Complications Post Op BR W/O Insurance- Am I Responsible?

asked 5 months ago by TallOne in Davenport, IA
Latest answer by Tracy Pfeifer, MD
Question viewed 148 times
Tags: complication, coverage, insurance, worried

If my insurance does not agree to pay for my surgery and I end up having horrific complications (that require hospitalization) am I going to be responsible for those bills?

9 answers to Complications Post Op BR W/O Insurance- Am I Responsible?

Find out pre-op if insurance will cover cost of postop complication

Hi TallOne, This is an excellent question. Unfortunately, you must contact your insurance company to find out the answer. In my experience, if a patient has a post-operative complication that requires, for example hospitalization, the patient's insurance will cover this cost. This is true even if the complication is related to elective, cosmetic surgery that the insurance did not pay for. Fortunately, these events are very rare but it could happen and it is best to... more

Tracy Pfeifer, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

drpfeifer.com

Coverage Of Complications After Aesthetic Surgery

Most insurance contracts have exclusions for both aesthetic surgery and complications following aesthetic surgery. This is definitely something to discuss pre-operatively with your surgeon. Some plastic surgeons offer a relatively low cost policy which covers these rare, but potentially expensive, post-op problems.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Breast reduction and complications

Har dot say whether your insurance company will cover complications of surgery. That is something to check out with your insurance.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Concern about insurance coverage for a potential major complication from a breast reduction that is not initially covered

Your questions is both an excellent one and a fairly common one with regard to non-insurance covered breast reduction surgery. Fortunately, such complications are rare but there is always that Murphy's Law. There can be minor issues that can occur and which should be easily addressed in an office setting. This is something that you will need to discuss with your plastic surgeon. You need to contact your insurance company and find out exactly what their policy is regarding coverage of... more

Steven Turkeltaub, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

www.turkeltaub.com

Complications Post Op BR W/O Insurance- Am I Responsible?

Tough question. In most states and with most health insurance plans complications after a surgery are a covered benefit. But if your health plan would not cover a breast reduction you might have a very very restricted plan with deniable benefits outlined in the plan's paperwork. Check it out yourself.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Who pays for post-breast reduction complications

If your insurance company agrees to cover the breast reduction surgery, it will also cover the treatment of postop complications. If you are paying for the surgery out of pocket, your plastic surgeon should provide you with a written explanation of his financial policies and responsibility for secondary surgery. My policy is that, for issues brought to my attention in the 6 months after surgery, I do not charge a fee for revision but the patient would be responsible for any... more

Robert L. Kraft, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.foresthillsplasticsurgery.com

Cost of Non-Insured Breast Reduction Complications

Your insurance coverage is really a legal contract between you and the carrier so you would need to get clarification from your carrier. Fortunately, breast reduction is one of those operations that seems to provide huge benefits with a low risk. We do our reductions in our private surgical center so that if a patient does have a problem we are able to take care of it here and not in a hospital with their very high costs. You might check for a similar situation near your hometown. more

Ronald V. DeMars, MD
Portland Plastic Surgeon

Insurance for breast reduction complications

Your insurance may cover any care that is of 'medical necessity' and this would include things that could happen after breast reduction such as bleeding, or an infection that follows breast reduction. You can contact your carrier to confirm. Some policies restrict coverage for problems related to breast implants, though again your insurance plan is unique and a call can settle the issue. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd.com

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Complications after Breast Reduction and Insurance Coverage?

Thank you for the question. Every insurance company will have a different policy in regards to coverage of complications after “noncovered procedures”. Therefore, for the most precise answer you will have to check with your insurance company. Generally speaking most insurance companies will cover medically necessary diagnoses such as infections, bleeding, deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism etc. Fortunately, the incidence of serious... more