Does insurance actually cover hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

For the 14 FDA-recognized indications — such as chronic diabetic foot wounds, radiation injury, and serious infections — Medicare and most commercial insurers do cover HBOT when clinical criteria are met. Medicare's national coverage determination (NCD 20.29) sets those criteria, and commercial plans generally mirror it, usually with prior authorization.

For off-label uses (things outside those recognized indications), coverage is uncommon and you should expect to pay out of pocket. The most common reason a covered claim is denied is missing documentation — for diabetic wounds, for example, payers want evidence of 30 days of failed standard care. A reputable clinic verifies your specific coverage before scheduling, at no cost.