Will Health Insurance Cover my Eyelid Surgery?
People seek an eyelid surgeon for a variety of reasons, including personal preference, aesthetic concerns, professional desires, trauma, and medical necessity. Whether your health insurance will cover your cosmetic eyelid surgery depends on your condition, the reason you seek surgery, and of course your insurance.
Eyelid Ptosis Surgery Before and After
Health insurance does not cover most cosmetic procedures because they usually are not medically necessary. Health insurance plans are there to help you when you medically need treatment, so while there are many good and legitimate reasons to seek eyelid plastic surgery, if your primary goal is to improve your appearance with no health benefit (other than peace of mind), then your insurance probably won’t cover the cost, nor should it have to. This is not to say that you should not seek cosmetic treatment or that you have few payment options; these are all points to discuss with your doctor, and you may be happy to learn that many doctors offer a variety of cosmetic surgery payment options.
How can I find out if my health plan will cover my surgery?
Health insurance does not cover cosmetic surgery. It may cover medically necessary reconstructive surgery. May is the operative word. Health insurance companies are increasingly unlikely to cover procedures that they previously did cover. This is their effort to maximize profit and minimize expenses. Examples of items that generally are covered include eyelid ptosis surgery because of vision problems, or if you have skin cancer and need mohs surgery for basal cell carcinoma, your insurance may help. To find out, call your insurance provider or read your insurance handbook. If you call, you can describe your situation and treatment desires, and also ask under what circumstances eyelid surgery is covered. Be honest and don’t try to scam an insurance provider into paying for care that isn’t really in your plan or that you don’t truly need for good physical health.
Will Dr. Steinsapir accept my insurance?
Dr. Steinsapir is not a network provider in any health care plans, so check with your insurance to find out if they offer out-of-network payment. For reconstructive surgery, you will be asked to make a good faith deposit for surgery. As the doctor is not an in-network provider, his fees are likely to be more than what is allowed or paid by your health insurance. Following surgery, a courtesy bill will be provided for you to submit to your health insurance company. However, they are only obligated according to their fee schedule. This generally means that you will be out of pocket for much of Dr. Steinsapir’s fees. The good news is that many health insurance plans do cover the hospital and anesthesia fees and part of their network. Because of how medically necessary surgery is billed, many patients are surprised to learn that they may actually save money when surgery is performed as self-pay cosmetic. If you have Medicare, you will be asked to sign a so-called opt out form that waives your right to bill Medicare for Dr. Steinsapir’s work.
I want to see Dr. Steinsapir, but my insurance won’t help.
There are a variety of ways individuals have financed their cosmetic treatment plan, including saving up or using CareCredit card, which offers care credit cosmetic surgery options. This leading patient payment program can help you to completely finance your cosmetic eyelid surgery in the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills area with Dr. Steinsapir on approval of credit. CareCredit is a great program that we are happy to offer as a service to our patients. This will enable you to seek treatment today that you can pay for in monthly installments.
Discuss Your Options
Depending on your need and condition, there is a good chance that your health insurance will cover a portion of your eyelid reconstruction in Los Angeles in medically necessary situations. We invite you to make Dr. Steinsapir a part of your treatment and healing. As a service to you, we will do our best to work with your insurance. Let us remind you that although Dr. Steinsapir may not be part of your insurance company network, we are still obligated to communicate honestly with your health plan regarding your health needs. At the same time, there are many responsible ways to pay for your treatment without health insurance. We find that if you carefully plan your treatment decisions, seek professional advice from your doctor, and keep communication open, then you will be very pleased with your decision to seek treatment from the best. Contact us today to for a private consultation with Dr. Steinsapir to learn how the best eyelid surgery available can be a reality for you.
I want Cosmetic Surgery but I don’t have Health Insurance
Cosmetic surgery can be an amazing experience when you make treatment decisions with care and thoughtfulness. Most people who obtain cosmetic procedures do look and feel better afterward, contrary to the stigma created by a few hyped, biased stories. A carefully planned, minimally invasive cosmetic treatment can improve your appearance and give you a boost in confidence. But is it financially responsible to get cosmetic surgery if you do not have health insurance?
I can’t afford health insurance, but I can afford a one time cosmetic surgery.
Here at our office for cosmetic treatment in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, we have many concerns when we hear from people without health insurance seeking cosmetic surgery including anything from Microcroplet BOTOX to blepharoplasty. Before it is reasonable to consider cosmetic surgery, we urge you to take care of your basic needs and establish a relationship with a regular medical doctor such as a family practitioner, internist, or gynecologist. Health care is a basic necessity. Without health insurance you are a single illness away from financial ruin. People without health insurance should be especially mindful of their expenses, as they are especially vulnerable to emergencies. Please, before you consider cosmetic surgery payment plans, consider funding your basic health care insurance first. The peace of mind that comes from knowing you have this safety net has to be worth something in terms of less stress and tension that inevitably will be showing up on your face in some form or another.
Today, focus on obtaining health insurance, living a healthy lifestyle, and practicing preventative health measures. Cosmetic surgery benefits many people, and you can learn more about how it may help you too, but please first find out how a health insurance plan can help you and what steps you need to obtain one. Cosmetic surgery is not a replacement for basic health care, nor was it ever meant to be. Don’t spend all your discretionary money on cosmetic surgery if you haven’t met your basic healthcare needs.
Comprehensive Treatment for Your Whole Self
We will feel in good conscience about discussing our cosmetic surgery payment plans with you when we know that you can meet your most essential needs. You, too, will likely feel better about your cosmetic treatment options if you are able to find a doctor who is the best match for your personal needs, rather than the best match for your financial limitations.
Dr. Steinsapir is counted among the best cosmetic surgeons in California and beyond because of his professional experience, leadership, specialization, and natural yet definitive results. As you research your cosmetic treatment options, please add in some research about medical insurance options. Then when you do get cosmetic surgery, you can enjoy the results without feeling the guilt of indulging in this luxury without taking care of your basic necessities.
