Medical insurance providers don’t provide coverage for various medical procedures, cosmetic surgery is one of them.
A woman who wants to go for a breast reduction procedure, has one question in common, does medicare cover breast reduction?
Let’s find out the answer.
What is Breast Reduction?
In modern plastic surgery, there’s a new term invented called cosmetic surgery. Cosmetic surgery is a part of plastic surgery performed by skilled plastic surgeons using advanced tools and equipment.
Unlike the standard plastic surgery procedures, cosmetic surgery procedures are there to makeover a person’s personality.
Breast reduction is one of the procedures of cosmetic surgery. The procedure is performed by a plastic surgeon to reduce the size of the woman’s breasts.
In medical terms, a breast reduction procedure is known as reduction mammoplasty.
The breast reduction procedure removes excess fat from the breasts. The same procedure removes unwanted glandular tissues across the breast areas including the unwanted skin.
The same procedure fixes the position of the nipples as per the woman’s demand.
Does Medicare Cover Breast Reduction?
Does Medicare Cover Breast Reduction
Medicare is the national health insurance scheme backed by the US Government.
Citizens who have availed of the facility of this health care scheme get medical procedures and other treatment at affordable rates.
Medicare Health Insurance is designed to give affordable medical services and no additional services.
Since Breast Reduction is a cosmetic surgery that is not necessary, Medicare doesn’t provide any type of coverage for any cosmetic surgeries.
In some cases, if the breast reduction procedure is medically needed, then it may be covered by Medicare under certain conditions.
Your medical provider will give you proper documentation to show the necessity of this procedure.
You have to show proper evidence of breast reduction and its necessity, only then you will be provided with coverage under the Medicare scheme by the US Government.
There have been cases registered against surgeons who have provided wrong evidence and provided coverage for breast reduction and other cosmetic surgeries under the Medicare Scheme.
How do I know if I am eligible for Breast Reduction surgery?
Does Medicare Cover Breast Reduction – How do I know if I am eligible for Breast Reduction surgery
To get the coverage under Medicare Scheme for breast reduction, you need to provide medically approved documents.
If breast reduction surgery is medically necessary for a woman, only then she will get the coverage under the Medicare Scheme.
As per the previous surveys, if the woman is suffering from one of the following conditions, then she will be eligible for breast reduction under the medicare scheme.
#1. Daily physical activities affected
Large breasts can put up the extra weight on the shoulders and other parts of the body which restrict the woman from doing their physical activities properly.
If you feel heavier with large breasts, and want to reduce their size and weight, then you should be eligible for the breast reduction treatment.
#2. Chronic back pain
Back pain is the most common issue that every woman with large breasts faces. Large breast causes persistent back pain as they put up the extra weight on the shoulders and back area.
#3. Skin irritation
Large breasts require heavy-duty undergarments. Undergarments are made from different materials which include wires and elastic equipment. This causes skin irritation.
#4. Skin infections
Large breasts cause excessive sweat as they cover up a large area of the chest. Excessive sweat due to large breasts creates skin-related problems i.e. skin infections.
If the skin infection became persistent, then you can go for breast reduction under medicare.
Are there any medicare item numbers for breast reduction?
There are three item numbers associated with breast reduction in the medicare health care scheme. Here’s the list of all the three-item numbers which you can avail yourself of if breast reduction is medically necessary.
#1. 45520
45520 is also known as reduction mammaplasty. This method includes surgical repositioning of the nipples due to breast cancer or any other diseases developed in the woman’s breasts.
#2. 45522
45522 is yet another method known as reduction mammaplasty. Unlike the 45520 methods, here there is no need for surgical treatment. It’s a nipple repositioning procedure without surgical requirements.
#3. 45523
45523 is bilateral mammaplasty for repositioning of the nipples. This method is performed on a woman who is suffering from persistent back pain and shoulder pain due to large breasts.
The Bottom Line:
Medicare Health Care Insurance is completely different from the health care insurance policies provided by private companies.
This health insurance policy provides coverage against all the major medical treatments at affordable rates.
Breast Reduction is not a medically necessary procedure for every woman having large breasts.
However, the same procedure is covered by Medicare under certain conditions mentioned in the above article.
Study well about the medicare insurance coverage, the conditions, and other related information before going for the breast reduction treatment.
See Also
Breast Reduction Surgery Grants
Does Medicaid Cover Breast Reduction
Is Eliquis Covered by Medicare
Does Medicare Cover Nursing Homes
Lap Band Surgery Cost Without Insurance
Does Medicare Cover Long Term Care?
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