Will insurance pay to fix diastasis recti?

Question

I have diastasis recti and it has caused me to have asthma and when I bend over I get aspiration pneumonia. I have had pneumonia 3 times this year.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Cosmetic procedures which include diastasis recti are not covered by medical insurance as they are deemed unnecessary.   Diastasis recti usually results from lifting heavy weights incorrectly, performing excessive or unsafe abdominal exercises, or excessive inter-abdominal pressure such as pregnancy.  Asthma and aspiration pneumonia are not caused by diastasis recti.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear kycchrn,
diastasis recti repair is a cosmetic procedure which is not covered by insurance. It does not cause pneumonia or asthma. If you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Michael Baumholtz, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello. Youre on the wrong website. If you have truly have pneumonia 4 x in the last year - the diastasis is the least of your worries. Truly - You need to see a board certified specialist to understand why you suffer recurrent pneumonias before considering an elective (and likely cosmetic) procedure.Good luck!

Marvin F. Shienbaum, MD · Answer

Unfortunately, insurances do not cover diastasis recti since they do not necessarily think of it as a medical necessity.  They classify   it as   a cosmetic procedure.

Robert Oliver Jr., MD · Answer

No, insurance polices almost uniformly exclude rectus diastasis repair from consideration of coverage under health insurance policies. The only carrier that I've seen willing to cover that has been Tricare, the military insurance for active duty soldiers and their families.

Vasdev Rai, MD · Answer

Your asthma and aspiration pnemonia have nothing to do with diastasic rectii.   Insurance will have no reason to pay for it.

Richard M. Levin, MD (retired) · Answer

Pregnancy as well as large weight gain and loss can result in permanent separation of the rectus muscles.  Repair if there is no extra skin can be done endoscopically with minimal scarring or combined with liposuction as well. Usually, rectus diastasis is associated with abdominoplasty surgery which is way insurance coverage is usually not provided.

Will insurance pay to fix diastasis recti?

Answers (7)

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