Does Medicare Cover Clarifix?

There are many causes of runny noses, including irritants, allergies, or a cold. And there are a lot of ways to treat a runny nose such as medication, tea, or steam. However, those simple treatments that we mentioned earlier may not be enough to fix a runny nose caused by chronic rhinitis. One of the ways to treat it is through nasal cryotherapy called Clarifix.

If you need this treatment, you may be wondering, “does Medicare cover Clarifix?” In this article, we answer that question in clear, plain English.

The short answer is yes; Medicare will cover the cost of Clarifix. But not 100% of the time. As is often the case with Medicare, certain conditions have to be met in order for Medicare to pay for your Clarifix. Below we look at what these are so you know what to expect. You’ll also find a brief overview of Clarifix and how it works.

Original Medicare

Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B) provides coverage for Clarifix. Parts A and B provide coverage for Clarifix if your medical provider considers it medically necessary.

The procedure is considered safe and side effects are temporary after the procedure. The FDA has approved the Clarifix procedure.

Part C Coverage for Clarifix

Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C) also provide coverage for Clarifix procedures. These plans must cover everything Original Medicare covers. But they will offer additional benefits too. The specifics of what additional treatments, services, etc. a plan will cover and what the costs for the plan are will vary from plan to plan.

What Is Nasal Cryotherapy?

Intranasal cryotherapy is a procedure that freezes certain nerve fibers found in the back of the nose. These nerve fibers cause a runny nose when they become overactive. As a result, the tissue lining in the nose produces too much watery mucus.

Clarifix uses nasal cryotherapy to treat conditions such as chronic rhinitis. This is considered a safe procedure and it is minimally invasive. And unlike medications, the effects of Clarifix cryotherapy are long-lasting. The patient will most likely see an improvement in their condition within 2-6 weeks after the procedure.

How Does Clarifix Work?

Clarifix cryotherapy usually takes place in a doctor’s office. First, they will apply local anesthesia to the area of the nerve inside the patient’s nose. Then, they will insert a small cooling agent into the nostril along with an endoscope. The cooling agent will be applied to the imbalanced nerve for about a minute.

Once they apply the cooling agent, it will interrupt the signals from the nerves, and as a result, the patient’s runny nose condition will start to improve.

Most patients who undergo this kind of treatment experience improvement within 2-6 weeks after the procedure.

Note: Medicare coverage changes all the time. And your specific coverage may vary from plan to plan for Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans. Always be sure to double check with your health care provider and/or Medicare insurance provider about what your plan covers and what it does not.