Tummy tuck-insurance coverage

Hi everyone. 

 

Im about 18 months out and have lost about 110 and I have stayed pretty much at steady weight  for a while.

 

For the past couple of weeks,  I've been having issues with my belly button. It's extremely deep and my skin hangs over. Ive been experiencing frequent infections. Very painful,  red,  itchy,  stinky,  the works. Im able to put athletes foot cream in there (anti-fungal stuff) and it usually clears up within a few days. 

 

Has anyone had experience getting surgery to remove excess skin for this issue? I'm not looking for a completely flat tummy. My husband is the only one to see,  and he doesn't care. Lol. Just mainly to stop this obnoxious issue. 

 

Thanks!

If you're interested in getting insurance to cover skin surgery, work with your PCP to document the incidents and treatments.  I don't know how much or how long you'll have to document the issues, but it's definitely the place to start.  I know one lady in my support group that got a brow lift paid for by insurance because skin had started to droop over her eyes which is regarded as a hazard to vision.  

Good luck!

Jen

Definitely get to your PCP or dermatologist and get this documented.  Then talk to your insurance company and see what they say!

I have a similar belly button thing going on.  It comes and goes, but is annoying :P

I had a LBL paid for by my insurance company, and a upper body lift (it's was more like a mobile removal...but my doctor extended the scar under my arm to get all the excess skin).....I had a good dermatologist that was willing to see me every month to go over my skin issues, and submit a letter to my insurance company regarding the need for the surgery.

It was approved without any issues. They denied my though lift and arm lift though.....so sadly it does not work in every case...but I got about 30k+ worth of plastics for a very small copay....and because insurance paid for it, I had the surgery in a hospital with a 2 night hospital stay....they reimbursed me for a lift chair retail and sent in a CNA to help with recovery and a PT to work me out. I know those sound like "minor things" but those minor things made my recovery SO much easier.

Scott

You had great insurance. 

True. But I think that if you can make a case for it, most insurances will pay for some of it.

I think "most" is a stretch, given the number of stories here I've read about policy exclusions and/or denials. But that's just anecdotal.

I agree. I have been a part of the bariatric community for 9 years now and those that get insurance coverage for skin removal seem to be the exception and definitely not the rule.

When did you get yours done?

2008