Is red light therapy covered by insurance

What is red light therapy?

Red light therapy (RLT) is a treatment that uses low wavelength red light to reportedly improve your skin’s appearance, such as reducing wrinkles, scars, redness and acne. It’s also touted to treat other medical conditions.

To date, there’s a lot of ongoing research, publication of small studies and a much discussion on the internet about the effectiveness of red light therapy for all types of health uses. Results of some studies do show some promise, but the full effectiveness of red light therapy has yet to be determined.

Other names you might hear to describe red light therapy include:

• Low-level laser light therapy.
• Low-power laser therapy.
• Non-thermal LED light.
• Soft laser therapy.
• Cold laser therapy.
• Biostimulation, photonic stimulation.
• Photobiomodulation and phototherapy.

How did interest in red light therapy evolve?

NASA originally began experimenting with red light therapy on plant growth in space and then to help heal wounds in astronauts. Like many developments, other potential uses began to be investigated.

In fact, red light therapy is already widely medically accepted in its use in photodynamic therapy. In this therapy, low-power red laser light is used to activate a photosensitizer drug. The interaction creates a chemical reaction that destroys cells. It’s used to treat some skin conditions, including skin cancer and psoriasis, acne and warts and other types of cancer.

Now, RLT is being investigated (or already in use) for treating a wide array of health conditions. What’s confusing — and controversial — is the effectiveness of the treatment for the purposes it’s being promoted.

How does red light therapy supposedly work?

Red light therapy is thought to work by acting on the “power plant” in your body’s cells called mitochondria. With more energy, other cells can do their work more efficiently, such as repairing skin, boosting new cell growth and enhancing skin rejuvenation. More specifically, certain cells absorb light wavelengths and are stimulated to work.

Red light therapy may work in skin health to:

• Stimulate collagen production, which gives skin its structure, strength and elasticity.
• Increase fibroblast production, which makes collagen. Collagen is a component of connective tissue that builds skin.
• Increase blood circulation to the tissue.
• Reduce inflammation in cells.

For what skin conditions is red light therapy being tried?

Red light therapy is promoted as a treatment for some common skin conditions, including to:

• Improve wound healing.
• Reduce stretch marks
• Reduce wrinkles, fine lines and age spots.
• Improve facial texture.
• Improve psoriasis, rosacea and eczema.
• Improve scars.
• Improve sun-damaged skin.
• Improve hair growth in people with androgenic alopecia.
• Improve acne.

Is red light therapy effective?

Most experts say that they don’t know yet if RLT is effective for all its claimed uses. Most say that the studies published so far show some potential for certain conditions, but that more studies need to be conducted. Red light therapy is still an emerging treatment that’s generating growing interest. But at this point in time, there’s not enough evidence to support most uses.

The gold standard of studies to determine if a product is effective is a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. This means that a certain number of people with the same range of characteristics (age, weight, race, gender, etc.) get either the study treatment or a placebo (fake or “sham” treatment) for treatment of the same condition. Some studies also include a comparison to another commonly used treatment. Results can then be compared between the emerging treatment versus no treatment (the placebo group) or versus a “current standard” treatment.

Many of the published studies using RLT included only a small number of people, didn’t include a placebo group, weren’t conducted in humans (animal studies) or were limited to cell tissue itself. Most researchers say results so far look promising, but that more quality studies with larger numbers of people are needed.

Is red light therapy safe?

Red light therapy appears to be safe and is not associated with any side effects, at least if used short-term and as directed. This therapy is not toxic, not invasive and not as harsh as some topical skin treatments. Unlike the cancer-causing ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun or tanning booths, RLT doesn’t use this type of light.

However, if products are misused — perhaps used too often or not according to directions — there’s a chance your skin or eyes (if not protected) could be damaged. The long-term safety of devices that use red light therapy is not yet known.

Your safest option is to see a dermatologist or qualified, trained, cosmetic therapist. A dermatologist can make sure your skin condition is what you think it is and can discuss the merits of red light therapy and other treatment options.

Are devices purchased for at-home use a safe, reasonable option?

You’ll find many red light therapy products if you search on the internet. While these products are generally safe to use, they may use a lower wavelength frequency (meaning they’re less powerful) than devices that may be used by dermatologists or other trained skin professionals. You may not get the results you hope for.

If you do choose to purchase a red light therapy device, make sure to shield your eyes for protection, follow all directions and take good care of the device.

In addition to medical office-based use and at-home use with a purchased device, you may see RLT being promoted at beauty spas and salons, saunas, tanning salons, gyms and wellness centers. Be cautious of who is supplying and where you are receiving treatment. It’s always best to check in with a medical professional about the best options to treat your skin condition or issue.

What other medical conditions is red light therapy being promoted for?

Other potential medical uses being investigated include:

• To reduce cancer chemotherapy side effects, including oral mucositis.
• To relieve pain and inflammation associated with ankle tendonitis, rheumatoid arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome and osteoarthritis of the knee.
• To prevent cold sores from herpes simplex virus from recurring.

Lots of other uses are being touted on the internet. There’s no scientific evidence to support red light therapy use in weight loss, cancer, cellulite removal or mental health concerns like depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

What else do I need to know about red light therapy?

There are a lot of variables to consider when thinking about red light therapy:

• Is RLT covered by my health insurance? Red light therapy is typically not a covered treatment. You may want to call your health insurance company before seeking treatment.
• How many treatments will I need? You’ll likely need ongoing treatments. This is not a one-time treatment for most skin conditions. You’ll need to be seen one to three times a week for weeks or even months. Also, is there a need for additional touch-up treatments? This may add up to a lot of time and considerable out-of-pocket costs.
• Will I achieve the desired results? Everyone’s skin is different so results can vary. Also, the wavelength of the red light source ranges. The wavelength affects how deeply the light penetrates your skin. The wavelength of the red light device being used in a doctor’s office versus in your at-home device could affect your desired result.
• Do you trust the experience of the person providing the red light therapy? For example, is a tanning salon a place you feel comfortable receiving this treatment or might it be better to first be seen and possibly treated by a medical professional?
• Is red light therapy an appropriate treatment for my skin condition? Are other, more scientifically vetted approaches a better choice for my skin condition? See your healthcare provider to confirm a diagnosis and discuss appropriate treatment options.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Red light therapy is being promoted as a treatment for some common skin conditions. It’s still an emerging therapy but holds a lot of promise. If you’re interested in RLT treatment, it’s best to first discuss this with your healthcare provider or dermatologist. Your skin professional will examine your skin first and then confirm a diagnosis. Then, you’ll work together to discuss treatment options that’ll achieve your desired result. Options may or may not include red light therapy. Never hesitate to ask your healthcare provider about treatment options — including if you have an interest in a particular therapy, if it’s appropriate to use for your skin condition and if it’s safe and effective.

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Whether you’re trying to spend the remains of your FSA before the end of the year or are looking for a financially-savvy way to fund your wellness aspirations, you’ll be happy to know that you can purchase reVive Light Therapy® and dpl® light therapy devices with your FSA and HSA benefits.

However, it’s important to note that there are specific requirements for buying light therapy products using FSA or HSA benefits. If you’re unfamiliar with these regulations, we’ll use the next few sections to explain which light therapy devices are FSA and HSA eligible and how you can purchase these products with those savings account funds.

 

How Does Using Your FSA or HSA Save You Money?

You may be wondering how buying an eligible light therapy device with FSA or HSA funds benefits you. Because all of your contributions to your FSA and HSA come straight from your paycheck and are pre-taxed, you’re essentially saving up to 30% on your HSA or FSA light therapy purchase by using these pre-taxed funds.

Depending on the light therapy device you’ve been eyeing, some can be quite costly. Fortunately, using your FSA or HSA funds can be a great way to save money and help make this expense more manageable. You aren’t required to pay taxes on this money, making an FSA account a great way to pay for eligible out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. The amount of money you save will equal the taxes you would have had to pay on the money set aside.

What’s the Difference Between FSA and HSA?

The main difference between an FSA and HSA is the ability for contributions to roll over into the next year. An FSA, or flexible spending account, is employer-owned with account balances that do not roll over year to year. While some employers may allow a certain amount of funds to roll over or provide a grace period, FSA funds are generally “use it or lose it.” To maximize the benefits of your FSA, try to use all of those pre-taxed dollars before they expire.

Meanwhile, the account holder controls an HSA, or health savings account. The largest benefit of an HSA is that contributions roll over every year. Unlike an FSA, there are no time limits associated with using these funds. Because you manage this account on your own without employer supervision, you can use this money at your convenience. You can also determine what happens to any unspent funds in your account.

If you don’t have an FSA or HSA account yet, you may want to explore opening an account during open enrollment period. You can create an FSA account even if you don’t have a health insurance plan, or you can open one alongside your insurance coverage. FSAs have an annual contribution limit of $2,850 — which was recently raised from $2,750 — and declared contribution amounts are available to account holders in full at the first of each year.

To open an HSA during the enrollment period, you must have a high-deductible health plan, not be eligible for Medicare, and cannot be claimed as a dependent on another person’s tax return. The annual contribution limits for HSAs recently raised to $3,650 per individual or $7,300 per household.

Is Light Therapy FSA-Eligible?

The product must be FDA Cleared, FSA/HSA approved, and designed for medical conditions and pain management to be eligible for these reimbursements. Every product must undergo a rigorous approval process to qualify for FSA and HSA benefits. You cannot receive reimbursement for your purchase if the product isn’t approved, even if it treats pain or acne.

Our reVive Light Therapy® devices for acne treatment are FDA Cleared and eligible for FSA and HSA benefits. The same goes for our dpl® pain and oral care devices. In a later section, we’ll discuss eligible pain relief light therapy products you can purchase with these benefits.

Additionally, if you have a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA), you can use those funds for eligible medical and pain-relief light therapy products. With this employer-managed group health plan, you can receive a fixed annual amount of tax-free reimbursements for qualified medical expenses. Depending on the employer, unused funds in an HRA may roll over into subsequent years.

It’s also important to note that you can’t purchase light therapy using a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, or DCFSA. Funds from a Limited Purpose Flexible Spending Account, or an LPFSA, are also not considered eligible.

Is Acne Treatment Covered by HSA?

While many people aren’t too startled to learn that they can purchase pain relief or oral care products with their FSA or HSA benefits, products that treat acne tend to be a pleasant surprise for most. Skincare products intended for purely cosmetic purposes are not eligible for FSA or HSA benefits. However, while many see acne as a cosmetic issue, the FDA considers it a dermatological condition, allowing for the approval of many acne-targeted products.

An FSA or HSA savings account extends to a variety of prescription acne medications. It also covers over-the-counter acne treatments such as:

• Facial cleansers
• Sunscreens
• Pimple patches and pads
• Spot treatment products
• Body washes and gels
• Lotions
• Sprays

Regular dermatologist visits are typically eligible as well. If you regularly use any of these products or services for chronic acne, you’ll be happy to know that FSA or HSA acne treatment is a potential financial solution.

When trying to determine whether a particular skincare product is eligible for FSA or HSA benefits, the FDA has clear-cut regulations and guidelines to help give you some clarity on this matter. Ultimately, whether a product is a cosmetic or drug depends on factors such as its intended use, approval requirements, and labeling.

If you’re interested in using light therapy for acne treatment purposes, we’ll cover some specific FSA and HSA eligible products in some later sections.

Pain Relief Light Therapy Products You Can Buy with Your FSA or HSA Funds

Light therapy can help relieve pain in a variety of ways. Infrared light therapy devices emit light energy that penetrates through multiple layers of skin to reach muscle tissue and nerves. Cells in the muscle and nerves become more active by absorbing energy from the infrared light. As a result, blood flow increases and cells regenerate faster.

Infrared light therapy is a common treatment for achy, stiff joints and sore muscles, specifically in your neck, shoulders, and feet. Additionally, athletes often see accelerated muscle recovery by using light therapy before and after workouts. Infrared light therapy has also been shown to relieve arthritis pain, chronic back pain, and neuropathy pain.

Depending on your symptoms, there are several different types of light therapy devices available for pain relief. If you want to use infrared light therapy to treat multiple areas of the body, the dpl® Nüve for Professional Pain Relief is an FSA and HSA eligible product you can use to relieve tired muscles and stiff, achy joints. This product’s portable, versatile design makes it easy to treat any area of the body, and you can take it with you anywhere you go.

On the other hand, if you’re experiencing pain in a specific area, you may want to find an infrared light therapy device that targets that part of the body. Here are some examples of products that can help achieve this:

 

FSA and HSA Eligible Blue Light Therapy Devices for Acne Treatment

In addition to pain relief, various light therapy devices can also help acne. Blue light therapy can help treat and prevent acne by destroying acne-causing bacteria and stabilizing the sebaceous glands, helping these glands produce less oil over time.

The reVive Light Therapy® Clinical Acne Treatment and Soniqué Acne LED Sonic Cleansing System are popular at-home light therapy treatments that tout a large surface area so you can treat acne faster. There is also the slim Glō Portable Acne Light Therapy Device, which works just as well and is a great option for those who travel frequently with limited space in their carry-ons.

If you simply want to test the waters, only need spot treatments every so often, or want to have an extra device in your purse or car for unexpected acne flare-ups, there are more spot treatment devices covered by FSA and HSA benefits, such as the reVive Light Therapy® Poof, Spot, and Essentials.

On the other hand, if you want your acne treatment to cover larger areas at a time, the dpl IIa comes equipped with two 5” x 7” panels. Its size lets you treat the entire face, back, or décolleté areas in just one three-minute session (per area) — and it’s eligible for FSA and HSA benefits.

While blue and red light therapy are suited for different purposes, you can combine them for even more efficient results. Red light therapy is effective for reducing inflammation and accelerating the healing process, while blue light therapy targets acne by destroying bacteria beneath the skin’s surface. However, combining these products can treat acne quicker and more effectively.

Our dpl IIa, reVive Light Therapy® Lux Collection and all our Acne Treatment devices are great examples of products that integrate both red and blue light therapy.

 

Is Red Light Therapy FSA Eligible?

While we’ve covered multiple blue light and infrared light therapy devices that are eligible for FSA and HSA benefits, you may be interested in using red light therapy to treat medical conditions or relieve pain. Are these products eligible as well?

Not all red light therapy will be eligible for FSA and HSA benefits. However, since our reVive Light Therapy® devices for acne treatment and dpl® pain and oral care devices are FDA Cleared, they are all eligible for FSA and HSA benefits.

Here are some of our FSA-eligible red light therapy products designed to address specific covered issues in the body:

• The dpl® Clinical device combines red and infrared light therapy to relax your muscles, treat pain and spasms, and stimulate blood circulation.
• The dpl IIa light therapy panel targets the face, neck, hands, chest, back, and legs. You can use this anti-aging device for acne, wrinkles or both at the same time.
• The reVive Light Therapy® Soniqué Mini combines sonic cleansing technology with red and blue light therapy to create a powerful and effective skin cleanser for the face and body. It clears up the skin to provide an overall healthier appearance.

 

Is Red Light Therapy Covered by Insurance?

Despite relieving various ailments and chronic health conditions, infrared and red light therapy products and treatments typically will not be covered by health insurance or Medicare. While this could potentially change as FDA approval continues to expand, there is currently no coverage associated with this practice. However, certain dermatologists may offer targeted red light therapy applications for those with skin issues and conditions.

Is Blue Light Therapy Covered by Insurance?

Health insurance providers may cover blue light therapy in certain cases due to its extensive health benefits. However, this ultimately depends on whether your doctor considers you to be a worthy candidate. Generally speaking, insurance companies will only make exceptions for high-risk patients, such as those with skin cancers or severe sun damage.

To obtain insurance coverage for light therapy treatments, you’ll need to talk to your doctor, dermatologist, and insurance company to determine whether you’re eligible. Since insurance typically only covers these expenses in rare cases, you’ll likely want to have a backup financial plan. This is where an FSA or HSA savings account comes in handy, and you’d likely want to consider this option before health insurance or Medicare. Remember, you’ll need to ensure the light therapy treatment or device meets FSA and HSA reimbursement requirements.

How to Purchase Light Therapy Devices with Your FSA or HSA Benefits

At LED Technologies, Inc., we sell reVive Light Therapy® and dpl® at-home light therapy devices designed to treat some of the most stubborn pains and skin conditions. As of now, we are the only LED manufacturer on the market approved to offer eligible HSA and FSA light therapy devices.

If you’d like to purchase a light therapy device with your FSA or HSA dollars, it’s simple:

1. Check our full list of FSA and HSA eligible light therapy products available.
2. Make your purchase as you normally would while saving and printing receipts.
3. Submit the receipt of purchase to your FSA or HSA administrator to get reimbursed.

If you have any questions about how to purchase light therapy devices from LED Technologies with your FSA or HSA funds, please contact Customer support directly at 1 (800) 337-9565 or [email protected] for assistance.