[This Woman’s Success Story] How She Got Plastic Surgery Covered by Health Insurance

After years of wanting to get cosmetic surgery but not having the money, [this woman] was determined to find a way to pay for it without going into debt. She knew that she’d need to keep her plastic surgery expenses low in order to maximize the amount of money she could pay out-of-pocket, so she chose just two procedures – liposuction and breast implants – and found a board certified plastic surgeon in her area who could do them at an affordable rate.

Know your policy
If your health insurance company or employer offers a flexible spending account (FSA) as part of your benefits, you can use this to pay for medical expenses, including plastic surgery. A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is an account in which employees may contribute pre-tax income to pay for certain eligible out-of-pocket healthcare and dependent care expenses that are not otherwise covered by their health plan.

Do your research
Getting plastic surgery covered by insurance can be difficult, but it is possible. I had a breast augmentation and my doctor told me that I was going to have to pay for the entire procedure out of pocket. It was $6,000 and I didn’t have the money so I looked into my health insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions and found that they were going to cover it! They just needed a letter from my doctor saying that this procedure would fix a condition in order for it to be covered.

Find a doctor in your network
To find a doctor in your network, click on the Find a Doctor link on the home page. From there you can enter your zip code and choose to search for doctors that are currently accepting new patients or doctors that are accepting new patients from your insurance network.

Get a referral
Getting a referral from your doctor can help you find out if the surgery is covered. Most health insurance plans cover some plastic surgery, but not all. You should call or email your company’s customer service line and ask about the specifics of their policy. The most common procedures that are usually covered include: Breast Augmentation, Rhinoplasty (Nose Job), Facelift, Liposuction and Tummy Tuck. Cosmetic procedures like Botox injections or laser hair removal are usually not covered by health insurance as they are considered elective.

Have realistic expectations
It was a really big decision for me to get plastic surgery, but I knew in my heart that it was the right thing to do. I found a surgeon who made me feel confident and comfortable, and after lots of research I decided to go ahead with the surgery. When I submitted my paperwork to my health insurance company, they rejected it outright because there was no medical reason for the surgery.