Insurance Reimbursement for HIFU

[Londear1992]

Just wondering if anyone has succeeded in getting their private health insurer to cover any of the costs of HIFU? It is my understanding that Medicare will now cover up to $7,000 of the cost, but wondered about United Healthcare. Maple Leaf Clinic in Toronto list about 40 insurers who have helped cover the costs of their HIFU treatments, but just wondering if anyone has personal experience of this. Also was it difficult to get reimbursed? Thanks!

[Tall_Allen]

I'm surprised that Canadian Medicare will cover it. Does it matter if it's part of a clinical trial?

[Londear1992]

Hi. I am speaking of Americans going to Canada for HIFU treatment. Medicare does not cover any treatments outside the US, but according to the Maple Leaf Toronto site, US citizens traveling there for HIFU treatments have been able to get some reimbursement for their HIFU treatments from their insurers in the US. I am just trying to find out if anyone using this site has ever succeeded in getting any reimbursement at all from their insurers here in the US, whether for treatment in Canada or US. Thanks if anyone has experienced this and could shed some light.

[Coopertino]

My husband did HIFU in 2010 in Cancun before it was FDA approved and I got reimbursed through my blue cross blue shield international plan. International HIFU North Carolina helped us.

[Londear1992]

That's great to know. Thanks. And how is your husband doing now? I hope his treatment was successful.