Hi All. Newbie cyster here! Well, not a newbie to PCOS, but a newbie to the board (I'd lurked for a LONG time before joining today).
I'm curious on people's luck with getting their laser covered by their insurance.
I read through a few of the threads here and it doesn't look like many have had much luck getting it covered.
The reason I'm curious is because of something my doctor said recently. I recently had my yearly lady exam and mentioned the excess facial hair that's been bothering me lately. She suggested laser and a certain place here in town. She also said that it should absolutely be covered by insurance and... (get this) if they baulked at the idea of it being covered she'd write a letter for me so it could be.
She's an amazing doctor and goes out of her way for her patients. Unfortunately she's retiring. But, I guess I'm just wondering if anyone things I'll have much luck getting this covered with a letter from my doctor.
I've got a "free consult" on friday at the place she recommended. I'm excited but a little nervous about the price if it's not covered.
If you can get your doctor to diagnose you with Hirsutism, you might get your insurance to pay for it. All you can do is ask them. If you get the diagnosis, and the insurance doesn't pay for it, you could deduct it as a medical expense from your income tax if you have medical expenses including the laser of greater than 2% of your adjusted gross income. When you have insurance, that 2% number is really hard to hit.
I went in for that consult on Friday and ended up having a session. It's still too early to notice a difference, but I'm hopeful!
I paid out of pocket on this one, but hope to talk to my now retired Dr's nurse tomorrow to see if my Dr can't write a letter to get it covered. I guess we'll see.
The price was right for the laser so I couldn't pass it up. It'd help on the pocketbook in the future though if even part of it was covered. I may post an update after seeing what my Dr can pull off.
When we had medical (I lost my job (gotta love downsizing...ugh) and lost our benefits), both DH's and my insurance did NOT cover laser hair removal. It is something I was on the insurance companies about...but what I heard was always the same. "It's cosmetic". Whatever. Try being a woman with a full on mustache! Yet, they cover Viagra. Yeah, how fair is THAT?? *eyeroll*
__________________ Currently supplementing with:
-Flaxseed Oil
-Cinnamon
-Chromium Piconilate
-Cal/Mag/VitD
Undergoing treatment for PCOS, IR, Adenomyosis
attempting to avoid hysterectomy
I would love to get laser hair removal too. A woman I work with thought I was "bruised" and threatened to call the police because she was sure my husband was abusing me. I tried to explain about PCOS, but she didn't believe me! I literally had to make her feel my face to believe that it was hair. It is sooooo embarrassing and humiliating to go through situations like this every day. My insurance does not cover it either. But, yes, they cover viagra? what's with that. I was suicidal (not now, don't worry) in high school because of the embarrassment of this and there is nothing that can be done about it? It's so frustrating and unfair. The insurance company says this is a "cosmetic" procedure. It is not. It goes so much deeper than that. I have tried writing them to explain about PCOS and that it is a side-effect or whatever, and the hardships women with this have. They don't listen. What can we do? Either let it grow and be ridiculed or shave it off and.... be harassed? It is so unfair.
I do think it's horrible that insurance companies won't pay for hair removal (though I have read a few stories of insurance paying for electrolysis after lots of documentation), but I don't know, if I had a husband who needed Viagra, I think that would affect my quality of life too!
I do understand how intolerable these "cosmetic" (hah!) symptoms can be.
Luck with insurance coverage for laser? 
