Will blue care insurance pay for a breast reduction for my 16 year old daughter?

Question

She is a 34 G with monstrous backaches. She would not let me take a photo.

Ellen A. Janetzke, MD · Answer

By her cup size and symptoms, many insurance companies would cover her breast reduction. However many insurance companies require documentation of complaints from other doctors and even may require physical therapy before they will approve it. You should call your insurance company and find out what your policy requires for coverage.

Andres Taleisnik, MD · Answer

I can't answer for any specific insurance company, but most insurers base the decision on the presence of symptoms (like your daughter has), and on the weight of breast tissue to be removed. If only a small amount of breast tissue is removed, it's considered to be more of a cosmetic lift than a medically necessary procedure. If enough weight is removed to make a difference in the symptoms and well-being of the patient, it could be considered medically necessary and therefore covered. If your daughter is extremely overweight, the insurer may ask her to lose some weight first to see if that helps, but not always. The first step is to find a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area who is a provider for your insurer. After the consultation, the surgeon can request precertification for the surgery. From your descriptions, it seems that coverage is certainly possible, but it depends on the specifics of your daughter's exam and on the terms of your insurance policy. Her age is not a contraindication to having the surgery, as long as she understands what she's getting into, what the scars will be like, etc.

Will blue care insurance pay for a breast reduction for my 16 year old daughter?

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Will blue care insurance pay for a breast reduction for my 16 year old daughter?

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Everything you need to know about Breast Reduction

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