Abdominoplasty and United Healthcare

Hi,
Does anyone have any experience with United Healthcare and whether they ever cover for abdominoplasty? My husband's employer is switching to that plan in January, and I see that they cover 50% for bariatric surgery. I have lost weight without surgery, but I have this big blob of fat and skin on my abdomen that hangs down and creates this fold, and it doesn't respond to diet an exercise no matter what I do. When I walk, exercise, etc., my low back just aches and I realize it's because of that mass hanging there. I'm just wondering if United might cover that since it is plastic surgery.

It is going to depend on the specific coverage level of that plan.  Can you get a copy of the policy?

Red

It appears that we will have the option of a PPO or High Deductible Health Plan. I was going to choose the PPO.

You need to ask for a copy of the policy. I had United for my bypass surgery, which was covered in full. It is employer specific.
My employer did not cover plastics at all until I challenged the policy and they now cover panni removals, breast reductions, arms and legs and an tummy tuck. But it's not really a tummy tuck according to my plastic surgery.
I was able to receive my panni removal and breast reduction before my company changed policies. Long story.

My point is you need a copy of the policy details to see if this is covered. Since you did not have surgery, it most likely will not be covered since it would be considered cosmetic.

This is just my personal experience with United since I'm not in the insurance business.

Good Luck,
Hope

Thanks so much for the info. The policy covers 50% for bariatric surgery at an approved "center of excellence," but the closest one to me is in New Orleans and I don't know those doctors. I'm a nurse and where I work, we get a lot of people recovering from botched surgeries and surgical infections so I'm kind of paranoid about picking a doctor I feel I can really trust. So I'm still a little unsure about the bariatric surgery.