How to Know If Insurance Covers Brow Lift Surgery

Health insurance generally does not cover surgery that is considered elective or cosmetic. Insurers must determine that the surgery is medically necessary before they will authorize payment. There are, however, exceptions. Brow lift surgery may be covered if it is done to correct a sagging brow that is hindering your ability to see. If you are considering brow lift surgery, be certain you know if your insurance covers the surgery before you schedule the procedure.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Know If Insurance Covers Brow Lift Surgery

1. Review your policy. Determine exactly what your policy covers and what it does not cover. Pay particular attention to the section on cosmetic surgery.

2. Determine what your insurer considers reconstructive plastic surgery. It is usually defined as plastic surgery done to reshape abnormal parts of the body. Reconstructive surgery improves function and appearance.

3. Determine what your insurer considers cosmetic surgery. It is usually defined as a procedure done to reshape normal structures of the body. Cosmetic surgery is considered to improve appearance and self-esteem.

4. Talk to your insurance agent about anything you don't understand in the policy. Insurance policies and their terminology are notoriously hard to read and understand. Ask your agent to clarify anything you do not fully grasp.

5. Ask your doctor if your brow lift could be considered a medical necessity. Candidates for brow lift surgery who have an excessive amount of upper eyelid skin or who have a drop of the eyebrow serious enough that it blocks peripheral vision may have the procedure covered by their policy.

Tips & Warnings

• If you feel that your brow lift surgery should be considered reconstructive, ask your doctor to help you convince your carrier.
• If you think that your insurance company has wrongfully denied your claim for a brow lift procedure, file an appeal with your state's department of insurance. Enlist your doctor's help. He is the one who should determine if the surgery is medically necessary and appropriate.
• Although rare, there can be serious complications associated with brow lift surgery. If your plan did not cover the original procedure, will it cover complications serious enough to require hospitalization or perhaps another surgery? Know what your policy states in regard to this.
• If you are claiming that you need brow lift surgery because excess skin is affecting your peripheral vision, your insurance carrier will require that you undergo a visual field test. A complete eye exam must be performed by an ophthalmologist.

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