Share Your Tummy Tuck Journey..

[jaymzee 79]

How long after vsg did you get it?

Did your insurance cover it?

How much did you pay?

How were the first few weeks?

How did you "treat" your scar?

.... ect.

[Lissa 2,631]

I'll be watching this topic, since this appears to be my next step.

[jaymzee 79]

Hopefully we get some responses lol.

[SweetTee 448]

My question is if WLS is an exclusion on your policy things such as tummy tucks and breast reductions should be covered if they are medically necessary right? I figure if you develop a lot of loose skin, rashes, etc then it should pass for medically necessary?

[O.T.R. sleever 3,386]

My question is if WLS is an exclusion on your policy things such as tummy tucks and breast reductions should be covered if they are medically necessary right? I figure if you develop a lot of loose skin' date=' rashes, etc then it should pass for medically necessary?[/quote']

Tummy tucks at most often not covered because they include bringing your abdominal muscles back together. Skin removal due to rapid weight loss & breast reduction vary according to the specifics of your plan.

[SweetTee 448]

OTR sleever, I read a post somewhere on this forum where a lady said her insurance would cover a Tummy Tuck if the skin hung below your privates or something to that sort, it was said that it would be medically necessary due to increased potential for rashes, sores etc. I would have thought that a tummy tuck would be considered cosmetic but the explanation she gave sounded a bit reasonable. I can see the excess skin being a problem in that case. It would be great to have that covered. When I called my insurance co they stated that although WLS was not covered any problems/complications upon returning from Mexico would be. I'm gonna call an ask about skin removal or breast lifts and tummy tucks. I'm sure I might need one of each, lol!

[ForMyfamily 84]

I would greatly like to hear from anyone that needed this. I know the extra skin is bad and sucks but to make it to that point is a good thing. It takes alot of weight loss to reach that point and I am hoping to make it there soon.

[jaymzee 79]

Some how my insurance will cover and actual Tummy Tuck, with no diagnostic restrictions!! Woo. Only 83 more pounds to lose and i will be opting for this.

[SweetTee 448]

Some how my insurance will cover and actual Tummy Tuck, with no diagnostic restrictions!! Woo. Only 83 more pounds to lose and i will be opting for this.

Great! Did they cover your WLS?

[jaymzee 79]

Great! Did they cover your WLS?

Yes they did.

[made2beme 119]

From what I have researched the procedure that is most covered for "medical reasons" (but not by all ins co's of course) is called a panniculectomy and is most likely what was on the referenced post of it being covered.

A panniculectomy is just removing the excess skin if it is causing medical issues, but does NOT include any type of muscle tightening which is the actual Tummy Tuck. So, most likely Tummy Tucks which remove and tighten ab muscles is not covered by many ins co's because that part is considered "cosmetic" not medically necessary.

[jaymzee 79]

I figured they wouldn't cover a Tummy Tuck, and would do the panni, but for some reason my insurance won't cover the panni but will do the tuck. Guess I'm just lucky.

[Khy 16]

Has anyone had tricare approve a Tummy Tuck or panniculectomy? I found something on the tricare website that said if it is medically necessary but had weird time restrictions. I went to the local tricare office and they told me it wasn't covered at all... Just love those people.

[Kalimomof3 613]

Has anyone had tricare approve a Tummy Tuck or panniculectomy? I found something on the tricare website that said if it is medically necessary but had weird time restrictions. I went to the local tricare office and they told me it wasn't covered at all... Just love those people.

Have you asked this question in the Military Spouses group? I too would like to hear the answer. At the seminar I attended they said that they can make a referral to plastic surgery but that tricare rarely covers it.

[Khy 16]

I have not asked them yet. I was going to get a consult with the plastic surgeon and see if he had any success getting it approved. I do have a bit of a panni but it is does not hang below... Their weird time restriction says that it must be done by December after the year of the surgery. Most surgeons do not reccomend it until after 18 months... I guess that is their way of not paying for it. If the surgeon tells me he has not had success getting it approved, I will wait until next summer. I figure the more weight off the better the outcome.

Khy