tips on getting insurance to pay for abdominoplasty

Hey guys,
It's been forever since I've posted...  I used to post all the time.
Things are going great...  My weights been stable for a long time...  down to 195 from 330!
anyway, the leftover from all the weight loss is lots of extra skin!  I'd really like to get rid of some... 
I went to a presentation by a plastic surgeon last night, and she said that it's pretty hard to get insurance to pay for a tummy tuck, but since it's due to the gastric bypass some companies will pay.
If I can say it's affecting my ability to exercise, body image disorder, intimacy issues, back pain, rashes. etc...  then perhaps they'll pay some or all...

 

anyway, any tips for me?

 

 

hey O---

it is very possible...let me tell you some things...some docs will work for you to get this coverage...there isone "famous Doc" here in houston...that will go..wow we got you insurance to cover the simple TT..but they will not pay for the sculpting to make you look right..that is an extra 10k..to me that is a gip...

MY ps cot everthing covered for regular deductiables,,,I went tot he doc every month, to get new meds for the rashes...every month...and got the scripts filled....it was a hassle..but think of it like PS on lay-away

and then I went to a dermatologist...

Go to the PS board..they have some copies of some letters that will help you get approved..

hope this helped a little

good luck

documentation, documentation, documentation. It's the only way to get an insurance company to pay for it; and even then sometimes they won't. But like russ said, get to a derm, get him/her to write you some Rxs for rashes, complain like a *****and have them write a letter in a few months saying only surgery will "cure' the rashes.

Scott

I just finished having my Tummy Tuck on 12/23/2008 and I had no problems with insurance paying for everything.  I was approved first go around without any hassle.  They took a lot of pictures with me standing sideway to show the pannus and they also took some forward shots to show it from the front.  The doctor was on my side the whole time and I really believe it is how the doctors write it up from the get go.  He made it a point to tell me that because of the gastric bypass being done, he didn't think it would be a problem getting insurance approval.  I am probably not the typical person to compare plastics with though.  I have read where many people have trouble getting their insurance to pay for this.  It is hard enough getting the ins. to pay for bypass surgery much less plastics.  I will tell you though, it will be worth every penny if you have to pay for it out of your own pocket.  I now have the stomach of a 21 year old stud.  It has done nothing but enhace my self-esteem and body image.  Totally awesome.  I would do it again in a skinny minute.  It is amazing what a skilled plastics surgeon can do in about 2.5 hours time.

Taz

hey thanks!
it gives me some hope and a push for me to get things moving...  I'm gonna be contacting the insurance to get things moving...  it just feels like plastics will help to complete the journey.  i'm so happy with how far i've come, but with this hanging pannus it just feels like i'm not done yet.

I can totally relate to what you are saying about how you feel.  For me, it was like the last hold over from my former self.  Looking in the mirror, it was a constant reminder of who I used to be.  I will never forget who I was before or how I looked in my previous overweight state, but I was ready to leave my former self behind.  

Wearing pants is an awesome thing when you don't have to worry about a fat stomach roll.  Being able to wear jeans or any type of pants for that matter, with my shirt tucked in and not worrying about people looking at some fat roll from where my pants pushed in on my belly is a very rewarding experience.  Words can't describe enough about how good it feels to have a flat stomach.  

Good luck to you and it will be worth whatever you have to do to get your surgery done.

Taz