Medical Insurance

Health Insurance Cover Varicose Vein Treatments

Varicose Vein treatments are covered by most medical insurers where medical necessity criteria apply.

The Varicose Vein Clinic is an Affiliated Provider for Southern Cross Healthcare and a First Choice Provider for NIB Medical Insurance, which means we do all the paperwork for you. The medical necessity criteria means that varicose veins generally need to have symptoms such as aching, heaviness and swelling or skin problems such as varicose eczema, infection, skin discolouration for varicose ulcers to be covered by insurance. Usually the total cost of assessment and treatment is covered.

Insurers such as Sovereign, Unimed, Accuro, AIA, Partners Life and others also cover varicose vein treatments. If you are insured with medical insurer other than Southern Cross Healthcare and NIB, you should arrange for prior approval before any planned treatment.

Spider vein treatment is regarded by medical insurance companies to be a cosmetic treatment  and is therefore not covered by medical insurance.  It is important to note that if you have symptoms related to spider veins, it may be because there are underlying varicose veins that are not visible on the surface. These can be detected by an ultrasound that is part of your initial assessment at the Varicose Vein Clinic. Therefore your treatment may be covered by your insurance.

It is not necessary for you to have a referral letter from your General Practitioner for assessment and treatment but some medical insurers require a letter from your GP for prior approval purposes.