What is Cosmetic Surgery -Types & Coverage under Health Insurance

• Written by Anjali Sharma

  Reviewed by Akhil Pillai

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Cosmetic surgery can offer significant benefits by enhancing physical appearance, boosting self-confidence, and addressing aesthetic concerns. It can help you to achieve the desired look, correct perceived imperfections, and help you feel satisfied with your appearance. If you are considering cosmetic surgery to enhance your looks or your body, it is a significant decision, and that should not be taken lightly. Apart from carefully considering the physical changes, it is essential to consider the financial aspect of such a surgery.

Cosmetic surgery can be expensive, and it's important to clearly understand the total costs involved, including pre-operative and post-operative expenses. If you have a health insurance policy, you might be under the impression that you can get financial aid with elective cosmetic surgery insurance coverage.  I hope that this guide will help you answer your queries like, ‘What is cosmetic surgery?’ and' What are the risks involved in cosmetic surgery? ' And ‘Does private medical insurance cover cosmetic surgery?’.

What are Cosmetic Surgeries?

Cosmetic surgeries are medical procedures that alter your natural appearance in a desired way. Common examples include rhinoplasty to enhance the shape of the nose, breast reduction surgery, breast lift, facelift, skin tightening, liposuction, etc., are all cosmetic surgeries. The primary purpose of cosmetic surgery is to enhance one's physical appearance so as to feel more confident in one's skin, or it can also be medically prescribed.

What are the Types of Cosmetic Surgeries?

Cosmetic surgeries offer individuals the ability to alter and enhance their physical appearance. Here are some popular examples:

• Botox: A treatment that aims at smoothening skin and removing wrinkles.
• Chemical Peel: A chemical solution that removes the top layer of skin with acne marks and spots.
• Facelift: Surgery to lift and tighten facial skin, reducing sagging.
• Facial Fillers: Fillers are chemicals used to cover acne dents and wrinkles.
• Laser Hair Removal: A technique using lasers to remove unwanted body hair.
• Otoplasty: Surgery to enhance the shape of ears.
• Rhinoplasty: Surgery that is done to reshape or enhance the shape of the nose.
• Blepharoplasty: This is the eyelid surgery that removes the excess skin above and below the eyelids. 
• Eyebrow Lift: A procedure to elevate the eyebrows and rejuvenate the forehead.

There are various cosmetic plastic surgeries for the face and body. Depending on your preference or the medical requirement, one chooses the process. Before going for any cosmetic surgery, especially elective ones, it is essential to understand all the effects of the surgery, including the negative side effects. There may be physical and hormonal changes as well. Now the question is, “Does medical insurance cover cosmetic surgery? Keep reading.

Cosmetic Surgery Vs Plastic Surgery

Both cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery involve improving a person’s appearance, but they have different goals and approaches. 

Difference between Medically Necessary and Elective Procedures

The popularity of cosmetic surgery has recently increased a lot. With more and more people willing to try various cosmetic surgeries, the associated expense is always a concern for many. When it comes to managing unforeseen medical expenses, a health insurance policy always comes to your rescue. Here, the question arises does private health cover cosmetic surgery?

The answer is yes. A health insurance policy covers cosmetic surgery expenses, however, there are terms and conditions associated.

A health plan mostly covers cosmetic surgery if it is a medical necessity and not an elective procedure. To better understand these terms and clauses and how does private medical insurance covers cosmetic surgery, have a look at the difference between medically required cosmetic surgery and an elected one:

We hope the above table has clarified your doubts about elective cosmetic surgery insurance. Mostly, health insurance providers do not cover elective cosmetic procedures. This is primarily because a health insurance plan aims to cover the medical expenses of an insured that are non-elective but medically required. For instance, rhinoplasty after accidental nose breakage, plastic surgery in case of burns, etc.

Depending on the chosen plan, the health insurance provider, and the coverage of the plan, a particular non-elective cosmetic surgery is covered. To understand what your insurance covers, it is best to raise a query with your insurance provider.

>>Read More: What Type of Surgeries Does Health Insurance Cover?

Let’s Wrap it Up 

Cosmetic surgeries require patience and specific post-surgery care. It is best to follow all the instructions of the doctor very minutely for the best results. There may be certain pre-surgery care that has to be done by the patient. These procedures depend on the type of cosmetic surgery being done. Whether you have opted for cosmetic surgery or it is a medical need, it is important to understand the terms of private health insurance cosmetic surgery.

As discussed above, a health insurance plan like those offered by Care Health Insurance helps you with the medical expenses of non-elective cosmetic surgeries. Our Care Supreme plan compensates for the expenses incurred towards such a surgery that is medically required owing to an accidental injury or burn. For more information, you can contact our experts or visit the official website.

Disclaimer: The above information is for reference purposes only. Kindly consult your general physician for verified medical advice. The health insurance benefits are subject to policy terms and conditions. Refer to your policy documents for more information.