cosmetic surgery Archives

Will Health Insurance Cover My Breast Reduction Surgery?

Will Health Insurance Cover My Breast Reduction Surgery? text overlaying image of a woman holding large pumpkins over her breasts The average size of a woman’s breasts in the United States has steadily increased over the past five decades, from a 34B in 1983 to a whopping 34DD in 2023. And that’s just the average; bra sizes go all the way to H. While a larger cup size can be appealing to many, it can also be debilitating.

In many instances, a woman’s breast size can impede her ability to work, exercise, and even care for her family. Multiple seemingly unrelated areas may experience pain as a result of the weight of breasts that are disproportionately large. After years of wearing “industrial style” support bras, ridges form across the upper shoulders, straining the muscles and frequently causing headaches and neck pain. The delicate skin beneath the breasts is susceptible to inflammation and infection. Chronic lower back pain is a common complaint among women who compensate for their posture by shifting their weight.

Health insurance is one of the most unexpected “obstacles” for women interested in breast reduction surgery.Many of these women are well into the process of preparing for surgery, researching surgeons and enduring (often multiple) consultations and examinations, when they discover that their insurance policy does not cover the necessary procedure.

Reasons For a Breast Reduction

A breast reduction, also known as a reduction mammaplasty, is a surgical procedure that reduces your cup size by removing excess breast tissue, fat, and skin. Due to the negative effects that large breasts can have on their health, many women opt for this surgery. Common health problems that are associated with oversized breasts include:

Neck pain
Back pain
Shoulder pain
Rounded shoulders (kyphosis)
Poor posture
Shoulder grooves from bra straps digging into the skin from inadequate support
Numbness in the chest, arms, or fingers due to nerve compression
Breathing problems, specifically while laying down or sleeping
Skin rashes and infection, typically in the fold beneath breasts
Migraines

The Cost of Breast Reductions

As of 2023, a reduction mammoplasty can cost between $4,822 and $11,442. This includes the fee for a board-certified plastic surgeon, hospital fees, medical and diagnostic testing, surgical and post-op garments, and medications. This doesn’t include the cost of anesthesia as it can vary greatly depending on the amount used. The surgeon’s fee also varies based on their level of experience and expertise, their surgical techniques, and whether they perform the surgery in an outpatient hospital or a surgical center.

Health Insurance Coverage

As long as the breast reduction surgery meets the criteria for medical necessity, the majority of insurers provide full or partial coverage. Breast reduction is usually considered cosmetic by major insurance companies unless your breasts cause symptoms such as numbness and tingling, ulceration, significant pain, or persistent rashes. In order for an insurer to cover the procedure you have to prove that you have attempted to treat these issues with other means, such as medication or physical therapy. If you can demonstrate that the procedure is medically necessary, the insurer may classify it as reconstructive rather than cosmetic and provide coverage. Health insurance will cover breast reduction if:

You have breasts that are large enough to be reduced by at least 3 cup sizes.
The rashes or strap marks cannot be treated properly without the reductions.
Your breast size was unaffected by documented weight loss.
Your head, neck, shoulder, or back pain persists despite regular therapy visits.
The size of your breasts prevents you from exercising and maintaining a healthy body weight.

Like we said above, you have to prove that you have exhausted every other treatment option over a course of 6 to 12 months in an effort to resolve any complications your breast size causes. Your insurance company will only consider covering the breast reduction surgery if you provide documentation of all these health problems and attempted treatments. Even if you are approved you may still have to pay a portion of the surgery, in addition to any deductible or coinsurance associated with the procedure.

Steps To Getting Your Breast Reduction Covered

There are a few steps you may have to go through to make sure your health insurance will cover your breast reduction, including the following:

Meet with your PCP

It’s important to meet with your PCP to discuss all of your symptoms first. A PCP will record your pain, and discuss treatments you can start since most insurance companies will want proof that you tried to treat this without surgery. Don’t forget to include every symptom, even if they seem small like minor aches, or discomfort from your bra. Any and all symptoms recorded will help you later down the line when you’re asking for approval for the surgery.

Understand your benefits

Read through your health insurance benefits of the company’s online resources to learn about your specific level and type of coverage. This will help you find out if you can even get breast reduction surgery covered at all. However, don’t always rely on your own interpretation of your benefits. Reading through will help you gain some understanding about the coverage or what documents you need, but don’t stop there.

Call your insurance company

You can ask your company directly if they will cover the surgery and if pre-approval is necessary for breast reductions. Nextask what kind of documentation you will need to prove medical necessity. You also need to find out if your insurance company will require you to use a plastic surgeon within their network.

Pre-authorization

Even if you have a comprehensive health insurance plan that generally covers breast reductions. You will still need to provide proof that the procedure is medically necessary. Before you can schedule surgery, you must first give your insurance company medical records from licensed physicians showing that you have physical complaints and have attempted less extreme treatments. These documents may require a six to 12 month backdate. The physician notes you may need include your OB/GYN, primary care physician, orthopedic surgeon, and physical therapist, among others.

In addition, the majority of plastic surgeons recommend that you have documentation of any complementary and alternative medicine therapies such as acupuncture or chiropractic care. During your initial consultation for breast reduction, your doctor may take photos of your pro-op breasts for insurance purposes. Additionally, they can provide you with a note detailing the symptoms that prompted you to seek breast reduction. All of this documentation will be reviewed by a panel of medical professionals that work for your insurance company. They will evaluate your medical history and determine if breast reduction surgery is medically necessary for your case.

Initial Rejection

According to AARP, up to 14% of all initial insurance claims are denied. However, this doesn’t mean it’s impossible to get coverage. You have the ability to appeal the denial. You do this by having your surgeon write a letter to the insurance company explaining why you qualify for the surgery. It’s also wise to get letters of support from any other medical professionals to strengthen your case.

Authorization

Once your paperwork has been accepted and your insurance company has given its approval, you can go ahead and schedule your breast reduction surgery. The majority of insurance providers will require you to pay a copay for the hospital or medical facility stay. Which can range from $100-$300.

Is A Breast Reduction Ever Automatically Covered?

You won’t need to document a long history of trying to relieve symptoms if your reconstructive surgery is tied to a mastectomy. Which is a breast cancer surgery that removes the entire breast. It is usually offered to women who can’t or doesn’t want to be treated with breast conserving surgery. Which would save most of the breast while removing the cancer cells. It’s also offered to women who have a high risk of getting second breast cancer. In this case, the patient can choose to get a double mastectomy, which will remove both breasts. Now say prior to having your mastectomy you had all of these health issues because you had large breasts. Once you have the mastectomy you are able to get reconstructive breast surgery and your breasts will be a proportional size to your body, therefore alleviating the medical conditions.

Working With EZ

Having breast reduction surgery can significantly improve your quality of life. So, it’s unquestionably worth investigating, especially since some insurance policies will cover the procedure without much hassle. You could enjoy a more active lifestyle with less pain or discomfort. If you are looking for a company that will cover breast reduction surgery, come to EZ. One of our agents will research and compare all available plans within your budget. EZ understands how difficult this pain can be and we want to make getting health insurance one less headache (or backache) for you. Your personal agent will compare all of the quotes in your area. As well as answer any questions you have for free. To get started enter your zip code into the box below for your free instant quotes. Or call one of our licensed agents directly at 877-670-3557.

Does Medicare Cover Cosmetic or Reconstructive Surgery?

It’s no secret that cosmetic surgery is popular in this country – and it’s been increasing in popularity with older adults in particular. Understandably, many older adults want to look good and feel good about themselves. Which is probably why Americans aged 55 and up accounted for nearly 4.2 million cosmetic procedures in 2020. And because most of the seniors getting this type of surgery are within Medicare age, the question is will Medicare cover any of these cosmetic surgeries? The answer to that question is generally no but is dependent on a few factors.

Medicare & Cosmetic Surgery

As we said, Medicare usually will not cover cosmetic surgery. But there are some exceptions: if the surgery will improve the function of deformities or abnormal body parts, or it is considered a reconstructive surgery, you might be able to get coverage.

illustration of a penguin in doctor's scrubs and a scalpal Medicare may cover the following surgeries with prior authorization:

Blepharoplasty – Eyelid surgery that Medicare might cover if it could functionally improve your vision. This can include the removal of droopy, fatty eyelids.
Botox – Medicare might cover this neurotoxin injection for the treatment of chronic migraines in adult patients, but botox to specifically treat skin wrinkles is not covered by Medicare.
Panniculectomy -Surgery to remove excess skin and tissue from your lower abdomen. Medicare does not cover panniculectomy for cosmetic purposes.
Rhinoplasty – Nasal surgery that Medicare might cover to improve nasal respiratory function. For example, they will cover it if it improves a nasal airway obstruction.
Vein ablation – The treatment of varicose veins of the lower extremities. Spider veins are most often treated for cosmetic purposes. So Medicare usually won’t cover vein ablation but can be in rare instances.

Medicare & Reconstructive Surgery

If you need reconstructive surgery due to one of the conditions above, or some other injury or disease, Medicare might cover it. Outpatient cosmetic services covered by Medicare Part B require prior authorization. And if medically approved, you will only have to meet your deductible and pay your 20% coinsurance.

Need Help?

If you do need reconstructive surgery, that 20% coinsurance might seem a bit daunting, but there is help available. A Medicare Supplement Plan can help cover the out-of-pocket costs that Original Medicare does not cover. There are 10 different Medicare Supplement Plans to choose from, each offering different coverage options and rates. It’s worth looking into a Medicare Supplement Plan to save as much money as you can. So speak to an EZ agent for all of your options. EZ’s agents work with the top-rated insurance companies in the nation and can compare plans in minutes for you at no cost. To get free instant quotes for plans that cover your current doctors, simply enter your zip code in the bar on the side, or to speak to a licensed agent, call 888-753-7207.

Are Plastic Surgeries Covered by Medicare?

When you think of plastic surgery, the Kardashians or a Real Housewife of some random city probably come to mind, but what they’ve actually had is cosmetic surgery. There is a difference between the 2 and if you have Medicare, the good news is one of them may be covered.

Plastic Surgery vs. Cosmetic Surgery

bare back — Medicare will cover breast reconstruction after breast cancer surgery.

Plastic surgery is a procedure performed because it’s medically necessary. That means you need it for medical reasons to improve the health or function of your body. Plastic surgery is sometimes referred to as reconstructive surgery. You may need plastic surgery for medical reasons after an accident, infection, tumor, malformation of a body party or other disease, such as breast cancer. Some examples of medically necessary plastic surgery covered by Medicare include treatment for severe burns, facial reconstruction following a car accident, or a breast reconstruction after a partial or full mastectomy. Cosmetic surgery is a type of plastic surgery used to enhance the natural features of the body. Surgeons generally perform cosmetic surgery to reshape normal structures of the body to improve your appearance or enhance your self-esteem. These are generally not covered by Medicare. If you’re looking to get a breast lift, facelift, neck lift, or chemical peels covered, you’re out of luck because those are considered cosmetic and are not medically necessary.

Cosmetic Surgery for Medical Reasons

Medicare may pay for a cosmetic surgery if you need it for medical reasons but you must obtain prior authorization. This means your doctor must send a prior authorization request to Medicare for approval before performing the procedure. If Medicare approves the request, you’ll pay your Medicare Part A and/or B deductible and coinsurance costs, depending on the setting of your plastic surgery, such as inpatient or outpatient. Some examples of cosmetic surgeries that may be considered medically necessary are botox to treat muscle disorders or a nose job to correct structural nose defects that affect your breathing. An eyelid surgery to remove excess tissue around your eye that may be impairing your peripheral vision would probably qualify as medically necessary as well. Only your doctor can determine whether your procedure is medically necessary so be sure to have a thorough conversation with them before going through with a procedure.

Find a Medicare Supplement Plan

eye surgery — Medicare Supplement Plans may help cover costs of certain types of plastic surgeries.

There are many reasons why you might need or want plastic surgery. Luckily Medicare Parts A and B may cover plastic surgery if you need it for medical reasons. If your plastic surgery is covered by Medicare, you may be able to find a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan that helps pay for some of your Medicare copays, deductibles and more and EZ can help. Our agents work with the top-rated insurance companies in the nation, which makes comparing plans easy, quick, and free. To get free instant quotes on plans that cover your doctors, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to a local licensed agent, call 888-753-7207.

Tag: cosmetic surgery