Are Testosterone Injections Covered By Insurance?
A growing number of men are struggling with low testosterone levels. One study found that 2% of men have this condition, including about 8% of men between the ages of 50 and 79. While this may not seem like a high number, it has been increasing steadily over the years for a variety of reasons. A growing number of men are taking antidepressants (which lower hormone levels), facing higher stress levels and dealing with other challenges that reduce this hormone.
There are a lot of things men can try to do to treat low testosterone. One popular treatment is testosterone injections. It is estimated that between 1.67% and 3.20% of men have prescriptions for these injections.
There are a lot of benefits of these treatments. However, many men are hesitant to get them, because they don’t know if they will be covered by their insurance plans.
Are Testosterone Injections Covered by Insurance?
The biggest question most men seeking testosterone injections have is whether they will be covered by their insurance plans. This is a complex question without an entirely clear answer.
The first thing to keep in mind is that every insurance plan is different. Medicare and Medicaid plans are often more restrictive than private insurance carriers, although this isn’t always the case. However, for the most part, both public and private health insurance plans will cover the cost of testosterone injections if they are deemed medically necessary.
However, it can be difficult to get a health insurance provide to cover these treatments. You will need to do the following:
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Have a diagnosed condition that warrants testosterone injections. You can’t just go to your insurance company and say that you feel testosterone injections will make you feel better. You need to show you have a fairly serious condition that warrants these treatments. Some of the conditions that may qualify include Klinefelter syndrome, gender dysphoria and Kallmann’s syndrome. You will need to have a diagnosis from a doctor.
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Show your testosterone levels fall below a certain level. Insurance companies also want to know what your testosterone levels actually are. They won’t necessarily pay for testosterone injections just because you have a certain condition. They need to see that they condition is serious enough to have caused your levels to drop significantly.
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Show that there aren’t other viable treatments. You may need to also show that there aren’t other less expensive treatments that can treat the condition. Insurance companies don’t want to pay more for treatments than necessary.
You will need to talk to your doctor to see if your testosterone levels are low enough to get the treatment covered by insurance. If you don’t qualify, then you may need to consider other types of treatments that are either covered by insurance or cheap enough for you to pay out of pocket.
What Should You Do If You Can’t Get Testosterone Injections Covered Through Insurance?
If you can’t get your insurance company to cover your testosterone injection (or are among the 26 million Americans without health insurance at all), then you may want to consider other options. Here are some to consider.
Negotiate A Payment Plan
Some healthcare providers may be willing to work with you to find an affordable plan to cover your treatment. They may agree to a payment plan and offer a lower rate. This may be a good idea to consider if you are struggling to afford their services without insurance. You may want to try different service providers if you aren’t sure if you are getting the best rates with your current healthcare provider.
Consider Other Ways to Treat Low Testosterone
Testosterone injections aren’t the only way to improve your testosterone levels. Fortunately, there are a lot of natural supplements that are effective and don’t cost an arm and a leg. Some of the best products that Elm & Rye produces are listed at the end of this article.
You can also make some important lifestyle changes to try to improve your testosterone levels. One of the big ways that people can do so is by working out more. Exercise can help balance hormones. You may also want to try some proven stress management techniques, like yoga, seeing a therapist or meditation. These can help you improve your hormone levels by reducing your stress.
Testosterone Injections Are Great for Many Men But Not Always Covered By Insurance
There are a lot of great reasons to consider using testosterone injections. Unfortunately, you may not get them covered by insurance if you can’t show they are medically necessary. The good news is that there are a lot of natural supplements that you can take instead, which tend to be a lot cheaper for people trying to get their libido back.