Are breast lift surgery covered by insurance?
If you’re considering breast lift surgery, you might be wondering if it’s going to cost you a fortune. Luckily, many insurance companies cover this procedure.
Breast lift surgery—also known as mastopexy or breast reduction—is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in the United States. In fact, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), more than 300,000 women have undergone breast lifts since 2017 alone! But while more women are choosing to undergo this procedure than ever before, many still wonder if they’ll have to pay out-of-pocket for their surgical costs.
Fortunately for those who want their breasts back in shape and looking great again, there’s good news: Breast lifts are often covered by insurance. Here’s what you need to know about getting a breast lift covered by your health plan:
In this article we will provide information on what makes a breast lift medically necessary and what insurance covers breast lift
Does Insurance Cover Breast Lifts?
In general, each specific insurance company determines what procedures they will or will not cover. The biggest factor insurance companies consider is whether the procedure is reconstructive or cosmetic in nature. The American Medical Association (AMA) defines these as follows:
Reconstructive surgery refers to procedures performed to correct trauma, developmental defects, infection or disease. Reconstructive procedures focus on improving function or normalizing appearance of the patient.
Cosmetic surgery refers to procedures that are focused on improving the aesthetic appearance of the face or body to improve a patient’s appearance or self-esteem.
Many insurance companies, however, can interpret the above definitions differently depending on the specific procedure and situation. Due to these variances it is very important to contact your insurance provider and discuss how your procedure will be classified. While plastic surgeons (and their billing representatives) can counsel you on the potential for insurance coverage it’s always best to go to the source.
In general, breast lift surgery is considered cosmetic in nature and is not likely to be covered by medical insurance. For such a procedure to be approved, medical necessity would have to be demonstrated. There are some circumstances where back/neck/shoulder problems can be traced to very enlarged breasts and a case of medical necessity for breast reduction surgery has successfully been made. But if you are just losing the battle with time and gravity, you should not expect a breast lift to be covered by your health insurance.
If you are interested in breast lift surgery in Gainesville, contact Dr. David W. Allison at 703-754-8228 or mdallison.com to schedule a consultation. Dr. Allison will evaluate your specific areas of concern and let you know if your desired surgery may be deemed medically necessary and possibly covered by your insurance.
What does a breast lift cost? Does insurance cover breast lifts? If you’re thinking about getting a breast lift soon, you may want to check with your insurance. Because many insurance companies consider breast lifts to be cosmetic procedures, they’re almost always not covered by medical insurance. This means you will likely find yourself on the hook for the cost of the procedure.
In fact, there are only a few exceptions where insurance might cover a breast lift procedure, including the following:
Congenital deformity or tuberous breast deformity.
Reconstructive surgery after cancer procedures, such as a mastectomy.
In rare cases, health insurance companies may also cover some or all of the cost of a breast lift if you’re undergoing a breast reduction procedure to drastically reduce the size of your breasts. At the end of the day, whether your insurance covers your procedure depends on your individual insurance plan.
Insurance plans vary from person to person and company to company. If you’re unsure what’s covered under your medical insurance plan, contact your insurance company for verification prior to scheduling a breast lift, so you avoid any expensive surprises.
If you’re one of the many women having to undertake the cost for your breast lift yourself, you may be wondering how to pay for it. After all, like many other plastic surgery procedures, breast lifts can be expensive. However, there are a few breast lift financing options to consider when planning out how to pay for your procedure. Take a look at the following:
Explore Your Doctor’s Financing Options: Many doctor’s offices offer generous financing options and payment plans to help patients with their bills. A benefit of this method is that payments made after a deadline won’t harm your credit score. Additionally, many offices will work with you to find a financing option that works well with your budget.
Get a Medical Credit Card to Cover the Price of Breast Lift: Medical credit cards are becoming increasingly popular, and rightly so. Many cards on the market offer 0% introductory interest rates and can be used for virtually every type of medical expense. At the office of Dr. Elizabeth Harris, we offer a medical credit card known as CareCredit. Like many medical credit cards, the CareCredit card makes it easy for you to pay for medical and beauty procedures, including breast lifts. However, if you choose to use a medical credit card to pay for your breast lift, make sure to have a repayment plan in mind, so you avoid getting bogged down with debt.
Tax Deductions: If your breast lift or augmentation is meant to correct a deformity caused by a medical condition, such as breast cancer, the IRS may allow you to deduct all or part of the procedure. The amount depends on your income and various other factors.
Start Saving: Despite it being a long-term option, saving up for the procedure is a good choice because it won’t require you to take on debt. If you’re serious about getting a breast lift and saving money, consider getting a second job or cutting back on certain expenses until you reach your savings goal.
Sign Up for a Third-Party Loan: Third-party loans involve getting money from another entity, such as a financial broker, or by arranging financing with your doctor to pay for your breast lift. It’s an ideal option if you’re struggling to get your hands on a credit card or another type of loan. However, interest rates on third-party loans tend to be high, so a solid repayment plan is required to avoid debt.
If you’re unsure what option is right for you or if your insurance covers breast lifts, give the office of Dr. Elizabeth Harris a call in San Antonio, Texas. We would be more than happy to discuss your options in greater detail, so you can get the breast lift you’ve always wanted.
WHEN IS A BREAST LIFT COVERED BY INSURANCE
A breast lift is covered by insurance in rare cases. In most cases, breast lift surgery is considered a “lifestyle choice”, and elective, rather than a “medical necessity.” For this reason, a breast lift is not typically covered by insurance companies.
However, if you are seeking a breast lift or require a breast lift to allow for the asymmetry procedure of the contralateral breast following breast reconstruction surgery for breast cancer, then insurance will cover this surgery.
With that in mind, it should be noted that breast lifts do not cause cancer themselves. There are several stories online about patients’ breast lifts leading to positive mammography results. Thus the questions of whether breast lifts can cause cancer became more common for potential breast lift patients to ask. However, you should know the answer is NO, a breast lift cannot cause cancer.
Newport Beach board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Arian Mowlavi, shares with his patients that health insurance does not typically cover the cost of cosmetic surgery, such as a breast lift unless the breast lift is done as a part of a mastectomy reconstruction.
All costs can be discussed with your insurance company in the case that you would like to know clearly which procedures will be covered and which costs you would pay.
The patient’s breast lift you can see here was not covered by insurance. This case demonstrated here is a bilateral breast lift and augmentation to correct sagging breasts and a slightly lowered nipple placement.
If you are interested in finding a top Newport Beach board-certified plastic surgeon, then know that body contour and breast lift specialist Dr. Arian Mowlavi at Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Institute offers both in-person and virtual, complimentary consultations for patients to discuss your breast lift goals.
Please see this 39-year-old female status post bilateral breast lift and breast augmentation with moderate profile 270 cc silicone implants.
What Makes A Breast Lift Medically Necessary
It will be seen as a medical necessity if your breasts are creating any health complications, such as pain, skin chafing, inflammation, or infections, and the breast lift is thought to be the only method to resolve these problems.
What Insurance Covers Breast Lift
Breast lift surgery is typically seen as cosmetic, thus health insurance is unlikely to pay for it. You would need to demonstrate the procedure is medically necessary in order for insurance to authorize breast lift surgery as a covered procedure.
Insurance has occasionally paid for breast reduction, a typical operation like a breast lift.