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If you’re affected by hemorrhoids, Medicare will cover necessary hemorrhoid treatment. If you’d like to learn more about Medicare Advantage coverage options for hemorrhoid treatment, give us a call today at (800) 950-0608.
Hemorrhoids are a common affliction, with well over 3 million cases diagnosed each year.
Seniors are vulnerable to developing hemorrhoids for a variety of reasons.
Treatment for hemorrhoids is available for all levels of the disorder.
Medicare plans offer coverage for hemorrhoid treatment.
Call us today to learn more about Medicare Advantage plans near you that offer coverage for hemorrhoid treatment.
If you have this one particular condition, you’re probably extremely reluctant to talk about it. You’re also probably dealing with a lot of pain each and every day, especially if you’re choosing not to have it treated.
So, what is this very taboo disorder that few, including you, are willing to discuss?
We’re talking today about the condition known as hemorrhoids.
You’re probably one of millions of Americans who deal with hemorrhoids each and every day. However, you may be afraid to do anything about it for a number of reasons. For one, in our culture, the condition is rarely taken seriously.
Truth is, hemorrhoids are no joking matter. The condition starts rather benign, with some discomfort, swelling, or pain. Without treatment, it can get a lot worse.
Are you a senior in need of treatment for hemorrhoids? If so, you may be wondering if Medicare covers medical intervention for the condition. The answer is “yes”, Medicare coverage is available in some aspect for hemorrhoid treatment. This includes colonoscopies, noscopies, and proctoscopies during which hemorrhoids may be discovered.
What will Medicare cover in regards to hemorrhoid treatment? Let’s find out!
Hemorrhoids come with a number of tell-tale signs and symptoms. The symptoms you experience will depend on what type of hemorrhoids you have. There are three different types:
External hemorrhoids are swollen veins that lie under the skin outside of your anal region. The key symptoms to look for if you suspect that you may have external hemorrhoids include:
Internal hemorrhoids are veins that are swollen within the rectum. In many cases, you won’t feel discomfort with these. However, if you try to strain, or you feel irritation, during a bowel movement, you may notice:
Thrombosed hemorrhoids are external hemorrhoids where blood has pooled and thrown a clot. These can be extremely serious and harmful if not treated immediately. Symptoms and signs of thrombosed hemorrhoids include:
All three require different forms of intervention. Starting with external hemorrhoids, let’s take a look at available treatments for hemorrhoids.
In most cases, your doctor’s course of external hemorrhoid treatment may rely on home remedies and Over-the-Counter (OTC) medications. This is especially true if your case of hemorrhoids is relatively mild.
If you’re not feeling serious pain or discomfort, or experiencing serious swelling in external hemorrhoids, your care provider will likely suggest the following:
Your care provider may also suggest the use of OTC topical treatments designed to help manage the symptoms of hemorrhoids. These typically come in the form of creams and ointments, though pads are available as well.
*It is suggested that you add no external elements, such as epsom salts or scented soaking liquid, to the water before your bath. Doing so can result in additional and unnecessary pain and swelling.
The course of treatment for mild to moderate internal hemorrhoids will likely follow the same course as the treatment for external hemorrhoids. Your care provider will likely suggest the same course of home remedies and OTC treatments. However, instead of creams, pads, or ointments, they may suggest the use of suppositories designed to curb symptoms that come with internal hemorrhoids.
If your hemorrhoids are severe enough to impact your daily life, surgical intervention may be required. This is especially true for thrombosed hemorrhoids, which can be life-threatening if they aren’t treated.
The severity of hemorrhoids is determined by a grading system, which is laid out as follows:
Surgical intervention is saved for patients with G3 or G4 hemorrhoids.
If you’re a patient with G1, G2, or mild G3 hemorrhoids, the following minimally invasive procedures are available to you to help you get rid of them:
If you suffer from G3 or G4 hemorrhoids, your care provider may suggest the following operative procedures:
As surgical intervention can be expensive, you may be wondering if a Medicare plan will cover it. This is especially true for those of you who may be living on low fixed incomes. Let’s take a look into what Medicare plans may or may not cover in relation to hemorrhoid surgery.
If you’ve gotten this far, and you’ve been told that hemorrhoid removal surgery is needed to resolve your condition, you may be thinking one thing:
“Does Medicare pay for hemorrhoid surgery?”
Yes, Medicare will pay for hemorrhoid surgery. However, in most cases, you must meet certain conditions before it will do so.
Original Medicare, Medicare Parts A and B, will cover 80 percent of the costs of a hemorrhoid removal surgery. You’ll be responsible for the other 20 percent Out-of-Pocket. Before Original Medicare will cover surgical intervention for hemorrhoids, you’ll need to meet the following criteria:
Medicare Advantage plans also provide coverage for hemorrhoid removal surgery, but they may also provide coverage and benefits for aftercare and other internal or external hemorrhoid treatment. Before you start planning for your surgery or other hemorrhoid treatment, it’s important to look at your plan first. What’s covered and what isn’t will depend solely on the specifics of your plan.
If you have Original Medicare, and you know you’ll have trouble covering the 20 percent you’ll need to pay, Medigap supplemental insurance may be able to help. This insurance is meant to “fill in the gaps” by providing coverage for items like coinsurance and copays.
While Original Medicare may cover only surgical intervention and exams, a Medicare Advantage plan may offer extra coverage for other types of hemorrhoid treatment. For example, some Medicare Advantage plans offer allowances for the types of OTC treatments that are often advised by medical professionals.
If you’re interested in Medicare Advantage plans, our licensed insurance agents are here to answer any questions you may have. Give us a call to connect with someone who can walk you through the ins and outs of Medicare Advantage plans in your area.
