Is Ketamine Therapy Covered by Insurance?

Is Ketamine Therapy Covered by Insurance?

Ketamine therapy shows promising results for people who suffer from treatment-resistant depression. Though not all insurances cover this therapy, it may well be worth the investment even if you have to go out of pocket. This is because ketamine has proven to be one of the most effective antidepressant medications available today. If you would like to learn more about ketamine therapy and why ketamine depression treatment insurance is not commonly available, continue reading.

Is Ketamine FDA Approved?

Yes, ketamine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 1970. It was originally used as an animal tranquilizer but has been studied extensively for its potential medical uses. It is prescribed off-label for various psychiatric conditions including depression and bipolar disorder. The most common side effects are dissociative symptoms, which include feelings of detachment, depersonalization, and derealization. These symptoms usually subside after a few hours. 

Are Ketamine Treatments Covered by Insurance?

It is best to check with your insurance provider to determine if ketamine treatments are covered or not. While some insurers may cover certain treatments under specific circumstances, they will not cover ketamine treatment for depression unless you have a clinical trial underway. The main reasons why ketamine depression treatment insurance is not offered include:

• Ketamine is a generic drug, readily available, and pharmaceutical companies can’t make a profit from it. Therefore research into ketamine is limited and without the science to back it, insurance companies won’t pay for it.
• Ketamine was used as an anesthetic early on and continues to be used in the surgery room still today for some procedures. Insurers will typically cover these procedures but not other types of uses.
• Ketamine has been shown to cause hallucinations, delusions, and confusion, which insurance companies may consider to be risky side effects.

Does Ketamine Work For Depression?

There is evidence that ketamine therapy works for depression. In fact, it’s one of the only medications that has shown consistently positive results in multiple randomized controlled trials. This means that when researchers randomly assign people with major depressive disorder to receive either ketamine or placebo, those who get ketamine experience significant improvement in their condition compared to those who get the placebo.

What Are The Benefits Of Ketamine?

There are many benefits associated with ketamine treatment for depression. First, it takes less time to see results than traditional antidepressants. A single dose of ketamine can last up to four weeks while other antidepressant drugs take several months to start working. Another benefit is that ketamine is relatively safe. Unlike other antidepressants, it carries little risk of causing suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Additionally, ketamine seems to be better tolerated by patients than other antidepressants. Most people report feeling relaxed and comfortable during ketamine sessions.

More benefits of Ketamine treatment:

• Fast acting – You can feel the benefits within minutes after taking your first dose.
• Relief from severe depression – Many patients report that they experience relief from severe depression following just one or two sessions.
• No tolerance – Unlike many other medications, you don’t build up a tolerance to ketamine over time. It works well for people who struggle with depression throughout their lives.
• No withdrawal symptoms – Withdrawal symptoms are common with other antidepressants. But since ketamine is non-addictive, you won’t experience any negative side effects.
• Inexpensive – The average cost per session is around $300-$400.

The Best Options to Help Pay for Ketamine Treatment

If you want to find out if you have ketamine depression treatment insurance, you should first check what your particular policy covers. Most plans will cover certain medications used to treat mental health issues like depression and anxiety, but they may not cover ketamine treatment.

If your insurance plan covers some or all of the cost of ketamine, you might consider asking your doctor about getting a prescription for the drug. In addition to offering symptom relief, ketamine has been shown to reduce cravings for alcohol and drugs, which could be helpful for people struggling with substance abuse.

Other options to pay for ketamine treatment:

• You can try crowdfunding or ask friends and family for financial assistance.
• You can work with a private donor or foundation to fund a study. This would require you to apply for a grant and then wait for approval. 
• You can discuss payment options with your treatment facility.
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How Much Does Ketamine Treatment Cost Out-Of-Pocket?

The cost of Ketamine treatment depends on where you live and what type of insurance coverage you have. If you’re uninsured, you’ll likely need to pay cash for ketamine treatment. Ketamine costs between $300 and $1,000 per session. These prices vary depending on the dosage needed to achieve the desired effect as well as the exact treatment facility. It may seem expensive, but ketamine is actually one of the least expensive treatments available for depression. For example, other antidepressants like Prozac and Zoloft cost hundreds of dollars each month. And when you factor in the costs of counseling the price skyrockets into the thousands of dollars.

Ketamine Treatment in Chestnut Hill, PA

Ketamine is commonly used to treat depression because it produces feelings of euphoria that are similar to those produced by natural highs. It also helps people feel less anxious and depressed. If you suffer from treatment-resistant depression and think there is no hope for you, ketamine could be your ticket to recovery. Get help with depression today, call WAVE Treatment Centers or visit our contact form.

The post Is Ketamine Therapy Covered by Insurance? appeared first on WAVE Treatment Centers.