Suppose you reside in a state where medical marijuana and CBD usage is allowed (35 countries by 2020). In that case, you may be asking if your health insurance will pay for it just like other medicines your doctor prescribes.
Legal medicinal cannabis is available in various forms and means of delivery, and costs are quite different. Cannabis costs for a patient will vary depending on several factors. Although the price of medical cannabis products has declined in recent years, many patients still believe that legalized cannabis is a short-term solution because of its ongoing costs.
In this post, you’ll find out whether the cost of medical marijuana or CBD is covered by your health insurance. It’s also important to take notice of certain variables influencing policy makers’ decisions in this matter.
Difference Of Marijuana And CBD
Although CBD is distinct from marijuana, in cannabis plants, CBD is a single chemical. In contrast, marijuana is a kind of plant containing many cannabinoids, including CBD and THC. Cannabis is a member of the Cannabaceae family of plants and includes over eighty chemical compounds with biological activity.
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the most well-known chemicals. THC is the active ingredient in marijuana that causes the ‘high’ associated with its usage. There has been a surge of interest in CBD and its possible health advantages.
Many claims that CBD oil is a panacea for almost any illness. While human research on the subject is ongoing, there are many possible advantages of CBD based on trustworthy animal studies, such as the following:
Treatment For Seizures and Epilepsy
There’s compelling evidence that CBD is effective in the treatment of epilepsy and Dravet syndrome seizures. Epidiolex is the first CBD-derived medication to get FDA approval for patients two years of age and older. You may check out boomerbenefits.com/medicare-plan-g-reviews on their policy about medically prescribed dronabinol and Epidolex.
Reduce Anxiety and Depression
CBD may have a soothing, mood-boosting impact and treat some anxiety disorders, PTSD, and even depression. Numerous studies indicate that it may substantially reduce symptoms and, in some instances, function as an antidepressant.
Pain Relief
CBD oil may help reduce pain and nerve damage in humans with osteoarthritis, just as in rats. According to research, tiny proteins linked to your cells are called receptors. They receive messages, mostly chemical signals, from various stimuli and enable your cells to react. This reaction produces anti-inflammatory and pain relief benefits, which assist in controlling pain. This implies that CBD oil and other products may help individuals suffering from chronic pain, such as chronic back pain.
Your Health Insurance And Marijuana Use
Medicinal marijuana is marijuana used to treat specific illnesses or to reduce the symptoms of injuries or diseases. The research was carried out to demonstrate the advantages and potential adverse effects of this therapy, but not enough in some people’s opinion. However, medicinal marijuana, particularly among youngsters with life-altering or fatal diseases, has increased in favor.
Much of your health insurance coverage depends on your plan. As far as medicines are concerned, it’s up to you to find out which ones are covered under the plan you have. After being registered in a plan, customers often provide further information, including both brand names and generic medicines.
Cannabis (marijuana) is still a controlled drug under the federal government. The possession or use of drugs under federal law is prohibited. However, each state has enacted legislation that allows the distribution and sale of marijuana inside its state borders.
Nevertheless, cannabis hasn’t been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a safe and effective therapy for any medicinal purpose. That’s true even if you reside in a medically legal state. This is also why insurance isn’t going to fund medicinal marijuana.
Medical marijuana itself is currently not covered by health insurance. This is because cannabis is still categorized at the federal level as a prohibited drug under Schedule 1. Anything in Schedule 1 can’t be prescribed lawfully. As such, patients have to pay for cannabis in medicinal treatments, notwithstanding several states.
Your Health Insurance And CBD Use
While most people are aware of the absence of a medical marijuana plan, you may still wonder whether it might cover CBD oil and CBD products. As proof of CBD’s many health advantages continues to accumulate, an increasing number of individuals are turning to this natural wonder for assistance. After all, the federal government approved CBD produced from hemp in the 2018 Farm Bill.
Although CBD oil is frequently used to minimize medical problems, there are no CBD oil insurance policies or health insurance companies. Even in the US, that includes the use of CBD oil even if recommended by a doctor.
One of the primary impediments to CBD being covered under insurance plans is the antagonism of strong government entities against any cannabis-related product. This is a view recognized and respected by insurance companies.
Additionally, many believe marijuana-derived CBD is more beneficial than hemp-derived CBD, which is still classified as a Schedule I prohibited drug by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). In its 2001 ‘Notice of rejection of a petition to reschedule marijuana,’ the DEA stressed its primary objection to the rescheduling of cannabis. Its derivatives, like CBD, aren’t based on its misuse potential but on its failure to recognize its usage in medicinal treatment.
Moreover, even organizations with a more receptive attitude toward CBD, such as the FDA, assist in denying coverage by insurance companies. Therefore, without FDA clearance, insurance companies won’t cover CBD.
FDA approval is a lengthy and demanding procedure that may take years to reach the market for CBD-based medicines even if the FDA changes its stance. Standard CBD oil—the kind available in supermarkets, pharmacies, and cannabis clinics throughout the country is still not insured.
Conclusion
As it appears now, the long-term future of marijuana law seems quite grim, at least at the federal level. Things are on the rise in various states. One item which may have a higher prospect than whole plant marijuana is CBD oil and other products based on CBD.
As stated, it won’t be accessible for coverage by any health insurers until medical marijuana is authorized by the FDA. Until that day arrives, patients are still obliged to pay out of their pocket for their cannabis medications without any possible deductions or refunds.
