Does Medicare Cover Stem Cell Therapy For COPD?

CPOD, short for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a serious lung disease. Smoking is the main cause of COPD. While that’s the highest risk factor, you can still get lung disease if you are frequently exposed to irritating gases or secondhand smoking.

The good thing is there are treatments available to bring relief to those with COPD. One new and exciting treatment is stem cell therapy. In fact, a study by the Lung Institute showed that 82% of patients with COPD who have tried stem cell therapy had noticeable improvements.

That’s great news! So, that begs the question for many with this disease, “Does Medicare cover Stem Cell Therapy For COPD?”

In this article, we answer that question in clear, plain English. You will also find the average costs of Stem Cell Therapy For COPD and other helpful info.

Does Medicare Cover Stem Cell Therapy For COPD?

The short answer is no. Medicare will not cover the cost of Stem Cell Therapy For COPD. That said, there are some conditions that Medicare can cover the use of stem cell therapy. Below we’ll take a closer look at this to see when you might be able to get Medicare to pay for stem cell therapy.

Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B) does not provide coverage for Stem Cell Therapy For COPD. Medicare only covers stem cell therapy for FDA-approved treatments. And, currently, it has not given approval to stem cell treatments for COPD.

Currently the only FDA-approved treatments are used to treat some cancers, immune system disorders and blood disorders. While those with COPD are out of luck right now for stem cell therapy coverage by Medicare, hopefully that will change sooner rather than later.

Medicare Advantage plans or Medicare Part C also does not provide coverage for Stem Cell Therapy For COPD. Medicare Part C only covers stem cell therapies that Original Medicare covers. There are no plans we know about that cover COPD stem cell therapy.

How Much Does Stem Cell Therapy For COPD Cost?

Stem cell therapy is quite expensive. The treatment for COPD can cost anywhere between $10,000 and $35,000.

There are a few factors that affect the cost of stem cell therapy for COPD. Two of the main ones include the specific nature of your treatment and the clinic where you get the treatment.

What Is COPD?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a chronic inflammatory lung disease. COPD blocks airflow from the lungs. Symptoms of this disease may include difficulty in breathing, coughing, production of mucus, and wheezing.

Smoking cigarettes and exposure to irritating gases are the main causes of COPD. This includes secondhand smoke and particulate matter like pollutants and dust.

The gases or pollutants that cause COPD causes inflammation by thickening the bronchial walls. As a result, this increases mucus production. And that leads to the coughing, difficulty breathing, etc.

Besides the above, there are some medical conditions that can cause COPD. The two main ones are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Most of the time, emphysema and chronic bronchitis occur together.

COPD is a progressive disease and, thankfully, can be treated and managed.

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.