Would Blue Cross Blue Shield cover my tummy tuck while getting a breast reduction?

Hello and thank you for your question.
It is very unlikely that your Insurance will pay for a tummy tuck. The best thing for you to do is to call and see if the y will cover this due to your circumstances. Best of luck!

Dear Liv3aLiv3,
in some cases, breast reduction can be covered by insurance. However, tummy tuck is considered an elective procedure and it is not covered by insurance. 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

Thank you for sharing your questions and congratulations on your impressive weight loss. Although a breast reduction may be a covered expense by insurance, a tummy tuck never is. You may be able to have a lower cost on the tummy tuck as it would be part of a combined procedure, however.

Breast reductions with breast lift which are medically necessary i.e. you suffer back, shoulder, and neck pain with documented medical attention are typically covered by medical insurance. If not, your insurance company may try to deny you based upon a lot of things such as weight, causation of pain due to degenerative disc and spinal stenosis, lack of enough tissue that should be removed, lack of symptoms, and lack of previous medical management. The TT will be considered a cosmetic procedure and will not be covered. Seek consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate your medical condition and assist you with obtaining a predetermination of benefits.

A tummy tuck is considered a cosmetic procedure and therefore is not covered by insurance. Breast reductions may be covered by insurance if certain criteria are met. Often times a tummy tuck and breast reduction can be done at the same time, but the tummy tuck portion will need to be paid separately.

Medical insurance does not pay for cosmetic surgery and a tummy tuck is a cosmetic surgical procedure.

Insurance companies will occasionally pay for a panniculectomy for patients who have loose hanging skin that’s bad enough to have chronic skin infections.

Having a flat abdomen it’s not a medical necessity.

Weight loss can be a struggle for some people but in the end it comes down to how much food we eat. Sometimes we have to go a little hungry in order to maintain a healthy weight.

Breast reductions have proven to decrease neck and shoulder pain but tummy tucks have not shown to improve any pain.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD