Varicose Vein Treatment: How Much Does It Cost?

Varicose veins are a common condition that can cause pain, discomfort, and cosmetic concerns. While they are not always dangerous, treatment helps to relieve symptoms and improve their appearance. 

There are many treatment options for varicose veins that range from compression therapy with socks or bandages to office procedures and hospital-based vascular surgery.

Without insurance, varicose vein treatment costs can range from $400 to $13,000 for each procedure.

What are varicose veins?

Veins are blood vessels that carry blood to your heart. Large veins work like the busy roads of a metropolis. Usually, these veins have one-way valves that act like traffic lights, ensuring blood flows in the right direction. However, when these valves weaken or get damaged, blood gets backed up — like vehicles when stoplights malfunction and there’s a traffic jam — and this causes varicose veins.

Varicose veins are most commonly found in the legs. They can also affect other body parts,  including: 

• Esophagus: The esophagus is the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach. Varicose veins in the esophagus are called esophageal varices. They can sometimes cause bleeding, since the veins in the esophagus are thin and delicate. 

• Hemorrhoids: This type of varicose vein forms in the rectum and can cause pain, swelling, and itching. 

• Scrotum: The scrotum is the sac that holds the testicles. Varicose veins in the scrotum are known as varicoceles. They are a common cause of male infertility. 

• Vulva: The vulva is the external part of female genitals. Varicose veins in the vulva are known as vulvar varicosities. They can cause pain, discomfort, and swelling. 

What are the different treatments for varicose veins?

There are a variety of treatment options for varicose veins, from low-cost options to vascular surgery. Your medical provider will examine you and recommend the most appropriate treatment plan, which may include one or more of the following:

• Regular physical activity: At least 30 minutes of exercise, such as walking or swimming, each day may help improve circulation and reduce pressure in varicose veins. This can also help prevent varicose veins from getting worse.

• Leg elevation: Prop your legs above your heart for about 15 minutes several times a day. This helps to drain blood from the legs and reduce pressure on the veins. Use pillows or a footrest to elevate your legs while lying down.

• Compression: There are special compression socks and bandages available in varying styles and strengths. They apply pressure to the legs, which helps improve circulation while reducing pain and swelling.

• Sclerotherapy: This minimally invasive procedure involves injecting a solution into varicose veins, which causes them to collapse and shrink. This treatment is effective for smaller varicose veins and spider veins, which are tiny veins with a spider web appearance. The procedure can be done at the doctor’s office and doesn’t require a hospital stay. Recovery is minimal; typically, you can resume your normal activities right away.

• Endovenous laser ablation: This procedure uses laser light to heat up and close a varicose vein from within. This technique is a minimally invasive option, and you only need local anesthesia. It can be done at the doctor’s office or a hospital. Recovery is quick. Depending on the size of the varicose vein or veins treated, you can resume activity immediately or within a few days.

• Ligation and stripping: This process eliminates varicose veins by tying them off and removing them. Known as vein stripping or phlebectomy, this vascular surgery is usually reserved for more severe varicose veins, such as those in the esophagus. These procedures happen at the hospital. Recovery can take a couple of weeks.

• Radiofrequency ablation: This procedure, known as RFA, removes varicose veins using radio waves that heat and close them. This option is less invasive than ligation and stripping but works just as well. It’s done at the hospital or the doctor’s office, and you only need local anesthesia. Recovery is quick, letting you return to regular activities after a few days.

• Ambulatory phlebectomy: This treatment removes varicose veins near the skin’s surface through tiny cuts. This fixes varicose veins quickly and improves their appearance. This procedure is quick, uses local anesthesia, and can be done at the doctor’s office. Recovery is short; you can return to normal activities in a day or two.

• VenaSeal: This treatment option uses a medical-grade glue to close off varicose veins. Unlike sclerotherapy, which is best for small veins, VenaSeal works even on larger veins and is minimally invasive. Most patients can return to normal activities within a day or so.

How much does varicose vein treatment cost?

There are affordable self-care treatment options, such as exercise, leg elevation, and compression socks. Medical treatment costs range from $400 to more than $13,000 per procedure. Your provider may recommend varicose vein therapy that includes multiple treatments. 

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• Can exercise help? Learn about which exercises can help manage your varicose veins and which exercises you should avoid.

• Managing your varicose veins: A range of treatments can prevent your varicose veins from worsening, from compression socks to more intensive procedures.

• Is sclerotherapy right for you? Sclerotherapy is a safe, effective treatment for removing small varicose veins, but it isn’t right for everyone. Find out if you would benefit and how much it costs.

MDsave — a price-shopping tool for uninsured people and people with high-deductible health plans — provides cost estimates for the following in-office varicose vein surgeries with its providers. Prices were valid at the time of publication.

MDsave varicose vein procedure price estimates

Here is a breakdown of the average cost for each varicose vein treatment type in the U.S. Your out-of-pocket cost will depend on the severity of the varicose veins, all medical fees, and — if you have insurance — what the plan covers.

Average costs for different varicose vein treatments

Does Medicare cover varicose vein treatment?

Medicare covers varicose vein treatment — including sclerotherapy; endovenous radiofrequency, or laser ablation; and ligation, with or without stripping — if the procedure is deemed medically necessary. Your medical provider must document that your varicose veins are causing symptoms such as pain, swelling, or skin ulcers.

Medicare Advantage plans may offer additional coverage options, but prior authorization may be required. Check with your specific plan provider for details on varicose vein coverage. 

How do other insurance plans cover varicose vein treatment?

Medicaid and most private insurance plans will cover varicose vein treatments. Coverage is typically approved if the treatment is documented as medically necessary by your provider. Some insurance plans may cover varicose vein treatment for cosmetic purposes, but most do not.

Tricare may cover compression stockings as well as radiofrequency or laser ablation. Your out-of-pocket costs depend on whether the varicose vein treatment is provided in an office, ambulatory surgery center, or hospital.

How can I shop for varicose vein treatment prices?

Here are some options for reducing out-of-pocket costs for your varicose vein treatment:

• Use an in-network provider. If you have Medicare Advantage or any other type of private insurance, be sure to use a provider in your network, which will typically have negotiated lower prices. Going outside of your network can cost you more.

• Use price-lookup tools. Since 2021, hospitals have been subject to hospital price transparency, which requires them to publish standard charges for services that can be scheduled. Since 2022, health insurance plans have been subject to health plan price transparency, which requires them to publish price information on certain covered treatments, services, and medications on their websites. You can also see costs for certain outpatient services on Medicare’s Procedure Price Lookup.

• Get quotes from multiple providers. If you are uninsured or will not use insurance to cover the procedure, don’t limit yourself to one doctor or clinic. Each provider sets their own cash prices for treatment, so costs can vary. Contact multiple providers and request a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) of expected charges for the treatment you are considering. You can dispute the final bill if it’s at least $400 more than the GFE.

• Ask about hidden costs. There could be expenses not included in your quote or GFE. Make sure to ask about the cost of pre-operative consultations, post-operative care, or anesthesia if it is required.

• Negotiate or consider financing. Some providers are willing to negotiate the cost of treatment. You may also have financing options through your doctor’s office or medical credit lenders that will help you pay the treatment cost over time. Some practices provide varicose vein treatments through flat-rate packages that offer savings for buying multiple services at one time. 

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Written by:

Lisa Kaelin

Lisa Kaelin is an author, editor, and artist. She has nearly 2 decades of experience writing and editing online personal finance content.

Edited by:

Cindy George, MPH

Cindy George is the senior personal finance editor at GoodRx. She is an endlessly curious health journalist and digital storyteller.

Reviewed by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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