Botox Q&A

64%

WORTH IT RATING

854 Reviews

Ask a Question

View Before and Afters

Average Botox Cost: $425

Learn about Botox

3,021 people and 923 doctors are talking about Botox

Get Free Email Updates

Does Insurance Cover Botox or Not?

asked 3 years ago by Mike in Georgia in Atlanta
Latest answer by Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS
Question viewed 3,599 times
Tags: insurance

I have heard both information that insurance covers Botox and that it doesn't. I was hoping to get some clarification on this subject, and how well is it to proceed if insurance is a possibility? Thanks so much for your help in advance.

12 answers to Does Insurance Cover Botox or Not?

Insurance coverage for Botox

Hi Mike, Some uses for Botox are covered by insurance, but unfortunately not the cosmetic uses. Some common conditions that are covered: cerebral palsy hyperhidrosis (sweaty palms and armpits) muscle spasms including around the eye migraine headaches Any use that is specific to wrinkles or cosmetic enhancement will not be covered by insurance.

Harold J. Kaplan, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.celibre.com

Insurance Coverage for Botox

Botox can be covered by insurance. However, it is based on your individual insurance plan and the indicated use of the botox. If it is deemed medically necessary by your insurance plan, they will cover. If they feel that is for cosmetic reasons, they generally will not.

Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS
West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

www.drkrisreddy.com

Only for medical problems

Botox is used to treat many spasticity disorders in children and adults. In these instances insurance may pay for the treatment as it is not cosmetic but functional. Insurance will not pay for Botox Cosmetic to be used for facial wrinkles.

Christopher L. Hess, MD
Fairfax Plastic Surgeon

Insurance does not cover Botox Cosmetic treatments

Hello Mike, Some insurance companies will cover Botox Therapeutic treatments for blepharospasm, neck muscle (SCM) spasm or torticollis and dystonia, migraine headaches and excessive sweating in the underarm, hand or feet that has failed to respond to a variety of other treatments. Typically pre-approval is required. I have yet to see a company cover any Botox Cosmetic treatments. Good Luck!

Anifat Balogun, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Botox is NOT covered by insurance if for wrinkles, but may be for excess sweating or migraines.

Thanks for your question. Very simply explained, insurance does NOT cover Botox for cosmetic use. So, insurance will never cover Botox for wrinkles or anti-aging. However, insurances occasionally do cover Botox usage for hyperhidrosis (excess sweating) or migraines, but these covered services usually have to be approved by your insurance through your physician's office. Sometimes, the covered Botox treatment for migraines may also diminish the appearance of forehead wrinkles. Hope this... more

Don Mehrabi, MD
Beverly Hills Dermatologist

Botox for wrinkles is NOT covered by insurance

Botox was used for numerous medical conditions (including migraines, hyperhidrosis, muscle spasm, cerebral palsy, etc) well before Botox Cosmetic was introduced. The Botox Cosmetic was specifically introduced for the FDA approved indication of treating the frown lines between the eyebrows. Insurance companies are very difficult to work with when trying to get reimbursement for Botox for legitimate medical diagnoses. They will NEVER pay for any cosmetic indication. I'm afraid you are on your... more

Sirish Maddali, MD
Portland Plastic Surgeon

Insurance never covers cosmetic

If you have blepharospasm, the treatment with Botox by your opthalmologist will be covered. So,too, is the use of Botox for other medical conditions (headaches, crosssed eyes, vocal cord spasm, other spastic conditions). The use of Botox for wrinkles, is never covered.

Mary Lupo, MD
New Orleans Dermatologist

Insurance coverage for Botox

Whether an insurance company covers Botox for medical diagnoses such as hyperhidrosis, migraine headache, blepharospasm (eyelid twitching) depends on the individual insurance plan. Botox for cosmetic reasons (wrinkle reduction) is never a covered insurance benefit. Good luck.

Bryan K. Chen, MD
San Diego Dermatologist

Botox for cosmetic reasons is not part of any insurance plan

Hello, Botox for cosmetic reasons is not part of any insurance plan. Botox can be used in certain medical conditions and then it may be part of an insurance benefit. So if it is wrinkles/creases you are worried about, Botox is an elective, non-covered benefit.

Francisco Canales, MD
Santa Rosa Plastic Surgeon

Does insurance pay for botox

All insurence policies, no matter how deluxe, clearly state that they will NOT pay for anything that THEY consider cosmetic. IF botox is used to treat a Bonefide medical condition such as facial muscle spacity or headache then t hey MIGHT pay for it. Any attempt to falsify a medical record is insurance fraud and is treated as a felony.

Barry H. Dolich, MD
Bronx Plastic Surgeon

BOTOX Cosmetic is not covered by insurance.

Dear Mike, Most insurance carriers do not cover elective, cosmetic procedures like wrinkle reduction. BOTOX has some medical, non-cosmetic applications which could be covered by insurance. I hope this helps, and best regards.

Eric M. Joseph, MD
West Orange Facial Plastic Surgeon

Insurance covers BOTOX for medical problems not cosmetic.

Dear Mike BOTOX and the newly approved Dysport are botulinum toxin A products that are used for both cosmetic and medical problems. The most remarkable thing about these products is the range of conditions that can be benefited by treatment with these agents. The actual coverage of a typical health insurance plan very much varies not just by the particular insurance company but also by what an employer group chooses to include is it health insurance benefits. So it is important to confirm... more