Tummy Tuck Covered by Insurance?

Question

i have a 6mth pregnant uterus do to extreme fibroids that cause me great pain and the purge my tummy out extremely now will my insurnace cover me for a tummy tuck if i have acess skin

Andrew T. Lyos, MD, FACS · Answer

Abdominoplasty is considered a cosmetic procedure which is generally not covered by health insurance. This procedure removes excess skin and fat, lifts the pubic area, tightens the muscles, and reshapes the umbilicus (belly button).

	If you have had a large weight loss and have excess skin which hangs past your pubic area (pannus), health insurance may pay for a portion of the procedure to remove it (panniculectomy). This may lessen some of the cost of the abdominoplasty, but is frequently very difficult to have approved by insurance carriers. I would recommend a consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. I wish you the best of luck, Andrew Lyos MD, FACS.

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

Unfortunately, insurance does not cover a tummy tuck. Occasionally with documentation of recurrent infection they will pay for a panniculectomy (simply removing loose skin).#tt#tummytuck

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

A tummy tuck is generally not covered by insurance unless there is a special reason why the procedure would be necessary for you, and this reason would have to be therapeutic rather than just cosmetic. Please contact your insurance provider to find out if your tummy tuck would be covered.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

It is highly unlikely that your insurance company will pay for removal of extra skin from the fibroids.

Roy Kim, MD · Answer

A tummy tuck is a plastic surgery procedure that tightens your loose skin, muscle, and soft tissue in a beautiful, pleasing shape and appearance.  This surgery is considered cosmetic, so health insurance will not cover this procedure.

	If you have a large amount of loose skin only, then the medical term for this loose skin is called a pannus.  Removal of this skin is called a panniculectomy.  This may be covered under some types of health insurance.  The problem with getting coverage for a panniculectomy is that it's not the same as a tummy tuck.  A panniculectomy is a procedure that only removes loose skin, and does not have the reshaping of the tummy that a typical tummy tuck includes. 

	I wish you the best of luck!

William Bruno, MD · Answer

Tummy tucks are generally not covered by insurance.  You have to demonstrate that you have significant excess skin hanging down past your vaginal area to have any type of procedure covered by insurance- that procedure is called a panniculectomy.  You would need your surgeon to submit photos of you to the insurance company to have a panniculectomy covered.  A panniculectomy is a procedure which involves only removing the excess lower abdominal skin.  It does not tighten your abdominal muscles or perform any significant contouring that a tummy tuck can do.

	Please consult with a board certified  plastic surgeon for a comprehensive review of your treatment options.

	Best wishes,

	Dr. Bruno

Jason Hess, MD · Answer

Good question. If you have a pannus (this is skin and fat sagging and overhanging your belt line), then a good insurance plan will pay for a panniculectomy, particularly if it causes a skin rash or skin breakdown beneath the overhanging skin. Unfortunately, insurance companies are very very strict about their coverage of these procedures. Even if they pay for a panniculectomy (as they rarely do), they will only pay for the removal of the skin below your navel, and not the rest of the skin tightening. Hope this helps!

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.

C. Bob Basu, MD, MPH, FACS · Answer

I concur with my colleagues here - a tummy tuck is a cosmetic procedure.  Insurance companies will not cover it as they do not deem it medically necessary.   It is an elective cosmetic procedure.

Srdjan Ostric, MD · Answer

There is a procedure called panniculectomy which generally is covered by insurances, with great difficulty. You will have to be patient (no pun intended) to get it approved. It is NOT a cosmetic procedrue, as it simply removes skin that may be causing a rash or making it difficult for you to wear pants, etc. It is a functional procedure, but insurance companies have strict guidelines regarding itself approval, and don't be surprised that after the surgery they decide not cover it. They generally never guarantee payment until the payment is made. (Read the fine Print!). But regarding abdominoplasty specifically, it is a cosmetic procedure not covered by insurance.

Tummy Tuck Covered by Insurance?

Answers (17)

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