Medicare and tummy tucks ????

Hi,
I am 6 months post op and it will be awhile until I think about a tummy tuck , but I was wondering if  anyone who had medicare only, ever managed to get a tummy tuck covered ? I have a huge overhanging shelf of a belly and in time it is only gonna get worse ( not kidding here)
I have the rashes etc plus alot of back problems in addition.
If anyone knows whether or not Medicare has ever covered their panni removal I'd love to know.
If not I guess I will have to save some money or sharper the ole kitchen knife ...lol
Thanks, Sandra

Hi Sandra,

I can't directly answer your question, but I will tell you that you might want to cross post this question to the main board and the insurance forum where you might be casting both a larger and a more focused net that might get you some knowledgeable answers.

Be sure that you don't self-treat rashes and infections. It's important that you have medical documentation of all of the issues associated with the additional skin.

My guess is that if they do cover anything at all, it would be limited to the removal of excess skin and not a tummy tuck per se.

Wishing you all the best,

Barb

I know someone on Medicare that managed to get medicare to pay for the panni removal. She said it would not pay for the muscle tightenting.

She has a long history of back pain and back surgery.

I do not know what she had to go through to get coverage.

Belinda

Thanks Belinda for the reply...that, at least gives me some hope for the future.
Sandra