When is a body lift covered by insurance?

I understand that most of the time, body lift surgery isn't covered by medical insurance, but in certain cases it is. What are the normal criteria for having a body lift paid for by insurance?

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7 answers to “When is a body lift covered by...”

A: When is a body lift covered by insurance?

By Peter A. Aldea, MD - Memphis Plastic Surgeon

A Body Lift is NEVER covered by Medical Insurance. I THINK you are confusing it with a Panniculectomy, the removal of loose tummy skin without tightening of the muscles or translocation of the belly button. A Body Lift = Buttock Lift + Lateral Thigh lifts (both sides) + Abdominoplasty An Abdominoplasty (Full... more

A: Insurance Coverage for Body Lift

By Raffy Karamanoukian, MD - Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Insurance companies cover medically indicated procedures, not cosmetic procedures. Body lift after massive weight loss follows specific criteria as described by your individual insurance policy. If you feel you are a candidate for a medically functional procedure, discuss this with our office or... more

A: Some portions of the bodylift procedure may be covered

By Kevin Brenner, MD - Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Insurance companies will likely not pay for your entire bodylift outright. Although it is usually a cosmetic operation, some portions of the procedure that need to be done as a component of, or concurrently with, the bodylift may be covered benefits under your insurance plan. Examples of medically indicated... more

A: Real body lift isn't covered by insurance

By John P. Di Saia, MD - Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Hello, Lesser procedures like simple removal of the hanging abdominal apron (panniculectomy) are sometimes covered by health insurance. They do not give results anywhere as nice as a true tummy tuck and for that reason I do not recommend them. Be careful if you move in this direction as you cannot easily... more

A: Insurance Body Lift

By Nirav Savalia, MD - Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Insurance companies will cover a procedure it consider to be medically necessary. One of the procedures that some insurance companies will cover is called a "panniculectomy". This is an operation to remove the hanging apron of skin over the lower abdomen. This is often covered if their is... more

A: Body Lift never covered by insurance

By Brian K. Brzowski, MD - Ogden Plastic Surgeon

A body lift is a cosmetic surgical procedure for which there is no medical indication. If your insurance excludes cosmetic procedures, which most do, then trying to bill them for a body lift would possibly be fraudulent. Of course, there are surgical procedures that are indicated for problems such as rashes,... more

A: You should check with your insurance

By Richard P. Rand, MD - Seattle Plastic Surgeon

All insurances are different. The best plan is to call your own insurance company and ask them directly if they cover body lifting at all, and if so, under what circumstances. If they do cover it, this will not be because of cosmetic reasons but rather because of a medically necessary indication... more

Comments

Dr LoMonaco
223 posts
9 Jun 2009

We routinely submit, and are approved for the tummy part of the bodylift procedure IF our patient meets certain criteria. It all depends on the language of the plan but most recongnize recurrent infections as a reason to approve the procedure.

View answers from John LoMonaco, MD

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