Class action trial over insurance coverage for post-surgical excess skin removal begins!
Hi everyone! New to the forums, but wanted to know if anyone has had any experience with an insurer not covering excess skin removal after weight loss surgery. Is this just an issue with Kaiser in California? Apparently a trial began this week on behalf of 10,000 weight loss surgery patients who say Kaiser won't cover their excess skin removal because it's a "cosmetic" procedure. Would love to hear thought on this! More details in the link below...
http://blog.cvn.com/class-action-trial-over-kaisers-plastic- surgery-coverage-begins
I think most if not all insurance companies consider excess skin removal a cosmetic procedure. I do hope the wls patients win, maybe it'll open the door for other ins companies to start covering it, but I'm not holding my breath.
No one surgery is better than the other, what works for one may not work for another.
T-Rebel
if insurance companies will have to cover not only the WLS but also skin removal - not only the premiums are going to go up ,...but more companies would be dropping the WLS
Hala. RNY 5/14/2008; Happy At Goal =HAG
"I can eat or do anything I want to - as long as I am willing to deal with the consequences"
"Failure is not falling down, It is not getting up once you fell... So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again...."
It reminds me when ins companies wouldn't cover breast reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy, it was considered a cosmetic procedure back then. I believe they were taken to court & now every (I think) ins co has to cover it. I do agree that the ins companies would see this case as an excuse to not cover wls.
No one surgery is better than the other, what works for one may not work for another. T-Rebel
I'm not sure if that's what got the ball rolling, I only remember when ins wouldn't cover it & now they do. Probably ins companies will either jack up their rates, or drop it, or maybe cover it as an increased price option.
No one surgery is better than the other, what works for one may not work for another. T-Rebel
Ahhhh... had not thought of that. More will definitely drop WLS if this goes through.
Laura in Texas
53 years old; 5'7" tall; HW: 339 (BMI=53); GW: 140 CW: 170 (BMI=27)
RNY: 09-17-08 Dr. Garth Davis
brachioplasty: 12-18-09 Dr. Wainwright; lbl/bl: 06-28-11 Dr. LoMonaco
"May your choices reflect your hopes and not your fears."
on 3/18/15 3:07 am
They will remove it when the overflaps of skin cause infections. They won't cover body contouring.
"The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue." --- Dorothy Parker
"You may not like what I say or how I say it, but it may be just exactly what you need to hear." ---Kathryn White
Very interesting case. Thanks for the link. I'm curious to hear the outcome.
"Oderint Dum Metuant" Discover the joys of the Five Day Meat Test!
Height: 5'-7" HW: 449 SW: 392 GW: 179 CW: 220
