Crooked Nose and Trouble Breathing, Will Insurance Cover Surgery? (photo)

Question

I am very insecure about my nose and i have had trouble breathing ever since I was a child. I remember breaking my nose, but hardly ever noticed it until now. I am 18 now, and want to my nose to be straight again, because I can't breathe through by right nostril and i hope straightening can solve the issue. Is there any way insurance can cover the part of straightening the nose again, or is that part not covered. Thanks Doctors!

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

Insurance generally covers procedures that are to improve function and your health, but not those that are just for aesthetic purposes. Therefore, there is a good chance that your surgery would be covered, or at least a portion of it.

Sam Naficy, MD, FACS · Answer

Insurances will typically cover procedures to help improve nasal obstruction.  The extent of coverage varies based on the details of the insurance plan.  Insurance will not cover procedures that address nasal asymmetry but are not necessary to improve nasal obstruction.

Stephen Weber MD, FACS · Answer

Insurance DOES typically cover nasal surgery to improve nasal breathing. If your breathing issue is related to a prior injury and crookedness of your nose, repair of this is likely covered. However, insurance companies are all different and unfortunately not always ruled by common sense. You should seek an in office evaluation with a board certified Facial Plastic Surgeon or Plastic Surgeon. They will need to submit their evaluation to your insurance company and, in some cases, provide additional information to support their assessment that your nasal breathing issues are caused by the deviation of your nose.Stephen Weber MD, FACS

Thomas A. Lamperti, MD · Answer

Insurance often can cover surgery to striaghten the nose if it is causing nasal obstruction. You would need to have your nose examined to determine what actually needs to be done to correct the problem. Your surgeon's office would then be able to obtain pre-authorization from your insurance to see if they will cover your surgery.

Aaron Stone, MD · Answer

If you have medical record documented obstruction to nasal airflow your health insurance will cover surgery to restore airflow. To make sure that you are covered you need to have your surgeon send a preauthorization letter to your insurance company before surgery. Make sure you get a letter from the insurance company stating that the proposed surgery is medically necessary and covered before you proceed. If you fail to do it that way you may end up having to pay for surgery, hospital operating room and anesthesia out of your own pocket.
	
	I hope you realize that this format of posting questions and receiving answers lacks the face to face direct communication required for you to make an informed decision regarding your surgery.
	
	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 plastic surgeon in order to receive a formal evaluation and develop a doctor patient relationship.

Crooked Nose and Trouble Breathing, Will Insurance Cover Surgery? (photo)

Answers (9)

Answer: Insurance coverage for crooked nose

Answer: Insurance coverage for crooked nose

Answer: Health insurance and rhinoplasty

Answer: Health insurance and rhinoplasty

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Crooked Nose and Trouble Breathing, Will Insurance Cover Surgery? (photo)

Answers (9)

Answer: Insurance coverage for crooked nose

Answer: Insurance coverage for crooked nose

Answer: Health insurance and rhinoplasty

Answer: Health insurance and rhinoplasty

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.