Will insurance cover liposuction for my lipedema? (Photo)

Lipedema is definitely a very real condition and a disease, but sadly it is not recognized by most, if not all, of the insurance carriers. It still amazes me that gastric bypass surgery is now covered by insurance, but lipedema surgery is still commonly not covered. Hopefully in the future that will change with increased awareness and the decrease of ignorance regarding lipedema. The reality is, that at the present time it is certainly a challenge to get coverage by insurance carriers. The preferred treatment is a specialized surgery called lymphatic sparing liposuction, that needs to be approached in a very particular fashion as these are not your typical liposuction surgery cases. The surgeon should have an experienced understanding of lipedema. There are factors with regard to pre and post surgical care that differ from typical cosmetic liposuction surgery. We do feel there is hope of getting these surgeries covered by insurance, the victories are few and far between especially in mild cases such as stage 1 lipedema. With that said, I have seen some stage 1 patients with symptoms of pain get some reimbursement coverage. My recommendation is to build the best evidence to make a case for yourself with your insurance carrier. It is not enough to just see a surgeon like myself, it helps to see other physicians that support the diagnosis and recommend surgery for lipedema. Lipedema patients commonly have orthopedic issues, and if a patient sees an orthopedic surgeon that recommends this type of surgery for treatment, this would be an example of support that insurance companies look at which can increase the chances of any type of insurance coverage. I also recommend, if possible, to see a lipedema diagnostic specialist such as Dr. Karen Herbst or Dr. Emily Iker to add support to your diagnosis and recommended treatment plan. I know first hand how challenging this can be as of today, but hopefully that will change as time goes on and we continue to raise awareness about this real disease. I wish you the best of luck.

The term lipedema is entered the vernacular but is not a true medical condition. Liposuction is cosmetic and is not covered by insurance.

This would require consultation with a plastic surgeon who would then submit a letter to your insurance company with the diagnosis and treatment plan.  In general, insurance would cover medically necessary or functionally impairing conditions.  A lot would depend on what type of insurance plan you have.