Chelation Therapy

Aetna covers deferoxamine (Desferal) for transfusional iron overload when pretreatment serum ferritin is consistently >1000 mcg/L, for aluminum toxicity in dialysis patients, and for hereditary hemochromatosis when phlebotomy is not an option or has failed, with continuation allowed only if there is documented benefit (decreased ferritin for iron overload or decreased serum aluminum/clinical improvement for aluminum toxicity). All other chelation uses — including chelation for cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, oncologic, autism/behavioral indications, DMSA/EDTA provocative testing, routine heavy‑metal screening for vague non‑exposure symptoms, and manganese testing without exposure — are considered experimental, investigational, or not medically necessary.

"Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): Consideration of iron chelation (once‑daily subcutaneous deferoxamine or oral deferasirox) to decrease iron overload in IPSS Low or Intermediate‑1 patients who have..."