Tag Archive for: plastic surgery and insurance

Plastic Surgery Procedures – What Your Insurance Might Cover

Plastic Surgery Procedures You Didn’t Know Your Lubbock Insurance Would Cover

If you’ve wanted or needed plastic surgery but felt you couldn’t afford it, you’ll be pleased to learn that Lubbock health insurance covers part of all of these procedures under the right circumstances.

1. Nose

The rhinoplasty surgery, or a “nose job,” is often medically necessary to correct issues like a deviated septum; however, even during the correction of medical issues, people will often request tweaking of their appearance to improve symmetry and facial harmony. Although insurance will only cover costs associated with medically necessary procedures, by getting aesthetic adjustments during the same operation, there may be cost savings for the combined procedures.

2. Ears

Your ears grow throughout your lifetime, so big ears tend to just keep getting bigger. Ear surgery, also known as otoplasty, can improve the proportion, position, and the shape of the ear. An injury or birth defect that causes a need for otoplasty are often covered by insurance for youth; however, adults may be left to their own dime if the issue doesn’t interfere with their hearing.  

3. Eyes

Sagging skin, wrinkles, and puffiness around the eyes all occur naturally as we age. Blepharoplasty, or an “eyelid lift,” can remedy this tired look and it’s covered by insurance in two situations. 1) The sagging skin weighs down the eyelid enough to obstruct the patient’s vision, and 2) the muscles stretch over time leaving a “sleep-eyed” look that also impairs vision.

4. Beauty marks

If a doctor says, “this a mole looks suspicious,” or in other words, a reflection of cancer or another issue, insurance will usually cover its removal, even if the mole turns out to be benign. “Suspicious” moles tend to be those that have changed in size, color, or shape, that are larger than a pencil eraser, and moles that have bled or itch.

5.Breasts

Breast surgery can either be cosmetic or reconstructive. Cosmetic surgeries are paid for by patients, but reconstructive procedures might be covered by insurance. Cosmetic surgeries include changing the appearance, being the size or shape, of your breasts simply to make them “look better.” While reconstructive surgeries include addressing functional disabilities and deformities. Lubbock women who suffer back pain from excessively large breasts may pursue a breast reduction and have it paid for through their insurance. Women who have experienced a mastectomy may also get breast augmentations with the support of insurance.

Dr. Jane Rowley and her caring staff will help you decide which plastic surgery procedure you can best benefit from and help you explore payment options. Schedule your no-obligation consultation today to learn more.

Will Insurance Pay For My Breast Reduction?

Any surgical procedure will have a price tag associated with it, but the cost of a breast reduction can be covered by your insurance under the right circumstances. You have two major conditions at play when trying to get your reduction costs covered: your body and your insurance type. Not all breast reductions are the same, and some situations will merit coverage when others will not. And, again, not all Lubbock insurance coverage is the same, and not all doctors and procedures are covered by every plan.

  1. Start by contacting your insurance provider directly. This will give you the opportunity to get general information about whether a breast reduction is potentially covered by your insurance plan. It will also give you the opportunity to ensure your board certified plastic surgeon of choice is within your network of coverage.
  1. You’ll most likely need an evaluation from a surgeon to meet specific requirements established by your Lubbock insurance provider to cover the breast reduction. Criteria may include:
  • An estimate of at least 500 grams (half of a pound) will be removed from each breast
  • Documentation of injury (like back pain) due to the large size of your breasts
  • Documentation that the surgery is needed in order to correct the disabling symptoms
  • Photographic documentation

Essentially, insurance companies are often looking for proof that the breast reduction is medically necessary and not just a cosmetic surgery for appearance purposes only. Patients can work with the staff at our Lubbock office to coordinate insurance billing. If the procedure is deemed medically necessary after a consultation with Dr. Jane Rowley, insurance may cover all or part of the surgery and the hospital costs for your procedure and recovery care. Dr. Rowley sees many happy patients after their plastic surgery, but patients who have a breast reduction are some of the most satisfied patients. Call for your no-obligation consultation today. www.rowleyplasticsurgery.com