Does insurance EVER pay?

knitchique · September 21, 2003

I was just wondering if cosmetic surgery ie: Tummy Tuck, is EVER covered by insurance?? Would it be if there was a problem of skin rubbing on skin and being very painful?? And if so, is there ever a time when a breast lift, butt tuck, bat-arms, etc. would be covered???

Sheryl

Alexandra · September 21, 2003

Insurance carriers make their decisions based on the "medical necessity" of a given procedure. If a doctor and patient can make a seriously convincing argument that excess skin is causing a medical problem, a carrier might very well cover the surgery to repair it.

Obviously this is very much open for interpretation and subject to the vagaries of individual doctors, patients, and claims adjudicators. But I absolutely do know of situations where insurance has paid for tummy tucks, breast lifts and/or reductions, etc.