Are There Ways to Have the Government Pay for your Cosmetic Surgery?
Surgery is an expensive endeavor, no matter what you’re having done. And when you’re having some sort of plastic surgery, it can be even more so. While many traditional health care insurance plans can cover a part of the bill, government health insurance plans like Medicare and Medicaid are a little different. What you might want to realize is that there are instances in which you can have the government pay for your cosmetic surgery.
If you can prove to the government that your cosmetic surgery is medically necessary, then it’s probable that your bills can be covered. There are specific guidelines that your condition must follow and that your doctor must follow in order to prove the necessity of your surgery. Getting a copy of these guidelines and having a Medicare or Medicaid customer service representative explain them to you is your first step toward getting those bills taken care of.
But the next step is talking with your doctor to see if they also believe the surgery is medically necessary. If they do, they can document this necessity in your medical records, thus building a case for your medical bills to be paid. When your doctor does not agree that the surgery is medically necessary, you might have a harder time getting the government to foot the bill. Also, if you’ve never seen a doctor previously for the condition that you need the plastic surgery for, you may have a hard time establishing the presence of a medical problem that needs to be corrected through surgery.
By taking the time to learn the rules of the government as well as to have the supporting documentation ready for the government to see, you can get those bills covered.
Thanks for your article. One additional point to consider for patients is the term “medically necessary” This terms only requires that the surgeon fix the problem. For example if you are have a breast reduction in order to medically “fix” the concern (back pain, groves in the shoulder) you will have tissue removed. No promise that the nipples will be even, the size will be proportionate or any other cosmetic concerns. I advise my clients that whoever pays for the surgery has the most say over how it is done. I’m an independent patient consultant for plastic surgery. AngelaSegal.com
Comment by Angela Segal — February 21, 2008 @ 3:17 pm