Medical insurance may pay the cost of a weighted blanket. Of course, each health-insurance plan is unique. Some insurance companies may not cover a weighted blanket, while others will. You won’t know unless you ask. A prescription for a weighted blanket can be written by your doctor or pediatrician.
Weighted blankets are a type of durable medical equipment that may be covered.
1) Check with your insurance carrier to determine if the weighted blanket is covered. You can get a prescription for a weighted blanket once more. You can also purchase a weighted blanket and submit the receipt for reimbursement.
2) Contact a local provider of durable medical equipment to see if they will handle your insurance claim.
If your weighted blanket isn’t covered by insurance but you still need help paying for it, we recently added AfterPay to our website, which allows you to pay in four installments to help cover the cost of your blanket.
Can you get a prescription for a weighted blanket?
Weighted blankets are covered by some insurance plans if you have a doctor’s prescription. To see if this is a possibility for you, contact your insurance provider. Weighted blankets may be tax deductible to the extent allowed by law because they are medical expenses.
You can even build your own weighted blanket at home if you’re adept with a needle. Here’s a video that shows you how to do it.
Are weighted blankets a medical device?
Weighted blanket prices, like the prices of many medical items, are not set in stone. The cost of a weighted blanket varies greatly.
The manufacturer, the material of the blankets, their size and weight, and whether or not they are created to custom requirements all have an impact on the price.
Cotton weighted blankets, for example, are not the same price as those made of flannel fabric or velvety mink fabric.
While the average cost of a weighted blanket may not be prohibitively expensive for some, it is for many others.
You may be wondering if weighted blankets are covered by your health insurance plan. The answer, however, is not as simple as the query. Because weighted blankets are considered medical equipment, they are subject to the insurance laws of the nation in which they are acquired.
Do doctors recommend weighted blankets?
Weighted blankets have long been used to help people with anxiety, autism, and attention issues relax.
Deep touch pressure, when evenly administered to your body’s touch receptors, is thought to assist you in transitioning from a heightened “fight or flight” stress reaction to a “rest and digest” phase.
Deep touch pressure is also known to boost levels of two hormones linked to calmness in the brain: serotonin and oxytocin. Serotonin aids in the production of melatonin, the sleep-inducing hormone. Blood pressure and heart rate are both reduced by oxytocin. Both may also aid in mood enhancement, providing a general sense of well-being that may be more conducive to a restful night’s sleep. At least according to theory, sleeping with a weighted blanket has similar benefits.
People who used a weighted blanket for two weeks slept longer and reported better sleep qualityand less movement during sleepthan those who didn’t use the blanket, according to a small 2015 study published in the journal Sleep Medicine and Disorders. According to a 2008 study published in Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 63 percent of 32 persons who tested a 30 pound blanket claimed that it helped them relax and calm down.
Meanwhile, a 2014 study published in Pediatrics looked at 67 children with autism spectrum disorder and concluded that a weighted blanket provided no objective sleep benefit over a regular weight blanketthe children did not fall asleep sooner or sleep longer. However, the authors reported subjective benefits: the children in the study were more likely to prefer the weighted blanket, and their parents were more likely to characterize their child’s sleep as better and their conduct as calmer when they used it.
Overall, the few weighted blanket studies that have been conducted, such as these, have been tiny and constrained in numerous ways. It’s also worth noting that the majority of the ostensible advantages are based on personal experience.
Might Take Time To Get Accustomed To
It may take some time to get acclimated to these 10-15 pounders because they are heavy on your body. This is why doctors advise that you get one that is 10% of your body weight. However, because of the heavyweight of this blanket, layering is required. As a result, they may be a danger in the summer. Be prepared to wrestle with your blanket if you’re not used to sleeping with blankets but know their benefits. If you’re used to heavy blankets, a weighted blanket will be a pleasant addition to your bed.
More Expensive Than A Regular Blanket
These blankets are not your normal blankets because they are medically advised. A number of industrial and product-related factors contribute to their high price. Only the greatest raw materials, which are also fairly expensive, are used in the production of these blankets. It takes a long time to make these blankets, and it necessitates the best labor, manpower, packaging, and fillers.
Amethyst, clear quartz, and rose quartz are used as weights in some blankets for their calming and soothing properties. The outside of the blanket is quilted and double stitched for a smooth feel and to keep it in place. Regardless of size, the majority of blankets cost between $100 and $300.
Not Recommended For Babies
Is it possible that weighted blankets are harmful? Yes, particularly in the case of newborns and babies. These blankets put newborns at risk of asphyxia. A weighted blanket should never be used on a newborn or toddler. It is recommended that you acquire one that is 10% of your body weight; nevertheless, never think that any blanket will suffice when it comes to children. A infant can’t help himself or move freely if they’re stuck down by a weighted blanket. The less oxygen they can breathe the longer they are imprisoned beneath it. Choking could result as a result of this. Sleep experts advise against using them on babies and even older children with developmental issues, contrary to popular belief.
Harder To Take With You While Traveling
Weighted blankets can be as heavy as 20 pounds, depending on your weight and the size and surface area they take up. You won’t be able to fit this in if you’re traveling with little luggage space, especially considering airport weight restrictions. You’d have to think about a lighter mode of transportation.
Not Recommended For People With Sleep Apnea & Other Sleep/Respiratory Diseases
Despite its advantages, some people may discover that weighted blankets are harmful to their health. Patients with sleep apnea, on the other hand, are an exception. Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder in which patients stop breathing for short periods of time while sleeping.
Weighted blankets can be harmful since their pressure and tightness on the body might exacerbate respiratory difficulties. It’s especially dangerous if it’s near the lungs. This is also true for persons who suffer from asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (COPD). People with claustrophobia may be aroused by the blanket’s tightness and weight, which creates an encompassing sense.
What can I use instead of a weighted blanket?
Bags of beans. This is a fantastic one to try because the bean bags will more closely mimic the feel of your heavy blanket. Put 20 x 1-pound bean bags (if you have that many) or 10 x 2-pound bean bags in a duvet cover or between two blankets for a 20-pound comforter, stitch it together, and try it out that way.
Do weighted blankets make you hot?
Weighted blankets, unlike electric heated blankets, do not have heat settings or any mechanism to generate heat. Because a heating blanket has heat settings and shut-off switches, you’ll want to find a blanket that can regulate your body heat and keep you comfortable.
How do I know if I need a weighted blanket?
Choosing the proper weight for you is the first step in purchasing a weighted blanket. The rule of thumb is to choose one that is 10% of your body weight. You’d get a 15-pound blanket if you weighed 150 pounds. A 20-pound blanket is a nice fit if you’re closer to 200 pounds, and so on.
Is a weighted blanket good for fibromyalgia?
Patients with fibromyalgia may benefit from using a weighted blanket to alleviate bothersome symptoms and break the cycle of anxiety and melancholy. According to a study published in the journal Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 63 percent of persons who wore a 30-pound weighted blanket experienced less anxiety.
How do you make a cheap weighted blanket?
Rice is a low-cost, non-toxic food. Unfortunately, it cannot be washed, which is why I do not recommend it as a weighted blanket filling unless you are certain the blanket will not be washed.
Consider creating a blanket with velcro or zippered pockets if you’re on a tight budget. Fill each pocket with zip-locked (or double zip-locked) rice bags until the blanket is heavy enough.
Is it OK to sleep with a weighted blanket every night?
Weighted blankets can be used as bed covers or for relaxing throughout the day by adults and older children. They’re perfectly safe to sleep with all night.
They are, however, not for everyone. For example, they are not suggested for toddlers under the age of two. If you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, asthma, or claustrophobia, you should get medical advice before pulling the covers up.