Can My Nose Job Be Covered By Insurance

Rhinoplasty, commonly known as a nose job, is an interesting case where oftentimes patients have the procedure performed primarily for medical/functional reasons but receive the cosmetic benefits of the surgery secondarily. A large number of men and women undergo rhinoplasty to address a deviated septum, small nostrils, or other mechanical flaw, which obstructs nasal airflow and can lead to trouble breathing, difficulty sleeping, and even sleep apnea. In many of these cases, rhinoplasty will be considered a necessary procedure and, in turn, be covered by the patients insurer. As a result of the manipulation necessary during rhinoplasty, the patient may also achieve a more appealing nasal contour, even though the procedure was not intended as a cosmetic one.

During your initial consultation at Après Plastic Surgery, one of our exceptional board-certified plastic surgeons will thoroughly evaluate your situation, discuss your goals and concerns, and give you a realistic idea of what results are possible with your intended procedure and if there is an opportunity to receive any insurance benefits.

Will Southern Cross Health Insurance Cover My Surgery

The Southern Cross Health Society is New Zealands leading health insurance business with more than 800,000 members and is a large not-for-profit group of independent, health-related businesses like hospitals.

Dr Gittos is an affiliated provider of the Southern Cross Health Society.

• Dr Gittos has Affiliated Provider Contracts for eyelid surgery blepharoplasty for functional reasons. A prerequisite for this type of surgery is visual field testing to establish if you qualify for the procedure.
• Dr Gittos is also an Affiliated Provider for skin cancer assessment, biopsy, removal of pre-cancerous lesions and cysts.

You must meet the current Southern Cross Health Eligibility Guidelines which are listed on the website here

Here are some of the Eligibility Guidelines for Southern Cross Health:

• Fat Grafting following eligible Mastectomy Breast Reconstruction Eligibility Guidelines
• Open SeptoRhinoplasty or Balloon Septoplasty Nose Surgery Eligibility Guidelines

To find out about any other procedures and eligibility check Southern Cross Health website here

Please contact your insurance company directly if you have any questions regarding your specific insurance cover

Whats The Difference Between Cosmetic And Plastic Surgery

To begin with, its important to understand that cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery are not the same thing1, even though many of us use these terms interchangeably.

Cosmetic surgery is just one aspect of plastic surgery1. Plastic surgery encompasses both cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery. Heres how the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons defines cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery2:

Cosmetic surgery: is designed to improve a persons aesthetic appearance by altering or reshaping a bodily feature.

Reconstructive surgery: is concerned with improving bodily function and performed on abnormal structures of the body caused by congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumours, or disease.

Cosmetic surgery is not medically necessary3 , whereas non-cosmetic plastic surgery involves treatments that are considered to be medically necessary.

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What Options Are Available To Pay For Liposuction If Insurance Denies My Claim

For individuals who still feel like liposuction is the right choice for them and their goals, there are some options available. A patients plastic surgeon can provide contact information for financing companies who allow patients to pay for their surgeries in installments over time. Some doctors offices may also allow direct financing.

How Can I Find Out More About Insurance And Liposuction

Your insurance company is the best resource when it comes to coverage and benefits. Patients can consult their Explanation of Benefits, received monthly or quarterly from their insurance companies.

If these documents are difficult to interpret or fail to explicitly state the companies policies on cosmetic procedures used as therapies, patients are encouraged to call the customer service line.

In the end, insurance companies approve claims on a case-by-case basis. If a surgeon or primary care physician drafts a letter or makes a few phone calls defending the therapeutic benefit of liposuction for that particular patient, it can sway insurance companies to consider the procedure a reconstructive procedure or therapy. Keep in mind that surgeons are professionals, and will only recommend liposuction as a reimbursable therapy if it truly is.

No reputable surgeon will call the insurance company for a cosmetic procedure on your behalf. Surgeons understand the reasoning behind insurances failure to cover cosmetic procedures.

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When Does Health Insurance Include Coverage For Liposuction

To evaluate if a process will be covered by the insurance company, its necessary to discover if

• The surgery is reconstructive
• Cosmetic
• Or necessary to enhance a body function and to improve the quality of life.

The answers to these questions assist in making a decision. Hence, the guidelines may differ for different companies. The majority of insurance companies do not cover cosmetic procedures. But, every insurance company has its own rules and regulations and a benefits plan. You should check your plan or ask the company representative.

Breast Reconstruction Surgery After A Mastectomy For Breast Cancer

If you have breast cancer and choose to undergo a partial or full mastectomy, you are eligible for breast reconstruction surgery. Breast reconstruction surgery can either be performed with artificial implants, called prosthetic reconstruction, or with your own body tissue, called tissue flap reconstruction.

by Louisa McKay | Last Updated Aug 22, 2020 | Latest News, Surgical |

Medicare was created in 1984 to ensure all Australians have access to essential care.

Almost immediately, questions arose as to the definition of essential care. In 2018, new Medicare Benefits Schedule codes were established with some significant differences. Changes have also occurred to Health Fund Policy Classifications and Private Health Coverage for surgery in terms of redefining each category.

Needless to say, the newest iteration of the Medicare Benefits Schedule has left many patients somewhat dazed and confused regarding the cost of surgery in Australia. Lets see if Team Costhetics cant clear up at least some of the confusion.

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Does Health Insurance Cover Liposuction In Los Angeles Ca

Liposuction is the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure in the country, and approximately 500,000 of these procedures are completed each year. Its becoming more common procedure for regular Americans to consider this surgery. Before making any informative decision about liposuction, its important to do some research and confirm how your insurance company will handle a claim for liposuction surgery any costs and fees associated with this procedure.

How To Find Out If Your Health Plan Will Or Wont Cover A Cosmetic Or Plastic Surgery Procedure

For starters, look over your health insurance policy. See what it has to say about cosmetic or plastic surgery.

If you cant find a printed copy of your policy, by the way, go on line. Check your insurers website.

Still unsure? Pick up the phone and call the insurance company. Or send an email. Tell them whats going on and what your doctor says should be done about it. Ask if your plan will cover it.

Dont stop there, though. Even if the person on the other end of the phone says youre covered, ask for as many details as possible. Will you need a second opinion? Does the insurance company need to pre-authorize the procedure? Ask about possible out-of-pocket costs on your end, too.

The last thing you want to do in this kind of situation is rush through the early part of the process. Do that, and you may wind up paying for the whole thing yourself. So, be patient. Be diligent, too. Try to gather as much information as possible about your procedure and how your health plan will or wont cover it before you get it on the calendar.

And, of course, dont be shy. If you have questions, ask someone for answers. That someone might be your doctor, or it might be a representative of the insurance company. Whatever the case may be, make sure youre clear about your role in this–from a price or payment standpoint, especially–well in advance of your trip to the surgeons office.

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What Cosmetic Surgery Costs

If you or a loved one has ever had surgery, you know it tends to be expensive.

Thats especially true when it comes to cosmetic or plastic surgery procedures. And its even more true if when you dont have health insurance.

Dont take our word for it. The Chicago Tribune recently researched how much some of the most popular of these surgeries cost. Heres what it found:

• A breast augmentation costs about $3,700 per breast.
• A nose job costs around $5,000.
• Liposuction comes with a price tag of approximately $3,200.
• Tummy tucks are among the priciest of these procedures, at $5,800 a pop.

Readers Digest has weighed in on this issue, too. Some of that publications findings:

• An eyelid lift costs just over $3,000, on average.
• Male breast reduction surgery rings in at around $3,500.
• An otoplasty costs $3,150

Cosmetic procedures that are minimally invasive cost less. But even then its not unusual to pay hundreds of dollars per treatment.

A few examples :

• Chemical peels often cost about $675 each.
• Laser treatments tend to be a bit cheaper, at around $450.
• Microdermabrasion is even better, costing just under $150 per visit.

And of course your health plan is more likely to refuse coverage for these kinds of procedures than it is for the more serious ones mentioned earlier. So be prepared to pay out of your own pocket if you go through with them.

Does Medicaid Cover Tummy Tucks

Even though private insurance typically doesnt cover tummy tucks, you may be wondering, Does Medicaid pay for tummy tuck? Unfortunately, in the vast majority of cases, you cant expect Medicaid to pay for cosmetic procedures because thats not what it was made for.

Medicaid was designed to deal with situations that are medically necessary for the patient. For example, if you need to remove a malignant tumor or if you need to get surgery to manage a hernia. Since tummy tucks are typically only cosmetic, they typically wont be handled by Medicaid.

That being said, it doesnt mean that its impossible to get an abdominoplasty covered by insurance, even if it’s Medicaid. These operations tend to fall into a grey area, so youll only ever know if your operation will be covered if you get in touch with your insurers and explain the situation to them.

Of course, itll take a little more work than just asking the carrier Does insurance pay for tummy tuck procedures? Youll have to explain why a tummy tuck is a necessary procedure for you and how it will improve your quality of life and potentially even your overall health.

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Will Insurance Help Fund My Plastic Surgery

Cosmetic plastic surgery procedures are considered elective surgery and are NOT covered by most insurance plans. But some plastic surgery procedures have a significant functional or medical benefit and may be considered as reconstructive surgery rather than purely cosmetic surgery.

Dr Gittos can assess whether you may be eligible for assistance from your insurance fund.

He will then recommend that you contact your insurance company before surgery to check if the insurance guidelines are met and coverage is possible.

Does Insurance Cover Liposuction For Lipedema

One of the other major uses for liposuction is lipedema- a disorder wherein fat deposits in the body swell into the leg, causing bloating and swelling in the legs, and in severe cases, lower torso.

While this is a major medical issue, liposuction used to treat the case is almost never covered by major health insurance providers because its been deemed that the problem can be solved with conservative therapy.

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Why The Cost Can Vary

Considering the costs of plastic surgery is essential to anyone on a budget. While searching for the best plastic surgeon is a great place to start, also looking for an affordable surgeon is just as important. The expenses of liposuction surgery depend on a wide range of factors, leading to the discrepancy in price across different providers. The costs are predominantly governed by the surgeons fee, anesthesiologists fee, surgical facility charges, pre-op test fees, and the cost of post-operative medications. The location and level of experience of a provider also contribute to a large margin in the fee in addition to the technique surgeons use.

Varying factors typically include:

How Many Areas Are Being Treated

The abdomen is one of the most common areas for liposuction. Its important to take into consideration that the abdomen is not classified as one area of treatment, and even this large area encompasses multiple regions. Fat also tends to collect in deposits, meaning there might be a small number of smaller procedures that make up a greater area.

How Much Is Being Removed

The overall size of a patients body, in addition to the size of the mass being removed, is another factor to take into cost consideration.

The Difficulty of the Procedure

Experience Level of the Surgeon

As with all cosmetic procedures, the level of experience your provider has is a factor. When it comes to cosmetic treatments, you often get what you pay for.

Location of the Surgery

How Can I Get My Plastic Surgery Covered By Insurance

In the end, whether or not your surgery is covered by insurance is in the hands of your insurance provider. There are a few things you can do, though, to give yourself the best possible chance of being considered for coverage and proving that your surgery is medically necessary, including:

• Document your condition with photographs and logs.
• Keep detailed records of every visit to the doctor, hospital, or other facility that pertains to your condition. This includes any product purchases or therapies.
• Be able to show that you have exhausted all of your options to treat your condition and that surgery is the last resort.
• Obtain statements from your doctor and other medical professionals recommending that your desired surgery be performed for medical/functional reasons.
• Select a qualified, certified, and reputable surgeon and treatment facility.

The caring team at Après Plastic Surgery knows how frustrating it can be to suffer from a real condition but be unable to get coverage for treatment. If you think you may need plastic surgery that is medically necessary and are interested in learning more about whether or not your procedure may be covered by insurance, the first step is to be evaluated by one of our surgeons. Call our convenient Portland office to schedule your consultation at Après Plastic Surgery today, and let us help you!

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How Much Does Liposuction Cost

You can still elect to have liposuction surgery and pay for the costs out-of-pocket. The price will vary depending on the surgeon, the location, and the procedures. You should have a consultation with your surgeon to find the exact price they charge for liposuction.

The average cost of liposuction can range from $2,000 to $8,000 for one procedure. Some surgeons might charge a single fee for everything, while other surgeons will charge you individual fees for each step of the procedure, including a separate cost for the anesthesiologist. Be sure to choose a surgeon based on their skill and your level of trust in them, not necessarily the cost of the procedure.

Your Options If Health Insurance Wont Cover The Cost Of Your Procedure

If the surgery you want or need has any kind of cosmetic component to it, theres a good chance your health plan will refuse coverage.

What can you do if that happens? Here are a handful of options:

• Talk with your doctor or physician. See if they can help in any way.
• Contact your insurance company. Tell them your story. Explain why you need the surgery. Focus on how it would improve your health or quality of life.
• If neither of the above work, try to save up for the procedure so you can pay for it yourself.
• Put it on a credit card.
• Look into taking out a loan.

Consider the last two bullet points last resort options. Especially if the goal of the procedure you want done is to improve your appearance. As nice as it might be to look better, you may go into debt as a result.

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Insurance Coverage For Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Procedures

Insurance will cover the cost of some procedures if they are considered reconstructive in nature.

For example, breast reconstruction after a mastectomy is covered, and this coverage is now actually required by law, called the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act . A breast reduction may also be covered in cases where the patient experiences moderate to severe chronic pain as a result of having very large breasts. In addition, some reconstruction of cosmetic defects following an accident may be covered under certain plans, and repair of certain birth defects, such as cleft palate, are often covered as well.

Moreover, the surgical correction of any cosmetic defect that significantly impacts the function of the body part in question may also be covered. One example is a severely hooded eyelid that partially obscures a patient’s vision. If such a patient decides to undergo blepharoplasty, the procedure may be covered at least in part by insurance.