Rhinoplasty: Q&A

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Crooked Nose: Covered by Insurance? (photo)

I have a crooked nose. I think I have a deviated septum because I find it hard to breathe,mostly at night. I also have a messed up sense of smell. I don't know if that has anything to do with the crookedness. But I find it hard to smell things. I told my doctor and she checked my nose but said she doesn't think it is serious enough for surgery. I hate how my nose looks though. It is crooked and the tip is boulbous, I also have a bump. Is it possible to have the insurance cover my surgery?

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11 Doctor Answers | Asked by J18 in Chicago

Doctor Answers (11)
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When insurance covers surgery to fix crooked nose

A crooked nose is only paid for by insurance when it is due to a nasal fracture. Breathing related surgery is also a covered medical condition. Any cosmetic surgery must be paid for by the patient, it is not billed to insurance. A deviated septum can cause nasal obstruction and a decreased sense of smell due to the lack of airflow up into the highest portion of the nose where the sense of smell organ exists. It is possible to perform both functional and cosmetic... more

Rhinoplasty may be accompanied by correction of a deviated septum.

Hi J18; Your crooked nose looks like it was due to an accident. If you cannot breathe, then it does, indeed, make sense that you probably have an internally deviated septum, which is probably also the cause of your external crookedness. Certainly, your nose looks like it. The sense of smell can also be affected by poor breathing. You said that you, "told your doctor…, but she does not think it is serious enough for surgery." Was the... more

Robert Kotler, MD

26 reviews

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.robertkotlermd.com

Insurance Coverage to Fix Crooked Nose

Your nasal surgeon will examine you and determine if surgery will improve your breathing. With that information you can request pre-op authorization from your insurance company.

Richard W. Fleming, MD

9 reviews

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

Rhinoplasty

Your posted photos look like you sustained a frontal blunt trauma to your nose. If that is the case and especially if it is documented in your medical records the entire surgery would be covered by insurance. In the absence of that insurance will only cover the part of surgery that restores your breathing. My response to your question/post does not represent formal medical advice or constitute a doctor patient relationship. You need to consult with i.e. personally see a board certified... more

Insurance coverage for crooked noses

Insurance companies will generally cover surgery that is medically necessary. Most insurance companies have written guidelines that you could search on the internet that states what criteria they use for this determination. In general, surgery specifically aimed at relieving obstruction of the airways or to correct trauma (i.e. a nasal fracture) should be reimbursed. However, they will not cover any portion (including anesthesia and any facility fees) that are considered... more

Insurance coverage for crooked nose surgery

You need to have your nose fully examined by a specialist with a thorough understanding of nasal obstruction correction to see what can be done to help your breathing and smell. Insurance can cover functional surgery to help with chronic congestion. This would include septoplasty, turbinate reduction, alar batten grafts and/or spreader grafts. Insurance doesn't cover surgery to correct tip bulbosity or a bump, but this can be done at the same time as functional surgery if... more

Crooked nose

You are certaqinly a good candidate for a rhinoplasty based in your photos. What needs to be done to improve your breathing cna only be assessed by a physical exam. As far as whether insurance would cover all or part of the cost depends on a number of issues. If the crookedness is the result of an injury, insurance would bmore likely to cover the cost. If not, they may cover only the part involving your breathing, but not any cosmetic alterations. You... more

Insurance companies and nasal surgery - what may be covered

At best, insurance companies will cover surgery related to the breathing issues regarding your nose such as the septum. They will not cover anything that constitutes cosmetic surgery such as fixing your bulbous tip. You should go to a board certified plastic surgeon who could assess your situation and them make the appropriate recommendations.

Insurance and nasal surgery coverage

It is very difficult to get nasal surgery covered by insurance. Documentation with CT's are sometimes necessary. If you are lucjy they may cover the septal work. Any aesthetic improvement is self-pay.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Crooked Nose: Covered by Insurance? (photo)

Thanks for the photos. It MIGHT be covered partially by insurance for ONLY the deviated part. The rest would be considered cosmetic and not covered.

Rhinoplasty with septum, etc. is covered by insurance for crooked noses.

Rhinoplasty with septum, etc. is covered by insurance for crooked noses. They will pay for anything that obstructs the airway, but not any cosmetic part.