Insurance Coverage:
Many private insurance companies recognize the benefits of bright light therapy and its cost advantages over medication, so they may cover the purchase of a light box with a prescription from your doctor. In fact, many have reimbursed the purchase price of bright light therapy systems for the treatment of SAD, the winter blues and other mood disorders, PMS, sleep disorders and Shift Work Adjustment.
Call your health insurance company to see if they cover the expense of a bright light therapy system and to discuss their specific documentation requirements. Bright light therapy systems are not approved for reimbursement under government run medical programs.
Your chance of reimbursement is greatly improved if you submit the following to your insurance company:
- Letter with appropriate diagnostic criteria signed by your doctor. (For instructions and a sample letter, click here
.)
- Prescription from your Doctor recommending 10,000 lux, duration and time of day to administer treatment.
- Receipt or invoice for purchase of your bright light therapy system.
