Can Insurance Cover Your Cosmetic Surgery Procedures?

Getting a cosmetic surgery is expensive, so it makes sense to wonder if your health insurance is going to cover the procedure before you sch...

Getting a cosmetic surgery is expensive, so it makes sense to wonder if your health insurance is going to cover the procedure before you schedule an appointment with a renowned cosmetic surgeon. Unless you have been saving money for years before your procedure, you will want to know if your insurance company will be willing to pay for it before you go under the knife.

Cosmetic Surgery Procedures

The answer depends on the type of health insurance you have.

Can your insurance policy cover your next cosmetic surgery procedure? There is no definitive answer to this question. You can probably expect to have to pay for your cosmetic surgery yourself, but it depends on your insurance company, and on the type of health insurance policy you have. Some insurance companies will pay for certain types of cosmetic surgery procedures, while others will not.

It also depends on the type of surgery you are considering

Whether or not your health insurance will cover your cosmetic surgery mostly depends on which type of surgery you will be getting. As a general rule, insurance companies only pay for surgeries that they consider necessary for the health of their insured customers.
If the surgery you are considering is considered reconstructive instead of cosmetic, there is a higher chance it will be covered by your insurance policy.

What is considered reconstructive surgery?

Surgeries that are meant to correct abnormalities caused by congenital defects, disease, tumors, infection, or trauma, are considered to be reconstructive and are generally covered by insurance companies. The goal of a reconstructive surgery is to improve function or restore a normal appearance.

What is considered cosmetic surgery?

On the other hand, the goal of a cosmetic surgery is to improve the appearance or the self-esteem of a patient by reshaping a normal structure of the body. Since these surgeries are not necessary to the overall health of the patient, they are not covered by insurance companies most of the time.

Examples of cosmetic surgeries that are usually not covered by insurance

If you were thinking about getting a liposuction, a breast augmentation, or an eyelid surgery, there is a good chance that your insurance policy will not cover it if your insurance company determines that this procedure isn't necessary to maintain your quality of life.
However, partial coverage is possible if you are getting a cosmetic surgery that will also improve your quality of life or your overall health.

Exceptions

In some situations, a surgery might be considered cosmetic and reconstructive at the same time. For example, if a woman is getting a breast reduction because her large breasts are causing her chronic back pain, her insurance company might be ready to cover the procedure.
In the same way, a nose job might be considered necessary for someone who can't breathe normally because of a deviated septum, or an eyelid surgery might be necessary for someone who can't see properly because of excess skin around the eyes.

How to figure out if your surgery will be covered by your insurance

If you are unsure whether your cosmetic surgery will be covered or not, you will have to figure it out before your procedure.
You should start by getting a detailed estimate for the cost of the procedure you are considering. You should then contact your insurance company to find out if your procedure is covered, partially covered, or simply not covered by your policy.

If a full or partial coverage is possible, your estimate will be useful in helping you figure out what will be covered.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All the opinions belong to the contributor.

Contributed By: Elizabeth

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