Can my Insurance Pay for Removal of Breast Tissue on Armpit While I Have a Breast Augmentation at the Same Time?

Hello! Thank you for your question! Surgical procedures for aesthetic
purposes, to improve appearance, are not covered by insurance.
Typically, these as well as complications resulting from such procedures
are the responsibility of the patient. Procedures that are meant to
correct functional issues and those which cause health-related issues
should be covered by your insurance as a medical necessity, with proper
examination and documentation. Some insurance plans have exclusion
criteria for certain procedures. Also, it is an obligation of the
surgeon not to attempt to authorize purely cosmetic procedures through
insurance.  It may be possible to perform these procedures together.  You should see a breast surgeon for this.  The facility and anesthesia times will begin once the excision portion ends.  Discuss your issues and
complaints with a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss these as
well as to examine and assist you in deciding which procedure(s) will be
the best for you. A discussion of the advantages and disadvantages will
take place along with the risks and benefits. Insurance companies will
vary on coverage and is always reasonable to discuss your issues with
your surgeon and primary care. It would behoove you to get as much
information as possible and even call your insurance yourself.
Certainly, pay in advance prior to your surgical procedure and options
such as financing are available if you qualify. Hope that this helps!
Best wishes!

Combined Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery is commonly done in my practice.. It is key to have prior authorization from your insurance company for the "insured" part of it as it is very hard to get authorization or payments after the fact. Typically the OR, Surgical Facility, and Anesthesia bills for the insurance part and you will pay for the time taken for the cosmetic portion (breast augmentation).

Cosmetic and insurance based procedures can be combined, depending on your surgeon's practice.  If I have such a situation we do the surgery at the hospital to allow insurance to cover the surgery, anesthesia and pathology for the excess tissue removal.  Coolsculpting often works very well for that area too though it would not be covered by insurance, but avoids scar and downtime.  Meet with an ASPS plastic surgeon to discuss your options.

Thank you for the question.

Generally speaking, it may be difficult for you to obtain insurance coverage for removal of axillary breast tissue. The only way to know for sure is to seek “authorization” prior to the procedure; your plastic surgeon will be able to help you with this.

Yes, this is a procedure commonly performed by plastic surgeons and can be done at the same time as breast augmentation surgery.

I hope this helps.

It is quite possible that your surgeon remove the axillary breast tissue at the same time as the breast augmentation.