Can insurance cover breast implants

Answer 1

Generally, no. Cosmetic surgery is not usually covered under most insurance plans. (If we're talking about reconstruction after Breast cancer treatment that's different.)

What's more, any treatment of complications may not be covered by your health insurance. Typically, insurance companies will not cover breast augmentation or any reoperations and additional doctor visits following augmentation. Your insurance company might even increase your premiums or drop your coverage.

Before surgery, you may wish to get answers to the following questions in writing from your insurance company

• Does my policy cover the costs of the implant surgery, the implant, the anesthesia, and other related hospital costs? To what extent?

• Does it cover removal and replacement of the implants if this becomes necessary? To what extent?

• Does it cover the cost of detecting or treating a complication as a result of either the implant or the reconstruction? To what extent?

• Will there be an increase in my insurance premium? To what extent?

• Will future coverage be affected? To what extent?

Answer 2

Cosmetic Surgery and InsuranceTypically, Cosmetic surgery and all other "elective" surgery is NOT covered under Medical Insurance policies unless the procedure is of a medical necessity. Corrective Cosmetic SurgeryIn general, for an insurance company to cover a plastic surgery, the surgery needs to be deemed medically necessary. Reconstructive surgery is considered medically necessary by many insurance companies if you are receiving reconstructive surgery after an accident or an additional medically necessary surgery (for example, breast reconstruction after a mastectomy).

Nasal surgery performed with a diagnosis of deviated septum are considered medically necessary and normally some cosmetic repair is performed at the same time.

Breast reduction can be medically necessary in certain circumstances.

What is typically not medically necessary is breast implants (no previous mastectomy), face lifts, Liposuction, abdominoplasty to remove excess skin around the abdomen, etc.

Plan provisions vary widely. Even one insurance carrier can have 20 different plans available, each with variances regarding covered/non covered services. It is always best to contact your insurance company directly.

Answer 3

Some Say No

• No. There is a reason it is called "health" insurance. The purpose of health insurance is to protect individuals' health. Cosmetic surgeries are a completely different ballpark--they have nothing to do with the person's health, and it makes no sense for health insurance to cover cosmetic procedures.

• Although it seems unfair that only the rich can afford to buy their perfect body, I do not think that cosmetic plastic surgery should be covered by health insurance. Nearly everyone has something they would like to change about themselves, and if optional cosmetic procedures were to be covered by insurance, premiums that everyone has to pay would increase exponentially. Basic medical coverage would be unattainable for the general public at these rates, and society would be faced with a much greater problem than people being able to afford cosmetic surgery...

Some Say Yes

• Yea, I think it should if it is truly needed. There are many things that people need help with and if they don't have the money they just have to live with it. That's not right. Everyone should have a chance to live a full life and money should not be the thing that holds them back. They won't say it but there are some people that won't give you a job because you son't look just right or you are a little too fat for them. With money you can change that, so yes, insurance should cover it.

• I think it should, A woman breastfeeds all the children she has because its a healthier start for them and she is left with saggy boobs she is embarassed to have, it can ruin her spirit her self esteem and her marriage.
• Plastic surgery means reconstructive surgery although now a days cosmetic surgery has overpowered this term. I feel that reconstructive surgery should be under Health insurance since it is meant for improving the deformed part of the body present either by birth or because of some accident. One must be given a chance to live a healthy and beautiful life and prevent them from any kind of disgrace in society.

Others Say It Already Is if Medically NecessaryPlastic surgery is actually covered by insurance compannies but, it has to be medically necessary. Other than that it has to come out of pocket or use a medical benefit card that reduces the cost so that you're not paying the full price.

Reply to some posts can be found in the Discussion Area.

Answer 4

If you are hideously deformed in a socially limiting way (e.g. car accident, burns, facial cancers, etc), then probably yes. If you just think you could do with a face lift and you'd rather not pay for it, then probably not.

Answer 5

Cosmetic surgery is normally covered when it is necessary as an adjunct to medically necessary surgery or other procedures that are covered. For example, if, after an auto collision, one's face needed reconstructive surgery, cosmetic surgery to complete the reconstruction would normally be covered.

Answer 6

only if you need it for a medical reason. It doesnt if you just want to look nice though. However, it does depend on your insurance