Cosmetic Surgery
Getting insurance to pay for cosmetic surgery
It is almost impossible to get insurance to pay the full cost of a cosmetic surgery because it is considered elective. But, what most people don’t know, and fail to investigate, is that insurance companies will very often make partial payment on elective surgeries, if a portion of the procedure will have a medical benefit.
It is important to note here that we are talking about cosmetic surgery that is not reconstructive in nature. If the surgery is required to repair damage done in an accident, or other major medical event, insurance will take full responsibility for charges. It is this loophole that can often be used to get insurance to pay for at least part of otherwise elective procedures.
For example, a patient my desire rhinoplasty for purely cosmetic reasons, but if an ear nose and throat specialist can confirm that there is a deviated septum, or other structural deformity which obstructs breathing, it can often be justified as a medical procedure, and so fall under the category of reconstruction, rather than election.