{"id":1439,"date":"2021-09-29T15:53:54","date_gmt":"2021-09-29T15:53:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/CBMiSWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJlbnppbmdhLmNvbS9tb25leS9pcy1tZWRpY2FsLW1hcmlqdWFuYS1jb3ZlcmVkLWJ5LWluc3VyYW5jZS_SAQA"},"modified":"2021-09-29T15:53:54","modified_gmt":"2021-09-29T15:53:54","slug":"is-medical-marijuana-covered-by-insurance-2021-benzinga-benzinga","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/?p=1439","title":{"rendered":"Is Medical Marijuana Covered by Insurance? 2021 \u2022 Benzinga – Benzinga"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Want to jump straight to the quotes? Compare here<\/a> and find the cheapest premium with the best coverage.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Health insurance<\/a> covers a wide range of treatments. Some policies even cover alternative treatments like acupuncture. It doesn\u2019t cover medical marijuana, however. Learn more about medical marijuana, what it treats and why it\u2019s not covered by medical insurance. <\/p>\n

Quick Answer: Medical Marijuana and Health Insurance<\/span><\/h2>\n

Is medical marijuana covered by health insurance? The short answer here is no. Because marijuana is still federally illegal, healthcare coverage providers have their hands tied when it comes to offering insurance coverage for medical marijuana as a prescription drug. That being said, doctors can help you get your medical marijuana card or recommend medical marijuana as a treatment in states where it\u2019s legal. It\u2019s likely that until marijuana\u2019s scheduled status is changed and the FDA is able to review it and approve it as a <\/span><\/p>\n

Is Medical Marijuana Effective as Health Care?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Many people use medical marijuana to treat a variety of conditions. Pain control is the most common, according to the Harvard Health blog. Many use it to treat chronic pain from arthritis, nerve pain and multiple sclerosis. <\/p>\n

Some treatments for pain are addictive or sedating. For example, opiates are addictive, and it\u2019s possible to overdose on them. Opioid-use disorder is a problem in many areas of the country. Pain medications that are sedating make it difficult to complete daily activities, so medical marijuana is an appealing alternative. <\/p>\n

People with Parkinson\u2019s disease, fibromyalgia, endometriosis and cancer also use medical marijuana. Cancer patients use it to help with the side effects of chemotherapy. It\u2019s also been found to be effective for relieving the symptoms of HIV\/AIDS and cancer. <\/p>\n

Some have also found it effective for mental health conditions like PTSD, depression and anxiety. <\/p>\n

While medical marijuana can be helpful, some find it difficult to deal with the side effects, which include headaches, dry mouth, dizziness, drowsiness and fatigue. There\u2019s also a relatively small risk of becoming addicted to marijuana (called marijuana-use disorder). <\/p>\n

Be sure to consult your health providers before using medical marijuana to treat these or other conditions. Ask about how it might interact with other prescriptions you take, and don\u2019t stop taking any prescriptions without talking to your doctor. <\/p>\n

Where is Medical Marijuana Legal?<\/h3>\n

Medical marijuana is legal in 36 states as of September 2021 \u2014 Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,  South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia \u2014 and Washington, D.C. Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands also allow medical marijuana. <\/p>\n

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<\/span>Illegal<\/span> <\/span>Mixed<\/span> <\/span>Fully Legal<\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Select a state<\/h3>\n

Legal Status<\/b><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

State laws vary significantly when it comes to who can qualify to use medical marijuana. In general, you typically need to have a specific condition such as:<\/p>\n