I hear lots of questions every day about compression stockings. Why does my insurance company require me to wear them? Do they really work? What are the different types? How do I find the right size? Can you help me put them on? Do I have to use compression stockings or will ace bandages work? Those questions, and more, are what inspired our latest eBook: “What’s the Skinny on Compression Stockings?” Designed to answer those questions and more, this eBook is an excellent resource for anyone who has been or is considering wearing compression stockings.
Many people have questions about compression stockings. Do they work and how? What's the best way to get them on and off easily? How do you get the right size? The answers to these questions and more can be found on our informational page on compression stockings. You'll find answers to your questions, links to more information, and helpful videos demonstrating ways to put them on and take them off more comfortably.
Whether you simply suspect a vein condition or have been through an ultrasound to have the diagnosis confirmed, most likely your next step will be to start wearing compression stockings for a period of time. Why? The answer is insurance.
Why Do Insurance Companies Require a Stocking Trial Prior to Vein Treatment?
Prior to receiving treatment, many insurance companies will require compression stockings before approving a treatment plan. So that you don’t run into any glitches with getting insurance to approve your vein treatments, it’s important for you to know if this is required. Each insurance company is different.
The reason insurance companies demand this intermediary step is to stall actual treatments. Medically, there’s no legitimate reason for a required period in compression stockings once a diagnosis of a vein condition has been confirmed. Compression stockings will temporarily alleviate symptoms but won’t fix the underlying issue. Only vein treatments will do that. Insurance companies prefer, instead, to attempt to delay treatment in the hopes that you won’t proceed, or that they can cause you to wait until your deductible rolls over. It saves them money in the long run. From experience, I know that this can sometimes be a frustrating process.
That’s why we recommend that you start the process early.
Our office staff has experience working with insurance providers and most likely will know what your plan requires. They can help you navigate your insurance approval process and move forward as quickly as possible. That being said, it’s essential you start right away so that you can avoid a long, drawn-out, and delayed process that impacts your goals. If you are hoping, for example, to have treatments completed before a future trip or summer vacation...the time to start your treatment plan is now. You may very well need plenty of time to jump through insurance hoops.
Regardless, wearing compression stockings IS a good idea and DOES help your body in other ways. They effectively reduce inflammation and reduce the risk of blood clots. If you suffer from inflammation or have a history of or genetic predisposition to blood clots, you should consider compression stockings as a valuable part of your treatment plan. This eBook “What’s the Skinny on Compression Stockings” will give you the information you need to make the best decisions possible for your own healthcare. For your free copy, click the link below. Additionally, watch our blogs in the coming weeks with information, including demonstration videos, on everything from how to put them on to how to measure for a correct fit. You may want to subscribe to blog updates so that you can be kept in the loop on the latest information.
