Abdominoplasty and Insurance – What You Should Know

The decision to have an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) or any cosmetic surgery is a big one that often hinges on whether or not insurance will pick up the tab. Cosmetic surgery isn’t cheap. The costs associated with the procedure, tummy tuck or otherwise, do not include the surgeon’s fee, the anesthesiologist, or the fee incurred by the facility. When totaled, these fees can cause the treatment to cost upwards of several thousand dollars.

Since abdominoplasty—full or partial—is considered an elective procedure, most insurance plans do not cover all of the costs associated with the surgery. However, it never hurts to call and verify this information. If your physician advised an abdominoplasty as a recommended treatment for a hernia or another medical condition, insurance may indeed cover some or all of the costs associated with the tummy tuck.

It is important to contact a representative from your insurance company to find out if your plan covers the costs of abdominoplasty treatment, including the fees imposed by the cosmetic surgeon, anesthesiologist’s fee, and other associated fees billed by the hospital. At most, they may cover a portion of the costs incurred for the treatment, but ‘most’ is often better than nothing. Be advised that the insurance company may say that they cover a procedure then decide that they won’t cover it in the end, when you receive a bill in the mail from the surgeon or hospital.

In situations where insurance does not cover the tummy tuck costs, the patient shoulders the burden of the costs—from surgeon’s fees to hospital fees—themselves. For patients who don’t have several thousand dollars on-hand to go towards surgery, most cosmetic surgery offices offer financing to patients interested in a cosmetic treatmen, including abdominoplasty. Many of these financing plans offer reasonable interest rates for those who qualify. Before your surgery, contact your insurance company to see if abdominoplasty is covered.

For more information on abdominoplasty and body contouring procedures such as liposuction, contact our Philadelphia cosmetic surgery center.