Removal of Excess SKin

gzus7freek
gzus7freek Posts: 494 Member
edited January 5 in Health and Weight Loss
Does anyone know of any way to have excess skin removed on a payment plan, or how to get the insurance to pay for it? I have a LOT and I know once I finish with my weight loss there will be even more, however my insurance would not pay for anything weight loss related. They say it is all cosmetic and will not cover it.

If you had skin removed and had to pay for it, how did you do it? Took out a loan, the kindness of the doctor, etc....really do not know where to start with this one!

Replies

  • LesliePierceRN
    LesliePierceRN Posts: 860 Member
    There are medical guidelines for removal of skin, but for example, your belly skin must overlie your mons (in laymans terms, your belly skin must hang down past your privates). Some physicians have payment plans, but I'm betting it's not many. I work on a surgical floor and see these surgeries from time to time, and the people I know that had this done saved the money up for it first and paid it in full.
  • Shannonpurple
    Shannonpurple Posts: 268 Member
    There is a credit card know as Care Credit it is a credit card that most doctors accept.

    http://www.carecredit.com/
  • supertracylynn
    supertracylynn Posts: 1,338 Member
    I know here in Southern California, there is a specific line of credit for veterinary bills, dentistry, and cosmetic stuff. It's called Care Credit and is accepted by a lot of cosmetic surgeons.

    ETA, I should have read the above post, LOL!
    As a side note, I have a line of credit through them because my dog almost died, so that helped get him back to okay, then I had some dental stuff added to it.
  • JuliesZenpuppy7400
    JuliesZenpuppy7400 Posts: 127 Member
    Not sure if this is much help but there is a surgery that is NOT a tummy tuck (cosmetic) but just a skin removal surgery for medical reasons. When I was told about it I was told that insurance would cover the skin removal surgery but NOT the cosmetic surgery. So, it just needs to be billed the right way. But I can't remember exactly what it is called right now. I will see if I can find something on the internet. I too am going to NEED the surgery and have concerns of how it is going to be covered. When I get to my goal weight I will be at a 230 pounds loss so you can only imagine how much I'm going to NEED it.


    Ok, I went and did some research and may have answered some questions for both of us :happy:!!!!

    The surgery for just skin removal is called Panniculectomy versus Abdominlplasty which is basically a tummy tuck. With the Panniculectomy they only remove fat and skin and what I have been told is that most insurance will cover this where as they won't cover the tummy tuck. I say talk to your insurance and your doctor and go from there. Best of luck to you!!! :smile:
  • wizbeth1218
    wizbeth1218 Posts: 358 Member
    If you have a high deductible health plan, you can set up a Health Savings Account (HSA). If you don't have a high deductible, you might check to see if your employer offers a high deductible health plan (HDHP). And then you can set up an HSA.

    A lot of letters, I know.

    With an HDHP, you can put aside money into your HSA. It comes out *pre-tax*. So you will still be paying for your surgery, but you will not be paying tax on that money before you pay it to your doctor. Also, HDHPs tend to cover more things than traditional HMO or PPO plans. So if your employer's traditional plan does NOT cover the skin removal surgery, then the same employer's HDHP option MAY cover it. You would still be subject to the high deductible, but if you are planning ahead you could put that money aside little by little, tax-free.

    Ok, this concludes the super-fast lesson in health insurance. ;)
  • gzus7freek
    gzus7freek Posts: 494 Member
    Thanks for all the great info! This will help me get going toward the right direction!

    THANKS

    :laugh:
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