Would my medical pay for my tummy tuck?

Question

Or lopsided please let me know

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

This completely depends on several factors. It depends on your abdomen, your insurance company and the quality of the letter sent by your board-certified plastic surgeon. If you have significant amount of excess skin and fat of the abdomen,  the panniculectomy, abdominoplasty or tummy tuck may be covered. Most insurance companies also want proof of chronic rashes. These rashes need to be treated with multiple topical medications without relief for 3 to 4 months. All this needs to be documented in your medical chart and ideally with photographs.Secondly, all insurance companies are not created equal. Some plans are better than others. I have had very small tummy tucks or abdominoplasties approved by insurance and very big tummy tucks denied by insurance. It completely depends on the quality of your insurance and the insurance provider agreeing to the abdominoplasty or not.Thirdly, many board-certified plastic surgeons don't even bother with insurance. This is because there is a significant amount of time and expense that goes into submitting a letter to the insurance company. This is unfortunate because many abdominoplasties are indeed covered by insurance.in conclusion, I would suggest you seek a board-certified plastic surgeon with a significant amount of experience in submitting abdominoplasties to  insurance for authorization. Bottom line, it does not hurt to try. If your abdominoplasty does get covered by insurance, that would be great.

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

There are very few cases where insurance will pay for a tummy tuck.  In some cases of extreme weight loss and severe hanging skin,  some insurances companies may cover the procedure.  You can check with your own insurance, but coverage is quite unlikely.  Insurance companies consider most tummy tucks cosmetic in nature.

Ronald Schuster, MD · Answer

Insurance companies do not pay for cosmetic surgery. Tummy tucks are nearly always performed as cosmetic procedures.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Insurance companies will not cover a cosmetic surgery like this.  In some instances, they may cover a panniculectomy.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Unless there is some unusual circumstance, insurance companies generally do not cover tummy tuck surgery. In other words, insurance companies do not consider this operation medically necessary. Sometimes, however insurance companies will cover excision of lower abdominal wall skin/apron;  this operation is called a panniculectomy. Best wishes.

Would my medical pay for my tummy tuck?

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Answer: Would my medical pay for my tummy tuck?

Answer: Would my medical pay for my tummy tuck?

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Would my medical pay for my tummy tuck?

Answers (8)

Answer: Would my medical pay for my tummy tuck?

Answer: Would my medical pay for my tummy tuck?

Answer: Would my medical pay for my tummy tuck?

Answer: Would my medical pay for my tummy tuck?

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Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

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