especially painful or warm to the touch
  • You have sores or a rash on the leg or near the ankle
  • The skin on the ankle and calf becomes thick and changes color
  • A varicose vein begins to bleed
  • Leg symptoms interfere with daily activities
  • The appearance of the veins is causing you distress

Don’t Wait. Use Your Flexible Spending Account For Back Pain Treatment Now.

 

If you have a Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA), this is the perfect time to take care of that back pain procedure you have been putting off. Stop suffering from back pain and schedule your minimally invasive, non-surgical treatments including kyphoplasty, epidural steroid injections (ESIs), selective nerve root block (SNRB), medical brand (facet joint) denervations, or sacroiliac (SI) joint injections.

Your health FSA lets you use pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible health care expenses for you, your spouse, and your eligible dependents. You can then use your pre-tax FSA dollars to pay for eligible healthcare expenses throughout the plan year.

However, you may be at risk of the “use it or lose it” rule. The IRS requires that all money you put into your health FSA during the plan year must be used to reimburse qualified expenses incurred during that year – funds left over at the end of the year are forfeited. The unused portion of your health FSA cannot be paid to you in cash or other benefits.

In some cases, your employer may offer one of two types of extensions. Check your plan documentation for details on the following:
1. Run-out period: a set number of days after the plan year ends and allows you to submit claims incurred during that year.
2. Grace period: a set number of days after the year of the plan ends, that lasts two months and 15 days. During this time, you can use the remaining FSA funds to reimburse eligible expenses incurred during the grace period.

If you have money remaining in your FSA accounts, take action now:

– Make sure everyone in your family schedules appointments and/or procedures with physicians, dentists and optometrists before the end of the year or grace period.

– Schedule that minimally invasive, non-surgical back pain treatment like kyphoplasty, epidural steroid injections (ESIs), selective nerve root block (SNRB), medical brand (facet joint) denervations, or sacroiliac (SI) joint injections.

– Get flu shots and vaccinations. Has everyone in your family had a flu shot and kept up-to-date with other vaccinations?

– Make sure you double-check medical receipts to confirm you didn’t forget to submit any claims for reimbursement, such as out-of-pocket expenses. Submit any outstanding receipts.

– Replenish first-aid supplies and medicines that need refilling.

The take-away? Make the most of your benefits; check your accounts now to avoid losing money that may accidentally remain unused on your account.

Indiana Back Pain Center has been serving Central Indiana and the Indianapolis metro area since 2003. We are in-network with a number of health insurance providers and accept Medicare and Medicaid. You can find a general list of the insurance providers we work with here. (http://www.indianabackpaincenter.com/insurance/)

Are Varicose Vein and Spider Vein Treatments Covered By Insurance?

 

Are you one of the many people who have avoided treatment of varicose veins or spider veins because you believe they are not covered by health insurance because they are a cosmetic condition? In many cases, this is a misconception. If you’ve put this procedure off because you’re concerned about cost, then read on…
Bad News and Good News.
The bad news is that people with varicose veins and/or spider veins can suffer from significant symptoms and the potential for serious complications.

The good news is that when performed for medical reasons, varicose vein and spider vein treatment is covered by health insurance. The following is a quick questionnaire to help you determine if you may qualify for insurance coverage.

Do you experience:
– Swelling in the lower legs, ankles and feet?
– Persistent pain or a heavy feeling in the lower legs?
– Development of open sores around the ankle?
– Skin changes such as thickening and discoloration?
– Leg cramping or restless leg syndrome?

Medical attention should be sought whenever these symptoms are present.
We are in-network with a number of health insurance providers and accept Medicare and Medicaid. You can find a general list of the insurance providers we work with here. (http://www.veincenterofindiana.com/insurance/)

Of course, before having any procedure, make sure you know what your financial responsibility will be. Check with your insurance provider to verify plan an benefit coverage. Depending on your plan, specific referrals or other preauthorization may be necessary.

Is Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) Covered By My Health Insurance?

 

90% effective in reducing symptoms caused by fibroids, Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) may be right for you – especially if want to avoid surgery.

Typically, our patients have an overnight stay in the hospital but are released the next morning. UFE is considered a 23-hour overnight outpatient procedure.

Most insurance companies cover UFE. It is considered a treatment for symptomatic fibroids and is not considered an experimental procedure.

Of course, before having any procedure, make sure you know what your financial responsibility will be. Check with your insurance provider to verify plans and benefit coverage. Depending on your plan, specific referrals or other preauthorization may be necessary.

Here are a few questions you should verify with your health insurance provider:

  • Is a referral (by a primary care physician) required for consultation with a radiologist?
  • Is your interventional radiologist considered in-network?
  • Is pre-certification required for UFE’s pre-procedural pelvic MRI?
  • Is pre-certification required for the UFE procedure?

Interventional Physicians of Indiana is here to help, and work with you, to submit your health insurance claim (primary and secondary) under the benefit coverage you specify. We participate with many medical groups to provide healthcare service to their HMO members and PPO healthcare plans.

We are in-network with a number of health insurance providers and accept Medicare and Medicaid. You can find a general list of the insurance providers we work with here. (http://www.indianafibroidcenter.com/insurance/)