Tummy Tuck

Does anyone know how to get Blue Cross/Shield of Illinois to cover for a Tummy Tuck? I had Gastric Bypass surgery 3 years ago and I have a lot of excess skin around my waist. I had it before my surgery, but now that I have dropped all this weight it is worse. I put it through once with my general doctor last year. And they denied it. Any other ideas on how to get them to help? Or does anyone know of a Plastic sergeon anywhere in the world that would take a payment plan? I will be turning 45 in June of this year. And I would love to finally be proud to go outside. I just don't understand why the insurance would help cover the cost of the Bypass. But, not help cover the next sergury that is caused by the Bypass? So if anyone has any help please e-mail me. Thank you, Raine

Hi Faith ... sorry, I can't help you, but I too have BCBS/IL and will someday hope to have my plastics (I'm 2-1/2 years out, and I'll be 44 in June ... what day is your birthday?!) Kathy S. I believe has BCBS and was approved for her plastics (scheduled for April), here's a link to her profile, you may want to contact her. http://obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=S1079708056 Good luck, keep me posted! Karyn

First off, hopefully your doctor calls it the appropriate name, which I am sure he does. It is a panneectomy (or something like that). Also, most insurances won't cover something just to make it look pretty. You need a medical reason. One reason is "constant rashing" . If you develop a rash, go to the doctor and get a cream. Then again, then again. Once there is documented medical need, you will be in much better position to ask for one. As far as financing the PS, there is a group out there that does finance the surgery. I believe the interest is higher than other things, but with good to excellent vredit, you can get it financed. Matthew

Hi Faith, I had WLS 4 years ago and 3 years ago I had an abdominalplasty. All my PCP did was send a letter to the insurance BCBS/HMO IL and explain that I had excess painful skin that was giving me rashes and was making exercise difficult. They never mentioned vanity reasons and were very detailed in my medical reasons for the abdominalplasty. It was approved 100% as was my breast reduction and my lower body lift, my TT was transformed due to "dog ears". You may need to fight for it but start with your PCP and work up from there document everything and keep in contact with the insurance to make sure all steps are being followed.

Hello Faith, I just had a TT 1/19/06 my insurance companies are Unicare (primary) and BCBS of IL (secondary) Unicare denied me so I had to appeal and then they approve BCBS approve with no problem. I also had a hernia so the Plastic Surgeon wrote a letter stating that the hernia repair wouldn't heal right with so much skin pulling, Then my PCP wrote a letter on how long she had been treating me for rashes, what I used and how the rashes did not respond. We took pictures and sent everything in together. BCBS approved 100% Unicare only 60% because the Plastic Surgeon was out of network. I hope that info helps Jessie