faq Insurance Issues: Are You Covered? July 11, 2012 Written By: Andrew Mueth Published On July 11, 2012 Breast augmentation generally costs between $4,000 and $10,000, depending on location. Health insurance companies define breast augmentation as an elective cosmetic procedure and do not cover the surgery. Yet “health insurance” is a blanket term, so many supplementary insurance plans pay for part of the surgery. Please Read This: Which Augmentation Incision Area Should I Use? Total Coverage: Reconstruction Women who have had a mastectomy are entitled to a breast reconstruction, paid for by the insurance company per a 1998 federal law. Zero Coverage: Cosmetic Most insurance companies deem asymmetry, self-esteem and other justifications for breast augmentation as elective cosmetic procedures, and do not cover surgery. Insurance Supplements: Health Savings Accounts and other employer-funded medical spending accounts give individuals more freedom in how to spend their money. Specific coverage varies, but many of these supplementary plans allow women to pay for the pre- and post-surgery visits, prescriptions and other expenses associated with breast augmentation. Research your specific plan to find out if you are eligible to spend your medical funds on breast implants. You Might Like This: Transumbilical Breast Augmentation Caveats: Even when insurance covers the initial implantation surgery, patients generally must pay for any further reoperations or complications themselves. And since nearly one third of women undergo at least one reoperation (link to my other article), patients must take this into consideration. Augmentation and reconstruction patients should check with their insurance company to see what future treatments will be covered. Additionally, some insurance companies consider breast implants as “pre-existing conditions,” and limit coverage or raise premiums accordingly. However, even without insurance coverage for a surgery, the operation does not need to be paid in full at the time of surgery. Loans And Financing: New companies that offer loans specifically to cosmetic surgery patients make plastic surgery a reality for the common person. Companies like Breast Implants USA specifically fund breast augmentation, offering loans in blocks from 12 to 48 months, with lower interest for patients who pay it off quickly. Payment Plans: Other times, the surgeon or plastic surgery clinic offers their own payment plans for the surgery, eliminating the third party. Consult a particular surgeon for specifics. Get A Stranger To Pay: Imagine a Kickstarter for breast implants. MyFreeImplants.com sets women up with “benefactors” who pay the surgery for them. Women create a profile and men donate—from a few dollars to the entire surgery—to fund the implants. Seedy? Perhaps. Effective? Hundreds of women per year get their new implants via the social networking site. Recommended Articles everyday living Beauty Enhancements In Other Cultures everyday living Wisconsin Well Woman Program Gets Cut everyday living Best Apparel For Breast Implants procedures Breast Augmentation After Weight Loss Surgery everyday living The Silicone Gel Implant Turns 50 Most Searched Questions What size is right for me? How much does breast augmentation cost? What should I ask my plastic surgeon? How do I find a plastic surgeon? Tags: faq everyday living insurance costs considerations pre-surgery Comments Learn More: Teardrop Implants Mondor's Cord Nipple Piercings Before And After Breast Augmentation Surgery Flash Recovery Breast Augmentation: Is It Right For You? The Sounds Your Implants Will Make Blood Test For Breast Cancer