Breast Reduction and Insurance
Denver, Colorado
In today's world of major insurance companies focusing more on making money than on providing good coverage to their clients, it is very difficult to persuade them to cover the cost of anything that is not a necessary procedure. In relation to cosmetic surgery procedures, you are not likely to have much luck having your procedure covered, unless that surgery is a breast reduction.
Denver breast surgeon, Dr. Nick Slenkovich encourages patients to apply for insurance coverage for breast reduction procedures because, in most cases, this type of procedure is a medical necessity in order to improve the patient's quality of life.
Why Insurance Companies May Agree to Pay
Breast reduction surgery, while considered a cosmetic choice for some patients, is considered a medical necessity for others. How is this possible? When a patient has excessively large breasts, their size and weight can seriously impede everyday activities and cause health issues including:
- Breathing issues
- Shoulder pain
- Shoulder indents from bra straps
- Neck pain
- Back pain
- Under breast chafing
- Feelings of shame and embarrassment
With the help of a dedicated and caring Colorado plastic surgeon like Dr. Slenkovich, you may be able to persuade your insurance carrier to help you pay for at least a portion of the cost of your procedure because it directly affects your health and quality of life.
Meeting Insurance Requirements
In order to obtain approval for payment from your insurance company, both you and Dr. Slenkovich must meet certain pre-qualifying criteria. The following is a list of qualifications that your insurance company will look for:
- You and Dr. Slenkovich must be able to prove that an estimated amount equal to one half of a pound, or 500 grams can be removed from each of your breasts
- You and Dr. Slenkovich must also show that your overly large breasts are directly responsible for your disabilities and that you have made every effort to resolve your symptoms prior to requesting plastic surgery
- Dr. Slenkovich must also provide photographic documentation that you are in need of this operation.
If all three of the requirements are met, only then will your insurance carrier consider pre-authorizing your breast reduction surgery.
However, recent changes in insurance criteria have also prompted some insurance carriers to add even more criteria in order to qualify for approval. This new requirement states that the woman applying for breast reduction surgery must be at or near her ideal weight. Unfortunately, this disqualifies many large breasted women because their breasts prevent them from being able to effectively exercise to lose weight.
Thankfully, at Colorado Plastic Surgery Center, we have formed relationships with financing companies who will work with our patients to create a loan payment plan that many patients can reasonably afford. We believe it is every person's right to obtain help for any procedure that is designed to redefine confidence and restore self-esteem to their lives. Please contact Denver plastic surgeon, Dr. Nick Slenkovich today to learn how we can help you.
