Millions of Americans would be interested in getting cosmetic surgery insurance – because millions of Americans have cosmetic surgery every year! Who is paying for all of these surgeries, you wonder? Well, there is good news and there is bad news. The bad news is that many insurance companies refuse to pay for such surgery because they don’t consider it to be necessary in the medical sense. The good news, of course, is that some insurers do cover these surgeries, because they have more liberal definitions of “reconstructive” versus “cosmetic” surgery. We’ll explain a little more for your benefit.
Plastic surgery insurance is still a pipe dream for many people. Most insurance companies still stay with definitions provided by the American Medical Association and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. According to these associations:- Reconstructive surgery is meant to overcome physical abnormalities and problems like birth defects, tumors, diseases and infections. This may include surgery to make someone look “normal” or to physically function better.
- Cosmetic surgery changes normal physical structures to improve the patient’s appearance or self-image. Therefore, this type of surgery is not considered necessary – at least, not by many insurance companies.
A prominent example of the debate over what constitutes cosmetic surgery is the current argument about circumcision of newborn boys. In recent years, many insurance companies have responded to research indicating that circumcision is not medically necessary by deciding to stop paying for the procedure. Medicaid also will no longer cover circumcision. Therefore, you should make sure that your company covers this operation before you have a baby boy – otherwise you could be stuck with the steep bill (usually at least several hundred dollars) for his circumcision, if you decide to have him circumcised.
However, if you have a relatively minor abnormality or physical challenge, like a slightly crooked nose or an irritating mole, your insurer may cover the costs of surgery to repair these problems. Make sure you check with them to see a complete list of surgeries they cover. Don’t be afraid to shop around for more comprehensive coverage from other providers.