What is the Cost of Varicose Vein Treatment?

The cost of varicose vein removal varies widely, typically ranging from $400 to $2,000 per treatment session without insurance. Factors affecting price include the treatment method, number of veins treated, and the doctor's expertise. Many insurance plans cover medically necessary procedures, potentially reducing out-of-pocket expenses. Cosmetic vein treatments, such as with spider vein removal, are ineligible for coverage. Always consult a vein specialist for an accurate estimate.

Many patients want to know whether insurance covers vein treatments and what the cost of vein treatment is without insurance. Unfortunately, other resources on the internet often leave you with more questions than answers.

Keep reading — we’re here to help!

Vein Treatment Cost – in Dollars

Vein treatment with modern, minimally invasive techniques may seem like an expensive process because of the high-tech medical equipment used. Without insurance, vein treatment can cost $400–2,000 per treatment, depending on the technology used and type or condition of the vein(s) being treated. For patients with health insurance, exact pricing is not possible to state here because insurance plans typically cover most, if not all, of the cost for medical vein treatments. That’s right: 97% of vein treatments are covered by insurance due to the medical benefits of treatment. Thus, the actual cost to patients is usually very low, if they are required to pay anything at all.

The final cost of varicose vein treatment to the patient is unique, as they are usually covered by insurance because associated symptoms are often uncomfortable or even painful, creating an impact on one’s overall health and quality of life. Once care is deemed medically necessary, copays for vein treatment, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket expenses are determined by the insurance plan. If someone has met their yearly deductible, their treatment costs them less (or nothing at all) versus for a patient who has not met their deductible. Likewise, copays vary drastically from plan to plan, which can lead to different final prices among patients, even those who receive the same treatment. There may also be coverage differences by state. Unfortunately, none of these factors can be controlled by the vein clinic.

One important factor to confirm when choosing your vein doctor is whether they are in-network with your insurance plan. (This means that they have a contract setting certain prices for services.) If your vein clinic is out-of-network, prices are less predictable.

At Metro Vein Centers, we accept over 200 insurance plans, and over 97% of our vein treatments are covered by insurance! Our patient care team is happy to help explain what to expect from your insurance coverage, confirm insurance verification for vein procedures, and more. We will consult directly with you and your insurance company to determine your coverage options, your copays, any additional fees that will apply toward your yearly deductible, and many other concerns.

Dr. Mason Mandy, M.D., DABVLM, shares why he thinks it’s important to communicate clearly throughout the vein care process. “We want our patients to feel informed going into their appointments, treatments, and even aftercare. That includes pricing and insurance. We don’t want anyone going into this feeling blindsided, as we hear so often from patients who have had negative medical experiences in the past at other vein clinics,” he says. “Spider veins are not often covered by insurance because they’re considered a cosmetic issue, but varicose vein removal is often covered if the veins cause pain, or if their presence can be tied to chronic venous insufficiency. It’s a matter of discovering the source of the venous issue and communicating that to the patient.”

As with other cosmetic vein procedures, spider vein removal with sclerotherapy can cost anywhere from $350–600 per session, depending on the surface area covered, pigmentation of the veins, and other factors. Patients may need one to four sessions to achieve full results. The best source of information for a specific estimate of the number of sessions you may need is your vein specialist and care team. Once your custom treatment plan has been outlined, they can properly bill treatments to your insurance or alert you of any out-of-pocket expenses. Additionally, they can inform you of the cost of your copay, whether or not your deductible has been met, and whether there are self-pay options like CareCredit for vein treatment or FSA for varicose veins. They may also indicate whether HSA-eligible vein procedures are available, and other resources. However you may be financing varicose vein treatment, we are here to help!

Vein Treatment Cost – in Time

The amount of time you’ll need to spend away from work, for travel, and recovery is important to consider. But there’s great news: With advancements being made in minimally invasive varicose vein and spider vein treatments, the days of hospital stays and lengthy, painful recovery times are long gone. Because treatments are done directly in our vein clinic, most appointments can be completed in under 30 minutes. Patients are able to return to their day-to-day schedule without interruption, and most patients walk out and drive themselves home from their clinic visits unassisted!

Recovery times are quick now and include a few days of wearing compression stockings, going on short walks, and avoiding heavy or strenuous activities. Compression stockings cost anywhere from $15-40, but are often provided in-clinic after vein treatment. Other, more-invasive (and outdated) treatments like vein stripping require weeks of bed rest, downtime, and pain medication. With modern technology paving new roads in medicine, vein treatment has never been gentler, easier, or less of a hassle from start to finish.

Different treatments come with different aftercare instructions, and waiting periods between treatments may be recommended by your care team.

Prices as listed do not include insurance coverage for medically necessary treatments.

Sclerotherapy: On average, sclerotherapy yields full results after 1–3 appointments, with visible improvement likely following the first visit. This can be used on both spider veins and smaller varicose veins. It is recommended to stay out of the sun for at least 3 weeks following sclerotherapy to avoid hyperpigmentation, so many patients opt to do sclerotherapy during the fall and winter months. Sclerotherapy pricing can range from $350 - $450.

Radiofrequency Ablation: Radiofrequency ablation is often used as the first step in deeper varicose vein treatment. One appointment, followed by a second treatment type, creates a dynamic and efficient care plan. Radiofrequency ablation by itself can take on average 1–2 appointments, with noticeable results settling in a few weeks after the clinic visit. Radiofrequency ablation pricing can cost $2200 - $2700.

Endovenous Laser Ablation: Similarly to RFA, this is used to treat varicose veins in an average of 1-2 appointments. Endovenous laser treatment fees can range from $1900 - $2200.

Excel V+ Laser: There are a few considerations when it comes to this laser treatment for spider veins: how dark the pigment in the spider veins is, how much surface area their veins cover, and on what part of the leg they appear. Given these variables, the average patient sees full results after 3 laser vein treatment sessions. Laser vein therapy expenses cost is typically $425 per session.

Microphlebectomy: In most cases, this treatment requires only one appointment to complete, and results are immediate. The “micro” in microphlebectomy refers to the size of the incision and the portion of the unhealthy vein removed during treatment. This minimally invasive technique is popular because of its instant, visible results. Microphlebectomies can cost $700 - $1050.

The Hidden Cost of Not Receiving Vein Treatment

Because vein disease is a condition that progresses without treatment, postponing or avoiding the issue may have a hidden cost: your health. Common symptoms such as restless legs and itching may escalate to restless legs that keep you awake at night, swelling, pain when standing, burning sensations, and eventually ulcers and blood clots. These conditions can easily have a negative impact on your quality of life, work, time spent with family, and your independence. We always recommend patients take charge of their health and not delay vein treatment.

Advanced vein disease is known to impair mobility, with uncomfortable and painful symptoms keeping us off of our feet and worsening our circulation further. Deep vein thrombosis (DVTs) are blood clots in the deeper veins of legs that can migrate to the lungs and cause pulmonary embolisms, which can be fatal. In cases of late-stage venous insufficiency, the appearance of venous ulcers is also a concern which could increase the risk of infection significantly.

The best time to pursue treatment is now. If you’re experiencing discomfort, come in for an evaluation and get a leg up on your symptoms. You do not have to wait until your quality of life has decreased to seek relief. No amount of pain is “normal.” Safeguarding your vein health protects mobility, sleep, and increases full-body health.

Ready to Get Started?

You deserve to live pain-free! You do not have to live with symptoms of vein disease. There are minimally invasive vein treatments that are gentle, efficient, and covered by most insurance providers. We accept over 200 insurance plans in our New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Texas vein clinics. We’re more than happy to get you started on the road to healthy, happy legs. Vein specialist consultation fees can vary greatly, but we offer vein evaluations in all of our clinics, and health insurance usually covers this cost. To schedule your consultation, or to discuss insurance coverage for varicose veins with our patient care team, give us a call at 866-353-4930. We’re here to help!

“I couldn’t be happier with Metro Vein Centers. They made it easy to work with my schedule and my insurance and were honest about the recovery time of my vein treatment.” — Delia