What is your experience with Medicare insurance paying for IPL

[lzer]

Thinking of having IPL done to my severe dry eyes. Doctor says it will cost about $1200, but she has had good experience with insurance. I have Medicare and they are not so easy. Has anyone had Medicare pick up the cost? thank you.

[Max]

I am really sorry that nobody responded to this post. I'm going broke, literally, trying things like Blephex which I was told by my insurance agent is covered by Medicare but my doctor's office refused to even submit it claiming Medicare will not pay for any medical device dry eye treatments at all, no matter the severity of the condition.

I would really like to know the experience of others who are on Mediicare. I even have the extended Medicare insurance offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield. I felt I had to invest in the added insurgence because so many doctors in my area won't even accept any patients on Medicare. It was the extended insurance agent that told me BlephX treatments - which ended up costing over $200 including the office visit and I was supposed to get one monthly! That's why I bought the Danish Style 'n Clean tool. It wasn't cheap and it's not the little eraser at the end of an electric toothbrush that is the Blephex treatment but it comes close and I'm keeping my fingers crossed it holds up.

I am just learning about IPL, my dry eye specialist has never even mentioned it as a possibility but I just read about it on the Mayo Clinic site.

http://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/di...hronic-dry-eye

How has IPL worked for others posting here?

How much does it typically cost?

Is there any health insurance that covers IPL?

Does Medicare in fact really cover these treatments and my doctor's office is just ignorant of the fact?

Asking them to submit it almost caused a row and I gave up - I couldn't even beg them to try. They were adamant and wanted cash at time of treatment. The minute I asked about Medicare they tried to cancel my appointment even though I said I would pay for it up front. It was an awful experience; not the treatment but the mention of Medicare. In many cases one's medical file is stamped with a big M in a circle to warn the doctor. I can't really afford the extended insurance but I need to get the same quality care as other patients get. I paid my whole life into the system trusting I'd be covered after I turned 65. It was becoming too stressful.

Please answer this poster's question if you can.

[Max]

Thinking of having IPL done to my severe dry eyes. Doctor says it will cost about $1200, but she has had good experience with insurance. I have Medicare and they are not so easy. Has anyone had Medicare pick up the cost? thank you.

Wow that is crazy expensive.

I just contacted a group that uses IPL to treat Ocular Rosacea and reg Rosacea. and the treatment cost before insurance is around $200.00 for repeat treatments..

They are checking to see if my extended Medicare insurance from Blue Cross will cover it. They said a lot of insurance companies cover the treatment if they get a referral verifying the existence of the condition. I will let you know what they tell me.