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.