Will My Plastic Surgery Be Covered by Insurance?
The prospect of undergoing cosmetic plastic surgery can be very exciting. Everyone has individual areas of concern that can make them self-conscious about their appearance, and the chance to finally address and correct those issues generally fills people with joy. Unfortunately, this can sometimes make it easy to forget that cosmetic plastic surgery is also an investment and that a little financial planning might be necessary in order to make everything come together. Perhaps that is why one of the most frequently asked questions we hear from our Atlanta Plastic Surgery patients is whether or not their plastic surgery procedure will be covered by their health insurance. At Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C., we make every effort to work with our patients at every stage of their plastic surgery journey to help them meet their individual aesthetic goals, and we know that the answer to this question is often more complicated than many people might think.
The primary reason why people are unsure whether plastic surgery can be covered by health insurance is because the rules tend to change on a case by case basis. Take, for example, the distinction between reconstructive and cosmetic procedures. Most of the procedures that repair damage caused by injury or disease, like facial reconstruction after a car accident or breast reconstruction after a mastectomy for the treatment of breast cancer, will be covered by most health insurance providers. However, even the rules governing coverage of reconstructive procedures have changed a number of times in recent years for certain providers, so every patient should understand the details of his or her own insurance plan. For the purposes of reconstructive plastic surgery, all of the Atlanta Plastic Surgery surgeons currently accept Aetna®, Tricare®, Blue Cross Blue Shield® (BCBS), Humana®, Kaiser Permanente®, and Piedmont-WellStar. Some of our physicians are also contracted with other insurance companies, like Cigna® or UnitedHealthcare® (UHC), on an individual contract basis as well. Note, however, that this list is subject to change and while all of these insurance companies are accepted, not all physicians are considered in-network for all plans, so this is no guarantee that a specific procedure will be covered.
On the other hand, cosmetic procedures that provide only aesthetic benefits and that are not medically necessary, like a breast augmentation or face lift procedure, will almost never be covered by insurance. In rare cases, however, exceptions can sometimes occur. For example, breast reduction surgery, which is typically considered a cosmetic procedure, may be covered in specific instances where size and weight of the breasts is causing severe back pain. It is important to understand that the various insurance laws and requirements are subject to frequent changes, and every insurance provider offers a variety of different plans, so the determination of coverage will ultimately be made by each provider on a case-by-case basis. This is why it is so important that you discuss with your individual Atlanta Plastic Surgery physician whether or not they can accept your specific insurance plan and whether your plan will cover the procedure you want. Even though Atlanta Plastic Surgery will happily assist patients in contacting their insurance companies, it is up to the individual to understand the specific details of their plan.
Finally, in cases where insurance will not cover your procedure, Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C. also offers several plastic surgery financing options through either the Care Credit® or Alphaeon™ financing programs. These will allow you to establish a line of credit that can then be used on virtually anything from minimally-invasive anti-aging procedures to full body contouring plastic surgery and more. During your plastic surgery consultation we can discuss all the options that are available and work with you to find the one that best suits your individual needs. If you are interested in learning more about any of the cosmetic plastic surgery procedures we perform or the financing options that we can provide, please contact Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C. to schedule an appointment for a full plastic surgery consultation. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest plastic surgery news.
