Getting rhinoplasty, whether for cosmetic or functional reasons, can be a costly procedure. However, there are times when your health insurance will cover the cost of your nose job, at least to an extent.
If you’re like many of my rhinoplasty patients in Manhattan, you likely want to know this question: When will an insurance company cover rhinoplasty surgery? In this blog post, we’ll review some of the other common questions my patients have about rhinoplasty insurance coverage, so you have a better understanding of your own situation.
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Will insurance cover rhinoplasty of a broken nose?
Nose fractures range widely in severity, and some people may not even be aware they’ve broken their nose if it’s a mild fracture. On the other hand, if your nose has been fractured and you need to have it operated on, then you will likely receive the okay from a surgical specialist who will notate your rhinoplasty surgery as covered by insurance.
How do you know if your nose is fractured? Nose injuries are often accompanied by significant swelling, and it can be difficult to evaluate the nose structure when swelling is present. Swelling can even make a non-fractured nose look a little crooked. Other symptoms include:
- Bruising around the eyes
- Difficulty breathing or feeling like something is blocking your nasal passages
- Blood or mucus discharge from the nose
Does health insurance cover cosmetic nose jobs?
Just getting a nose job for cosmetic reasons is not likely something covered by your insurance. That’s because most insurance companies make a distinction between a functional nose job that’s performed for medical reasons and a cosmetic rhinoplasty done for aesthetic reasons. (You can learn more about those two types of surgeries in this post by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)
You can, however, combine a cosmetic surgery with, let’s say, a fractured nose rhinoplasty surgery to get it fixed. While you’ll still have to pay out of pocket for some of the surgery, you will at least have the anesthesiology portion paid for by the health insurance company.
Of course, insurance coverage for part of your cosmetic rhinoplasty is an important but a small part of the process. Many of my patients also have quite a few questions about what to expect after the surgery. You can learn about what happens after rhinoplasty surgery in this related blog post.
Will insurance pay for my nose job if it’s medically necessary?
There are a number of other conditions that are covered by health insurance, including nasal valve stenosis, a deviated septum, and an enlarged turbinate — all of which must be diagnosed by a surgical specialist. These are considered conditions that require surgical rhinoplasty to improve the functioning of the nose and nasal passageways.
Want to know more about getting a nose job from an experienced facial plastic surgeon in Manhattan? Call us at (212) 380-3634 for the latest insights on how to get your rhinoplasty covered, or request a consultation using our online form.