Does Insurance Cover Thermography?

This is the most often asked question I get whenever I talk with people about Thermography. The answer is yes and no.

Yes, health savings plans and flexible spending plans can be used to pay for your thermographic scans. Whether it’s using a card with funds or submitting the receipt, both ways work. Many of our clients love having a choice where their insurance dollars go and what they can use them for.

No, in the traditional insurance sense. We cannot submit scans to insurance. At first, I was frustrated by this fact. But after I thought about it more, I’m glad. With insurance comes rules, regulations, and restrictions. Some of our clients would not be able to get the scan when they wanted for whatever they wanted because of these restrictions.

In my opinion, the more information you have to make health decisions the better. Thermography is an excellent tool to provide more information and monitor wellness. If you changed your lifestyle and want to see if there is improvement, get a scan. Started taking a medication and want to see if it is working, get a scan. Have a concern, get a scan. You as the client decide how often you want to scan and for what purpose.

I’m thankful anyone who wants to have a thermographic scan can get one. No need for approvals, Dr. order or some company saying you can’t. Knowledge is power. The more information the better.

Breast Cancer Physiology Simplified

Did you know cancer and pre-cancerous tissue grows faster than normal breast tissue?

Did you know the fast growth produces more heat than normal breast tissue?

Did you know the faster the growth rate, the greater the amount of heat produced?

These are all reasons thermography is a valid breast cancer risk assessment tool. Abnormal findings on thermograms may have higher risk of breast cancer. At the Breast Thermography Center we like to help our clients reduce their risk with lifestyle changes. Thermography is a great way to monitor risk factors and if the lifestyle changes are working.

Some of the heat produced by the tumor can rise to the surface of the skin by conduction through adjacent tissues. Heat follows down stream via circulation, not necessarily where the tumor is located.

Most heat travels from the tumor to the surface of the skin through the blood via convection. The heat also travels in the lymph and fluid in the milk ducts of the breast. This means the thermal findings may not always be in the location of the tumor.

Benefits of Using Thermography

1-100% safe- no risk -There are no harmful side effects, any age or stage of life can have a thermograph scan.

2-No ionizing radiation -If radiation is a concern for you there is no need to worry with thermography. The digital infrared camera doesn’t use it.

3- Non-invasive – There is no contact with your body. No smashing or stretching of breast tissue. It’s compression free! Woo hoo!!

4- Fast -It is a simple procedure. You can be in and out of your appointment in less than half an hour. 15 minutes or so will be acclimating to the room temperature, a few minutes for the technician to take the images and that’s it. The last time I got my oil changed in my car it took longer!

5- Easy – A few simple protocols to follow before your appointment (like avoid deodorant and lotion). While at your visit you will undress (waist up) behind a screen for privacy and acclimate to the room temperature. When it is time for your scan you will sit on stool and swivel side to side for 5 images and you are done.

6- Effective – Breast thermography has an average sensitivity and specificity of 90%. In the last 30+ years there has been 800 peer review studies with over 300,000 women included as participants.
Knowledge is power.

7- Inexpensive -You are worth the investment for your health. Getting a “something may be starting” thermography report where you can make lifestyle changes and monitor the breast is cheaper than insurance deductibles, co-pays, and time off work for treatment when a cancer diagnosis is given.

8-Early detection – Thermography is a physiological test showing the development of disease conditions. It can be an advanced warning screening tool informing you something is in the works. At this stage, you have time to change your lifestyle and seek professional intervention before cancer can take hold and become a tumor.

Thermography is an adjunctive breast cancer screen test. It is not meant as a stand alone screening. Any changes to the breast should be clinically correlated regardless of thermographic findings.

The Journey Begins

Thanks for joining us!  We are so excited to have a permanent office in Mundelein with more scan hours and dates to better serve you!

Conveniently located in downtown Mundelein.  Across the back parking lot from Fresh Cafe and down the block from Corner Health Foods.

We look forward to continuing your breast health journey with you.

Dr. Kelly Paulsen, DC, CTT

Christine Banerjee, CTT, CMHFS

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton