Do health insurance providers cover cost of tummy tucks if your primary doctor recommends it?

Every insurance policy is slightly different, but very few if any cover a true abdominoplasty surgery. Even with a recommendation from another physician, most insurance providers have rather clearly stated policies that cosmetic abdominoplasty is not covered. Panniculectomy surgery is often covered for patients that are having difficulty with chronic skin irritation or ulceration and sometimes to allow for surgical access for other surgical procedures. But, a typical "tummy tuck" surgery that uses the CPT codes 15830 and 15847 are typically not covered.

tummy tucks are normally considered aestetic and not reconstructive, that being said there are exeptions, it might be wise to ask your insurance comany becuase some of them might cover it.

the short answer is no, but ocassionally you might be able to get some aspects of the tummy tuck covered like the skin excision or the muscle plication. This might make the surgery more affordable depending on your insurance coverage. Talk with a ps in your area to learn more

Tummy tuck will not be covered by insurance companies in the US due to its cosmetic nature. Occasionally, patients with a large amount of overhang can get coverage for a panniculectomy.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

Unfortunately, tummy tucks are not covered by insurance. Sometimes people can obtain partial coverage for this procedure if they have significant overhanging skin that can cause medical problems such as rashes, ulcers and odor. Usually these are patients that have undergone massive weight loss from bariatric surgery.

Most insurance companies will not cover an abdominoplasty, even if your primary care doctor recommends it. Panniculectomies will sometimes be covered for health reasons such as chronic infections. This operation, however, is not the same as a tummy tuck, and only involves removal of the lower part of the abdominal skin.

Insurance never covers abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). They will sometimes cover panniculectomy (removal of hanging skin from the lower abdomen) if there are medical reasons. But even in that situation, they will not cover mobilization and tightening of the upper abdominal tissues and tightening of the muscle wall--both of which are important parts of the tummy tuck procedure.