Is Medical Marijuana Covered by Insurance?

Medical marijuana is often considered cheaper when compared to recreational marijuana because of the tax relaxations and other perks with mmj recommendation California has to offer. But what about the perks of having health insurance? Will insurance not cover medical marijuana even if the reason behind its use and consumption is completely medical and a serious health condition related? What can be the reasons why? This article is going to cover all the doubts and questions that one can have regarding medical marijuana and insurance.

Does Health Insurance Cover Medical Marijuana?

A simple answer to this question is NO! Medical marijuana isn’t covered by health insurance. The reason behind this is not one but many. Medical marijuana, even if being used for medicinal purposes, is a schedule I drug that is considered illegal, federally. Medical marijuana doctors recommend marijuana and not prescribe it. This suggests that even if medical marijuana becomes legal at the federal level, it would rather be treated like an over-the-counter medication like Tylenol that is not generally covered by insurance either.

Is Medical Marijuana Covered by Insurance in the Recreational States?

Living in a recreational state, you may wonder that since the substance is allowed even if you don’t have a medical condition, consuming it for medical reasons would certainly have its benefits. Well, we are sorry to burst this bubble for you. Even if medical marijuana, or even recreational marijuana for that matter, is legal in your state it will not be covered by health insurance because it is illegal at the federal level. It is still a schedule I drug, no matter how helpful it is to mankind.

What if Medical Marijuana Becomes Legal, Federally?

Now, this is one scenario that we hope becomes reality as soon as possible. If a medication is legal at the federal level, there are chances it will be covered by health insurance. However, this is not always the case. While we eagerly want the federal government to recognize the health benefits of the plant and legalize its use and consumption, we would like to clear out that it may still not make medical marijuana a medication that is covered by health insurance. The reason shall be that it is still not approved by FDA and hence is still under the category of schedule I drugs.

It will require a reliable amount of research and study revolving around the plant and its possible benefits and drawbacks to cover medical marijuana usage under health insurance. And the doctors will have to prescribe it.

Is CBD Covered by Health Insurance?

Considering all the points and reasons why medical marijuana is not covered by health insurance, it seems very clear that CBD will be covered by health insurance. As it broadly ticks every point off and hence has everything that requires to be a medication covered by health insurance. Unfortunately, that is still not the case. It may come as a shock to some that CBD, despite being federally legal and approved by FDA, is not covered by health insurance.

The reason behind that is, FDA approves and recognizes CBD as a food supplement and not exactly as a prescribed medication. And, no food supplement, no matter how beneficial or medically supportive it is, is not covered by health insurance.

Takeaway

While marijuana has received enormous positive attention and is on its way to getting legalized in all 50 states, there are still certain aspects and areas which shall take years, not months to make it not just a federally legal substance but an FDA approved medication that can be considered to be covered by health insurance. But this is something that is expected to happen in the future and not any time soon. But it shouldn't stop you from using the plant for your health and well-being.