Mobile IV therapy has grown in popularity over the past years as an accessible and effective treatment for a myriad of health issues. If one needs rehydration, vitamin infusions, or treatment of migrants or nausea, a mobile IV covered by insurance brings the hospitals to their doorstep, whether it is a hotel or an office, no make-shift required. Given the demand, many would like to find an answer to the question: Does mobile IV therapy get covered by insurance?
Understanding Mobile IV Therapy
So before talking about insurance coverage, let’s take a brief look at what mobile IV therapy is. Mobile intravenous therapy refers to delivering fluids, vitamins, medications, or nutrients directly into your bloodstream through an IV drip. This process is usually regarded as one that has rapid-acting effects since the usual pathway of the digestive system is bypassed, which means absorption takes place almost immediately.
Common Uses of Mobile IV Therapy
- Included Hydration and Electrolyte Repletion Vitamin and nutrient supplementation, for example vitamin C and B-complex
- Management of hangover or migraine
- Chronic management like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome
- Boosts up the immunity
- Overcoming jet lag
- Treatment of food poisoning or nausea
- Recovery or enhancement of the athletes
Because of these differing uses, it’s no wonder a growing number of individuals are looking to mobile IV therapy for the fast and easy answer to get healthy again. Still, the burning question remains: Can you get mobile IV covered by insurance?
Mobile IV Therapy and Insurance Coverage: A Murky Situation
Insurance is notoriously complex, and mobile IV therapy services are no exception to the rule. Several factors go into determining whether your insurance plan will pay for mobile IV treatments, including the purpose of therapy, specific insurance provider, and terms of your plan.
- Medical Necessity
One of the key determinants of the coverage insurance offers for mobile IV therapy is medical necessity. Most the treatments considered by an insurance company are “medically necessary.” This implies that the treatment is absolutely needed for the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of a certain kind of medical condition.
Now, if the cause of your dehydration is something for which you are being treated by your doctor-say, an illness-and he or she prescribes an IV hydration treatment to keep you hydrated, or if you’re getting intravenous medications as a management for chronic disease, like Crohn’s disease, then the insurance company should cover it. If, however, your motivation for getting mobile IV therapy is elective, such as vitamin infusion to get over or rehydrate after a binge night, then the insurance is not very likely to cover the service.
- Provider Policies of Insurance Companies
Insurance companies have their specified policies regarding what is covered and what is not. Some insurance companies begin to see the value in mobile IV therapy and may cover partial or full treatments for a medical professional’s prescription.
For example, some of the Blue Cross Blue Shield plan covers home health care wherein an individual can receive mobile IV therapy. This is particularly if medical necessity for the service will be established. Other providers, like Aetna and UnitedHealthcare, have policies that are different, varying for every specific region, or more often, varying depending on the specific plan.
While some insurance groups have coverage for mobile IV therapy, your provider may ask for a preauthorization or a referral from your primary care doctor. Always check first with the coverage and possible requirements of your insurance provider and if the office falls into their coverage area.
- In-Network vs. Out-of-Network Providers
Insurance companies usually have a list of providers they prefer, and those providers have agreed to take their members at reduced, contracted rates. If your mobile IV therapy provider is in-network with your insurance plan, it is likely that you would be covered or partially reimbursed. But most mobile IV therapy services fall outside a specific plan’s network.
In this instance, if your provider is not in-network, you could still be paid for, but the coverage may be lower and you might be charge out-of-pocket costs. It is highly advisable to reach out to your insurance company to find out if the mobile IV service you are looking to use is part of their network as well as if they have specific documentation requirements that need to be met for coverage.
Common Mobile IV Therapies That Are Accepted By Insurance
While much of mobile IV therapy is used for elective wellness reasons, there are some treatments that would be able to be covered by insurance should they be prescribed by a healthcare provider. Some common mobile IV therapies which could qualify for possible insurance reimbursement include:
- Hydration Therapy for Dehydration
If an illness leads to acute dehydration from heatstroke or a medical condition, IV fluids are often required to properly rehydrate the patient. Therefore, if this would be part of your treatment protocol prescribed by your physician, then IV hydration therapy could potentially be classified as medically necessary and thus be covered under insurance. - IV Antibiotics
Certain infections are not easy to treat unless you get IV antibiotics. Mobile IV services can visit your home if you can’t go to the hospital or clinic. Such a treatment is specific medical care, so most insurance covers it. - Chronically used IV Medications
Such patients, who suffer from chronic diseases, such as Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), or rheumatoid arthritis, may require the infusions of medications into the body. Infusions can be done directly at the patient’s home with the use of mobile IV therapy services. Since these services can be included in the treatment plan, most insurance companies pay for them. - Nutritional IV Therapy in Malnutrition
IV nutritional therapy may be prescribed for the administration of important vitamins and minerals to individuals suffering from medical conditions that compromise nutrient absorption-which may include gastrointestinal disorders. Being considered a medically necessary procedure, insurance coverage for the therapy would likely be accepted.
Steps to Maximize Insurance Coverage for Mobile IV Therapy
If you are considering mobile IV therapy and are looking for reimbursement, then here’s how you can increase the likelihood of being covered.
- Get a Prescription
Getting an office or in-person visit from your healthcare provider to get a prescription may help ensure that your mobile IV therapy is covered by your insurance.
Getting a prescription gives evidence of medical necessity, which could be necessary for any medical treatment to be covered by insurance. - Contact Your Insurance Provider
Call your insurance company ahead of time to inquire about what policy they have regarding IV therapy. Ask if they cover mobile services, what kind of pre-authorization will be needed, and if they could refer you to any in-network providers who can administer mobile IV treatments. - Get Thorough Documentation
Ask for a detailed documentation of the mobile IV therapy, including itemized receipts, description of the provided therapy, and relevant medical codes, such as CPT codes that the insurance companies use in processing claims. Present it to the insurance company with the relevant claim forms. - File a Claim
If your insurance covers mobile IV therapy, you just need to file a claim with your insurance firm and provide all the necessary documents. Do not forget to keep a copy of your documents in case they ask you about your processing status.
Out-of-Pocket Expenses and Options
Mobile IV therapy would be an out-of-pocket cost if it were not covered under an insurance plan. The cost of mobile IV therapy can vary, but it can range from $100 to $500 or more and depends upon the type of treatment as well as the provider.
There are some businesses that offer payment plans or package deals if the mobile IV therapy isn’t covered by your insurance to help bring the overall price down. You also have the option to put money in one of two special accounts: a health savings account (HSA) or a flexible spending account (FSA), which allows you to contribute to it using pre-tax dollars and then use those dollars to pay for medically necessary care, such as mobile IV therapy.
Conclusion
Insurance for mobile IV therapy services is still relatively uncommon, although there are situations in which these treatments may be covered if the provider indicates that they are medically necessary. It will do much good for you to understand what you need to do to ensure maximum coverage if you take proper coordination with your healthcare provider and insurance company. You may visit for hydration therapy due to illness or jet lag supportive therapy. Mobile IV services provide convenience with a high level of effectivity when it comes to addressing your health concerns.
