Will OHIP cover rhinoplasty for me?

Question

years of difficult breathing. Was referred to an ENT that performed septoplasty covered by ohip. Was hoping to correct the bump and straighten the septum but he said that is more of a cosmetic concern and was referred to a surgeon that charges 12,000 CAD for the procedure. Had an xray done recently that reported "a minimally displaced and depressed fracture of the left nasal bone. Mild deviation of the bony nasal septum to the right noted. Hypoplastic right frontal sinus noted." Will OHIP cover?

Jamil Ahmad, MD · Answer

Rhinoplasty is a cosmetic procedure to improve the aesthetic appearance of the nose. Many Plastic Surgeons will correct nasal deformities (deviations) while performing the rhinoplasty procedure and bill OHIP for the cost but there is no OHIP coverage for surgery to cosmetically alter the appearance of the nose. Cosmetic surgery can be expensive, especially when it comes to delicate procedures of the face. If this is important to you, there are many third party finance companies that provide loans for medical/aesthetic procedures. All the best,

William Portuese, MD · Answer

Rhinoplasty is considered cosmetic, and is not billed to the patient's insurance because there's no medical necessity. There must be medical necessity documented at the time of the examination  andconsultation, and then preauthorization must occur prior to the surgery. Functional breathing surgery such as the septoplasty is usually covered under medical insurance, however cosmetic surgery is not. Expect to pay for the cosmetic changes to the nose yourself. For more information about the differences between cosmetic rhinoplasty and functional breathing surgery, please see the link and the video below

Will OHIP cover rhinoplasty for me?

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Will OHIP cover rhinoplasty for me?

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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.