Medically necessary services are generally services that are provided to enhance one’s quality of life, physical or emotional functioning, and promote adequate development throughout the lifespan. These services should be provided only after individualized assessment of each person’s needs by a physician, or otherwise qualified professional, and the least intensive and intrusive services necessary to achieve the desired outcome should be the services that are provided.

With specific regards to plastic surgery, any procedure conducted with the primary intention of improving appearance is generally not considered medically necessary, unless it can be documented that a specific disfigurement is directly impacting the quality of one’s life. Plastic surgery procedures that are conducted to improve functioning that happen to result in improved appearance, however, can be considered medically necessary. For example, if excess scar tissue is impairing movement or causing pain, the removal of this scar tissue can be considered medically necessary to improve functioning, yet will most likely also result in an improvement in appearance. Other surgical procedures that are generally considered medically necessary are the removal of tumors, dermabrasion to improve deep scaring, rhinoplasty to improve a sinus condition, and reconstructive surgery. Breast reductions that are conducted to alleviate back and neck pain should also be covered as medically necessary under most health plans that cover reconstructive surgery.

To ensure that a plastic surgery procedure will be covered as medically necessary, there are several precautionary measures that the consumer can take. First, it is important for the consumer to identify whether his or her insurance coverage falls under state or federal regulations regarding reconstructive surgery. This can be done with a simple phone call to the insurance provider. Once this is done, the consumer can research the legal requirements regarding plastic surgery for their insurance provider. Generally state laws require more coverage than federal laws do, although current legislation being passed through the House and the Senate is intended to legally require all insurance companies to cover reconstructive surgery, and to create a more comprehensive and clear definition of the difference between reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery.

To find the legal requirements regarding reconstructive surgery in each state, click here. This website generally discusses breast reconstructive surgery, but the laws outlined here should apply to all types of reconstructive surgery. Once the consumer understands what is covered in his or her insurance policy, then he or she can go to a practitioner who specializes in the specific surgery or procedure. It is important to ensure that the medical professionals evaluating the necessity of the procedure take careful documentation, including pictures when appropriate, to send into the health insurance company for approval. Once all of the necessary documents and medical referral for surgery are sent in to the insurance company, the insurance company will decide whether to approve or deny coverage. If coverage is denied, then the consumer can request a re-evaluation of the case and use documentation of state and federal law along with physician reports to support their request.  If the procedure indeed falls within the terms of coverage and the state and federal laws regarding coverage, then the recommended surgery should be covered.

Plastic surgery has a reputation of being an expensive undertaking that’s only for the rich and famous. While it can be expensive, plastic surgery doesn’t have to be out of reach just because you’re on a budget. There are several routes available to just about anyone who would like to enhance their appearance via plastic surgery.

Plastic surgery can be aesthetic or cosmetic with procedures designed to improve the appearance of a feature that is disfigured or that is just not as attractive as you’d like. The reconstructive type is just like it sounds, reconstructing just about any part of the body that is seriously damaged in an accident or fire.

If you have health insurance, reconstructive surgical procedures may be covered at some level. Aesthetic plastic surgery, on the other hand, is considered elective surgery, or not medically necessary. Since the surgery is not necessary for the health of the patient, a health insurance policy will not cover the costs.

There are a number of variables that impact the cost of cosmetic surgery, including which state the surgery is performed in, the complexity of the procedure or how much work is needed, and of course the surgeon’s fee schedule. These variables are why you can’t just pick a procedure off a menu and know exactly what it will cost you.

The first step is to make an appointment with a reputable plastic surgeon who can talk to you about what you’re trying to accomplish. A physical examination is also required to determine what exactly needs to be done to accomplish your goal. Once you have a quote, you should seriously consider seeing at least one other surgeon to get another opinion and cost estimate. By shopping around, you’ll likely save yourself some of the overall expense. When you have an estimate or two, you can make a decision about which surgeon you feel most comfortable with from both a cost and an ability perspective.

With a number in mind, it’s now time to determine how to finance the procedure. The least costly method is to pay for the entire expense out of pocket, whether you already have the money in your savings account, or if you need to start saving. If you choose to save for the cosmetic surgery, the best place to start is with a well-thought-out budget. A budget will help ensure that you spend money based on a plan so you can save the excess before spending it on any variety of unplanned expenses.

If, however, you can’t wait to have the procedure done, you can look into financing the procedure. There is actually a loan product available that is meant to finance plastic surgery. This loan differs from an auto or home loan because it is an unsecured personal loan, which means that there is no collateral than can be repossessed in the event you default on the loan. Qualifying for an unsecured personal loan requires an excellent credit record so that the loan officer or underwriter at the bank or other financial institution has a high level of confidence that the loan will be repaid in full and on time.

A cosmetic surgery tax is being proposed in DC.  Cosmetic surgery just can’t get a break.  Not only is it often the fodder for many late-night jokes and gross generalizations about vanity, but now it faces the responsibility of being taxed to help raise revenue to cover health care reform costs.

One of the most controversial issues of Barack Obama’s presidency so far has been health care. President Obama’s proposed health care reform has been widely criticized, in part due to its expense. This reform may end up costing in excess of one trillion dollars, leading many citizens to ask just where this money will come from. One proposed solution to the funding problem is taxation of cosmetic surgery procedures.

Americans spent an estimated $10.3 billion dollars last year on elective cosmetic surgery procedures. A tax of ten percent imposed on these procedures would generate over one billion dollars that could go towards funding health care reform. Necessary procedures such as reconstructions after various cancers would not be taxed under such a bill, but would actually be tax deductible.

The idea of taxing cosmetic surgery procedures is not a new one. In fact, it has been tried in the past by the state of New Jersey. However, New Jersey lawmakers repealed the tax after it failed to bring in the estimated revenue. Only about 25 percent of the expected funds were actually raised via New Jersey’s tax on cosmetic surgery.

Critics of a cosmetic surgery tax point out that although it may at first appear to be a tax for the wealthy only, it could actually have much more of an impact on the American middle class. Many middle class women save for years for cosmetic surgery procedures, especially those that are designed to help restore the body to the way it looked before having children. Breast lifts, tummy tucks, and liposuction are all popular procedures chosen by women for this reason. While the wealthy might be able to easily afford to pay ten percent extra for their cosmetic surgery, for a middle class person, an extra ten percent could mean months or even years longer of saving up for the procedure.

Critics also wonder if a tax on cosmetic surgery procedures might not actually be gender discrimination, as men and women do not undergo cosmetic procedures equally. It’s estimated that up to 86 percent of cosmetic surgery patients in the US are female, meaning that far more women than men would be subjected to paying such a tax.

Some lawmakers in Washington deny that a cosmetic surgery tax is under serious consideration. Senator Kent Conrad a lead negotiator in health care reform talks, said he has not heard of or seen any proposal to tax cosmetic surgery. However, he did not rule out the possibility of such a tax coming under consideration in the future, but said he would need more information on the pros and cons to form an opinion on the tax.

No matter what decision is made about proposed health care reform and a possible cosmetic surgery tax, it will be a while before the US public knows what will happen. Congress has already said they will not have an agreement on any health care reform draft bills before they break for the summer on August 8, 2009. That date is also President Obama’s deadline for a health care reform plan agreement that would be finalized after the break. A resolution will therefore not come at least until Congress reconvenes in Washington, DC for the fall session, which is scheduled to take place on September 8, 2009.