For patients and caregivers navigating US coverage and costs
What this page helps you do
Compare public policies from major US insurers. See what each says about vitiligo and what to confirm for your plan before ordering a device.
- Your task
- Separate what the evidence supports from what it does not establish for an individual.
- The clinician boundary
- The clinical office owns patient-specific medical documentation; the plan owns its current coverage rule and decision. SteadySkin does not represent you.
Which insurance companies are included?
We cover several of the largest US health insurers, plus key regional and federal examples. Evidence
What is known
These insurers are ranked by national premium dollars collected in the state insurance regulators’ 2024 report. That ranking does not show how many people have a specific plan type.
What is uncertain
A large carrier can have many state, employer, Marketplace, Medicaid, and Medicare products. Inclusion here means the company is common enough to prioritize; it does not mean one policy applies across the group.
Does my plan’s name, such as HMO or PPO, tell me if a home device is covered?
No. HMO means health maintenance organization. PPO means preferred provider organization. POS means point of service. EPO means exclusive provider organization. These names mainly describe which clinicians you can use. A high-deductible health plan (HDHP) mainly affects when insurance starts paying. Evidence Evidence Evidence
What is known
Some employer plans are self-funded. This means your employer pays the claims, while the company on your insurance card administers them. In that case, your employer’s plan document may control instead of the insurer’s published policy.
What is uncertain
Your exact plan document and durable medical equipment (DME) benefit decide the answer. The insurer’s policy, authorization decision, supplier network, and plan funding also matter. Ask for each answer in writing.
What does Anthem or another Elevance plan publish for vitiligo?
Anthem says home UVB may meet its vitiligo rule when creams alone have not worked. Guideline CG-DME-41 also requires doctor supervision, scheduled exams, and an expected long-term need. Evidence
What is known
The guideline lists the common home ultraviolet equipment codes and excludes home UVA under the policy. It is used by Anthem-family plans, but an affiliate and member contract may apply it differently.
What is uncertain
The public guideline does not state the member’s prior-authorization, supplier-network, rent-versus-purchase, or cost rules. Confirm those separately before delivery.
What does Aetna publish for vitiligo?
Aetna says office or home narrowband UVB may meet its vitiligo rule after a listed treatment does not work well enough. That rule is in clinical policy bulletin (CPB) 0422. It also requires a continuation review after six months. Evidence Evidence
What is known
CPB 0422 is the condition-specific Aetna policy. The broader phototherapy bulletin routes vitiligo readers back to it, which is important when the two documents appear to use different home-device language.
What is uncertain
The bulletin does not state the member’s authorization route, DME supplier, rent-versus-purchase decision, or expected cost. The current benefit plan still controls.
What does Molina publish for vitiligo?
An Ohio Medicaid policy says home UVB may meet its vitiligo rule after documented problems with standard care. A doctor must direct it. Clinic care must be unworkable, or repeated travel must be a major barrier. Evidence
What is known
That Ohio policy requires prior authorization and may request clinical records and ordering-provider information. It also describes review of ongoing medical necessity.
What is uncertain
This is Ohio Medicaid evidence, not a national Molina rule. Marketplace, Medicare, employer, and other state plans may use different criteria, suppliers, and rental terms.
What does Kaiser Permanente publish for vitiligo?
Kaiser Mid-Atlantic publishes vitiligo treatment rules and a separate home UVB policy. It requires doctor supervision, follow-up, ongoing need, ability to use the device, and inability to attend clinic treatment. Evidence Evidence
What is known
The regional equipment route usually needs a Kaiser-approved referral and chosen supplier. Kaiser decides whether the equipment is rented or bought.
What is uncertain
Kaiser regions use different policies and operations. The Mid-Atlantic documents should not be presented as a national Kaiser rule or a benefit guarantee.
What does Premera Blue Cross publish for vitiligo?
Premera’s Individual Plan may cover home UVB for severe, extensive vitiligo that has not responded to other treatment. Its prescription, device, records, safety, access, and treatment-area rules must also be met. Evidence
What is known
The policy requires a dermatologist and an FDA-cleared UVB-only device sized for the area. It also requires records and either a travel barrier or lower home costs under the policy.
What is uncertain
This does not automatically apply to every Premera product. The Federal Employee Program, called FEPBlue, and other Blue plans may use different rules. The public policy does not give supplier or rental terms.
What does UnitedHealthcare publish for vitiligo?
We found no national public UHC home-device rule for vitiligo. Some UHC plans and state programs publish code-level approval rules. The lack of a national rule is not an approval or exclusion. Evidence
What is known
The current national commercial light-and-laser policy does not provide a vitiligo home-device test. UHC directs providers to verify requirements for the member and product.
What is uncertain
Your exact plan, state, employer arrangement, equipment benefit, and billing code can all change the answer. Ask your plan to send you the specific rule for your policy in writing.
What does Cigna publish for vitiligo?
Cigna reported removing its home-phototherapy coverage statements because the associated codes were no longer clinically managed. That does not mean the device is automatically covered or excluded. Evidence
What is known
No current public Cigna vitiligo-specific home-device criteria, supplier rule, or rental rule were located in the reviewed materials.
What is uncertain
The current plan benefit and Cigna’s member-specific code or precertification response are needed. “Not clinically managed” should not be turned into a coverage promise.
What does Humana publish for vitiligo?
Humana requires prior authorization for common home ultraviolet equipment codes on its current Medicare Advantage list. That list includes Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) for people with both Medicare and Medicaid. We found no national public vitiligo-specific medical rule. Evidence
What is known
Some Humana Medicaid materials use general equipment and device-size rules. Humana may choose rental or purchase in a state program.
What is uncertain
Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, employer, and other Humana products can differ. Prior authorization is a process requirement, not proof that a request meets coverage criteria.
What does Centene or Ambetter publish for vitiligo?
No national public Centene or Ambetter home-UVB vitiligo policy was located. When no published Centene policy applies, a plan may use plan-specific or licensed clinical criteria. Evidence
What is known
Ambetter policies vary by state and product, and the plan terms remain controlling. A published psoriasis DME policy cannot be silently applied to vitiligo.
What is uncertain
Ask the plan to name the exact criterion, benefit, supplier network, and authorization route used for the vitiligo request.
What does Original Medicare publish for vitiligo?
We found no national Medicare home NB-UVB rule for vitiligo. Medicare’s psoriasis national coverage determination (NCD) should not be applied to vitiligo. A billing code alone does not establish coverage. Evidence Evidence
What is known
General Medicare DME order and enrolled-supplier rules can still apply when a request is considered. Local Medicare contractor review may matter when no national rule controls.
What is uncertain
The equipment supplier and Medicare contractor must name the current rule for a vitiligo request. They must also say whether rental or purchase is available.
What does TRICARE publish for vitiligo?
TRICARE publishes general DME requirements, but no national vitiligo-specific home-device criteria were located. The regional contractor determines coverage and chooses rental or purchase based on economy and appropriateness. Evidence
What is known
The general pathway requires an authorized order, medical purpose, repeated use, durability, and appropriateness for the home.
What is uncertain
Those general requirements do not prove that a particular vitiligo device is covered. Confirm the regional contractor, network supplier, authorization, and member cost.
Evidence and update context
This optional layer shows the evidence boundary reviewed for this page as of 2026-08-03.
- What this evidence supports
- These insurers are ranked by national premium dollars collected in the state insurance regulators’ 2024 report. That ranking does not show how many people have a specific plan type.
- What it does not establish
- A large carrier can have many state, employer, Marketplace, Medicaid, and Medicare products. Inclusion here means the company is common enough to prioritize; it does not mean one policy applies across the group.
Evidence behind this page
Sources
Each evidence badge opens the source and its limits. The full list stays available here.
- HealthCare.gov, U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid ServicesRegulatory / guideline · independentIndependent source
- Published
- 2026-07-01
- SteadySkin last checked
- 2026-07-31
What this source can and cannot tell you
What this source supports
Supports plain-language distinctions among EPO, HMO, POS, and PPO network designs.
What it does not support
It does not determine a home-phototherapy benefit, prior authorization, supplier network, member cost, or the rules of a specific employer or government plan.
Automated draft claim mapping withheld from reader-facing evidence details until clinical or editorial review is recorded. This page is not yet approved for indexing.
- U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid ServicesRegulatory / guideline · independentIndependent source
- Published
- 2026-07-01
- SteadySkin last checked
- 2026-07-31
What this source can and cannot tell you
What this source supports
Supports distinguishing fully insured from self-funded employer coverage and identifying the plan or employer as the source of that answer.
What it does not support
It does not interpret a plan document, establish a benefit, or make a carrier medical policy controlling for a specific member.
Automated draft claim mapping withheld from reader-facing evidence details until clinical or editorial review is recorded. This page is not yet approved for indexing.
- Anthem / Elevance HealthRegulatory / guideline · not independentIndependence not established
- Published
- 2025-10-01
- SteadySkin last checked
- 2026-07-31
What this source can and cannot tell you
What this source supports
Supports Anthem-family criteria for home UVB in psoriasis and vitiligo, including prior topical treatment, physician supervision, scheduled review, and expected long-term use.
What it does not support
The member contract and affiliate implementation control; the policy does not state prior-authorization, supplier, price, or rental terms.
Automated draft claim mapping withheld from reader-facing evidence details until clinical or editorial review is recorded. This page is not yet approved for indexing.
- Aetna / CVS HealthRegulatory / guideline · not independentIndependence not established
- Published
- 2026-07-16
- SteadySkin last checked
- 2026-07-31
What this source can and cannot tell you
What this source supports
Supports Aetna’s current condition-specific criteria for office or home narrowband UVB for vitiligo and its continuation criterion.
What it does not support
It does not guarantee a member benefit, identify the supplier, prior-authorization route, rental terms, price, or how another Aetna product applies the bulletin.
Automated draft claim mapping withheld from reader-facing evidence details until clinical or editorial review is recorded. This page is not yet approved for indexing.
- Aetna / CVS HealthRegulatory / guideline · not independentIndependence not established
- Published
- 2026-05-18
- SteadySkin last checked
- 2026-07-31
What this source can and cannot tell you
What this source supports
Supports Aetna’s public home-UVB DME criteria for severe psoriasis with frequent flares and stated access or prompt-treatment circumstances, and directs vitiligo readers to CPB 0422.
What it does not support
It does not guarantee coverage or state supplier, authorization, price, or rent-versus-purchase terms.
Automated draft claim mapping withheld from reader-facing evidence details until clinical or editorial review is recorded. This page is not yet approved for indexing.
- Molina Healthcare of OhioRegulatory / guideline · not independentIndependence not established
- Published
- 2025-09-01
- SteadySkin last checked
- 2026-07-31
What this source can and cannot tell you
What this source supports
Supports Ohio Medicaid-specific vitiligo and home-UVB criteria, prior authorization, physician direction, conventional-treatment history, access burden, and continuation review.
What it does not support
It must not be generalized to another Molina state, Marketplace, Medicare, or employer product and does not publish rental or supplier terms.
Automated draft claim mapping withheld from reader-facing evidence details until clinical or editorial review is recorded. This page is not yet approved for indexing.
- Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic StatesRegulatory / guideline · not independentIndependence not established
- Published
- 2025-02-27
- SteadySkin last checked
- 2026-07-31
What this source can and cannot tell you
What this source supports
Supports Mid-Atlantic regional home-UVB criteria for listed conditions, including supervision, periodic follow-up, expected ongoing need, ability to operate the device, and inability to attend facility treatment.
What it does not support
It is not a national Kaiser rule and does not publish price or rental terms.
Automated draft claim mapping withheld from reader-facing evidence details until clinical or editorial review is recorded. This page is not yet approved for indexing.
- Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic StatesRegulatory / guideline · not independentIndependence not established
- Published
- 2024-10-28
- SteadySkin last checked
- 2026-07-31
What this source can and cannot tell you
What this source supports
Supports Mid-Atlantic regional prior-treatment criteria for vitiligo phototherapy.
What it does not support
It must be read with the regional home-device policy and applicable evidence of coverage; it is not a national Kaiser rule or a guarantee of a device benefit.
Automated draft claim mapping withheld from reader-facing evidence details until clinical or editorial review is recorded. This page is not yet approved for indexing.
- Premera Blue CrossRegulatory / guideline · not independentIndependence not established
- Published
- 2026-04-01
- SteadySkin last checked
- 2026-07-31
What this source can and cannot tell you
What this source supports
Supports current Premera Individual Plan criteria for severe, extensive, refractory vitiligo, dermatologist prescription and records, FDA-cleared UVB-only equipment, appropriate size, ability to follow instructions, and stated access or cost circumstances.
What it does not support
It does not apply to every Premera or Blue plan or publish authorization, supplier, or rental terms.
Automated draft claim mapping withheld from reader-facing evidence details until clinical or editorial review is recorded. This page is not yet approved for indexing.
- UnitedHealthcareRegulatory / guideline · not independentIndependence not established
- Published
- 2026-01-01
- SteadySkin last checked
- 2026-07-31
What this source can and cannot tell you
What this source supports
Supports the finding that UHC’s current public national commercial light-and-laser policy does not state condition-specific home-UVB device criteria for vitiligo or psoriasis.
What it does not support
Absence from this document is not an approval or exclusion, and product, state, code-level authorization, DME, supplier, and benefit rules may differ.
Automated draft claim mapping withheld from reader-facing evidence details until clinical or editorial review is recorded. This page is not yet approved for indexing.
- Cigna HealthcareRegulatory / guideline · not independentIndependence not established
- Published
- 2025-07-15
- SteadySkin last checked
- 2026-07-31
What this source can and cannot tell you
What this source supports
Supports Cigna’s statement that home-phototherapy coverage positions were removed because the associated codes were no longer clinically managed.
What it does not support
That statement is not an approval, exclusion, benefit promise, supplier rule, or current condition-specific criterion.
Automated draft claim mapping withheld from reader-facing evidence details until clinical or editorial review is recorded. This page is not yet approved for indexing.
- HumanaRegulatory / guideline · not independentIndependence not established
- Published
- 2026-07-01
- SteadySkin last checked
- 2026-07-31
What this source can and cannot tell you
What this source supports
Supports a current Humana Medicare Advantage and D-SNP prior-authorization requirement for the listed ultraviolet-light equipment codes.
What it does not support
It does not supply national condition-specific medical-necessity criteria, establish approval, apply to every Humana product, or state supplier and rental terms.
Automated draft claim mapping withheld from reader-facing evidence details until clinical or editorial review is recorded. This page is not yet approved for indexing.
- Centene / AmbetterRegulatory / guideline · not independentIndependence not established
- Published
- 2024-11-01
- SteadySkin last checked
- 2026-07-31
What this source can and cannot tell you
What this source supports
Supports one state implementation of Centene/Ambetter DME criteria for home ultraviolet panels or cabinets in refractory psoriasis, including home-site rationale, education, safe use, and least-cost appropriate equipment.
What it does not support
It is not a national Ambetter rule and does not establish vitiligo coverage or rental terms.
Automated draft claim mapping withheld from reader-facing evidence details until clinical or editorial review is recorded. This page is not yet approved for indexing.
- U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid ServicesRegulatory / guideline · independentIndependent source
- Published
- 2026-07-31
- SteadySkin last checked
- 2026-07-31
What this source can and cannot tell you
What this source supports
Supports Original Medicare national coverage language for ultraviolet cabinets for selected patients with generalized, intractable psoriasis and local determination of home-versus-alternate-site justification.
What it does not support
It does not establish vitiligo coverage, a member-specific approval, supplier availability, cost, or rent-versus-purchase terms.
Automated draft claim mapping withheld from reader-facing evidence details until clinical or editorial review is recorded. This page is not yet approved for indexing.
- TRICARERegulatory / guideline · independentIndependent source
- Published
- 2024-09-19
- SteadySkin last checked
- 2026-07-31
What this source can and cannot tell you
What this source supports
Supports TRICARE’s general home-DME requirements and contractor role in rental-versus-purchase decisions.
What it does not support
It does not publish national vitiligo- or psoriasis-specific home-UVB criteria, promise coverage, identify a supplier, or state a member price.
Automated draft claim mapping withheld from reader-facing evidence details until clinical or editorial review is recorded. This page is not yet approved for indexing.
- Medicare.gov, U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid ServicesRegulatory / guideline · independentIndependent source
- Published
- 2026-07-31
- SteadySkin last checked
- 2026-07-31
What this source can and cannot tell you
What this source supports
Supports current Original Medicare context that covered home durable medical equipment requires an eligible order and Medicare-enrolled supplier, that assignment affects member cost, and that rental or purchase treatment depends on the item and program rules.
What it does not support
It does not establish home phototherapy coverage for an individual, a national rental price or term, Medicare Advantage rules, or a supplier’s inventory.
Automated draft claim mapping withheld from reader-facing evidence details until clinical or editorial review is recorded. This page is not yet approved for indexing.