Does anyone know if a tummy tuck is covered by private health insurance? I am a long way from this but I would just like to know for future reference.

I think it depends on your health fund and if they class it as cosmetic surgery or as reconstructive surgery. I know Medibank Pvt doesn't cover cosmetic surgery.

Danna

it also depends how bad it is... i'm lucky cos i wasnt really big to start with and i am still in my 20s o hopefully it wont effect me... but a family friend who had the banding done and lost over 60kgs has had recontructive surgery (arms, tummy, thighs) and this was all covered on HBF for her... its a really expensive and painful procedure too- so something you might want to think about... i have another friend (a guy) that is having it done in March, he is actually going to a Perth doctor who also works in Thailand a few months of the year- it was gonna cost him something crAzy like $30,000 to have it done here and the same doc is doing it in Thailand for $12,000!! including a face lift, turkey neck tummy tuck etc.. so there are other avenues if your health insurance wont cover!

And if you go to thailand you get a nice relaxing holiday out of it too!!! hehe... they are really good over there too, clean, luxury hospitals, nothing to worry about like the crap you see/hear on the media. :tongue:

I would love to know if there are any funds that cover it, I'd swap to them immediately!! I'm with nib and have top hospital cover and they make it clear that its not covered. I think if its deemed to be reconstructive, medicare will cover a portion because it is classified differently, but if its plastic or cosmetic, then I think we're on our own to pay.

I can report back after the 18th Feb, I have my first plastics consult that day.

My fund covered the hospital stay and a huge chunk of the gap fee (when you go through your GP and get a referral, and it is medically necessary the procedure gets an item number)