Hormone replacement therapy and health insurance
With the rising costs of medical treatments and medications, it’s no wonder people wait so long to seek treatment for health concerns or take action to address their symptoms.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is one of those treatments in the healthcare world that can be extremely beneficial – for the right person – but can also be costly when you consider everything from the initial testing to the ongoing treatment itself, and so people don’t usually prioritize it in their health and wellness plans.
As hormone therapy specialists, we are often asked by prospective clients if hormone replacement therapy is covered by health insurance, and the answer to that question is: it depends.
Whether or not HRT is covered by your insurance depends on what insurance provider you have, what HRT is being used to treat, and if your primary care provider has specifically recommended HRT for your holistic health. So, it’s important to get in touch with your insurance directly to see if HRT is covered under your plan, or if you can get treatment reimbursed through your benefits or a health savings account.
But, if your insurance won’t cover HRT, we think it is still a worthy investment for your long-term health and can help manage some of the more uncomfortable symptoms of age-related hormone imbalances.
What is hormone replacement therapy?
HRT is the replenishment of hormones – specifically estrogen and testosterone – in the body in order to help your system perform at its most optimal level. While our bodies naturally produce hormones (and they do this for most of our lives), that natural production slows with age, which causes a decline in hormone levels and causes an imbalance.
The endocrine system, which is the network that controls and regulates hormones in our body, is extremely important, but it’s also incredibly delicate, and even a small imbalance can throw your entire system out of whack and bring some uncomfortable symptoms.
HRT’s main goal is to rebalance the system and make sure your body has just the right amount of certain hormones it needs to function properly and optimally. The treatment itself can take a few different forms, such as oral supplements and creams, but the key to successful HRT is giving your body a very precise dose to only replace what’s missing and not exceed those ideal levels.
How do you know when you need hormone therapy?
Hormone imbalances can cause a lot of symptoms that can be easily confused for totally different medical conditions or illnesses, so it can be hard to tell if you have a hormone imbalance simply from the symptoms you experience.
Nonetheless, symptoms are usually the first indication that something is wrong and that it’s time to seek a blood test to identify an imbalance.
The most common symptoms of hormone imbalance can be similar between men and women but are largely different.
In women, some of the symptoms to watch for are:
- Mood swings
- Hot flashes
- Irregular menstruation
- Infertility
- Pain in the abdomen or back during menstruation
- Low libido
- Insomnia
- Unexplained weight gain or weight loss
- Brittle bones
And in men, some of the symptoms to watch for are:
- Low libido
- Erectile dysfunction
- Loss of muscle mass
- Hair thinning or reduced hair growth
- Tenderness in the chest
Why invest in hormone replacement therapy?
While HRT may or may not be covered by your insurance, depending on the type of therapy and the reason, it’s still a very valuable investment for both men and women as their natural hormone levels decline.
Whether you’re experiencing symptoms, like weight gain, brain fog, or low libido, from a hormone imbalance or not, it’s important to keep your hormone levels in check as you age to prevent symptoms and further health issues.
There are some other great benefits of hormone replacement therapy, too, like:
- Improved energy levels & endurance
- Better sleep
- Improved mood
- Increased memory retention
- Stronger mental clarity
- Faster muscle building & recovery
- More efficient fat loss
- Improved libido
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Before you rule out hormone replacement therapy for cost alone, it’s important to get in touch with a hormone specialist, like the providers at 10X Health, to get a better idea of the benefits HRT could provide to your health.
If you’re interested in learning more about how hormone replacement therapy could help you 10X your health, get in touch with our team of hormone experts at 10X Health to get started!
