How Much Does Medicare Pay for a Tummy Tuck when You Meet Their Requirements for One?

Medicare might cover removal of surplus skin is is creating some medical difficulty such as chronic rash. Medicare does not prior approve any procedure.

Medicare has no fee schedule for what a plastic surgeon would call a tummy tuck. There is a quoted fee for removing excess skin from below the navel (code 15830), and in my area that amount is $1260. The other code (15847) which when combined with 15830 defines a full tummy tuck has no fee because it is not covered.

Medicare does not "preauthorize" payment for this procedure, nor any other. If the bill is turned down, the patient can face an astronomic bill, especially from the hospital, that can be several times higher than the cost of paying upfront for a cosmetic procedure.

All the best.