My mom needs excess skin removed and has medicare does anyone know if she can have it paid for by medicare?

Question

she was 484lbs. to 204lbs.
she can pay some with payments but she has been disabled for 16 years and is on a fixed income. Medicare paid for the surgery but we're not sure where she can get it removed at and paid for or if that is even possible. Thanks

Answer 1

I think medicare only pays for health related cases. This surgery is elective and doesn't affect the health of your mother. You can always consult with your doctor and ask them to send all the forms to your insurance and see if they will pay and if yes what percentage of the bill. Some doctors provide payment plans and sometimes financing options.

Answer 2

The skin is elastic and will shrink some, but like the others said, this is and elective surgery and should not be paid for by Medicare. My friend lost 175 pounds and his skin eventually shrunk to his body size, it took about 2 years though. Exercise would help.

Answer 3

They "might" pay to remove the pannus, the apron of skin that hangs down over the pubic area. "If" it is causing her problems with infections. But I bet loosing that much weight she has lots more than that she needs removes.

She might consider making her payments to a savings account and going out of country to have procedures. San Jose Costa Rica has some excellent plastic surgeons. Go to Yahoo Groups and do a search for Plastic Surgery Costa Rica to find support groups for patients of Costa Rican surgeons.

Skin is elastic to a degree. However people who are morbidly obese at the degree your mom was will see just a small amount of shrinkage. One friend of mine call her post weight loss legs melted candles. The skin will NOT shrink 100% to the size of the body. People who think so do not have experience with mega obese people. Those whose skin might have shrunk substantial probably were very young.

Answer 4

I think ..now...I don't know, I am not a doctor. From what I know if she is looking to get her excess skin removed do to her dramatic weight loss.....I believe she needs to go seek a plastic surgen. No insurance will pay for plastic surgery unless if the condition is causing sever impairment and obsctructing your daily routine.

Answer 5

It probably depends on if a doctor can medically justify the surgery.

Answer 6

Yes,as long if she wants to she could, it is not mandatory that is why they don't want to take the skin off, but talk to another doctor and look at the options.

Answer 7

I hope not. That's an elective surgery and the taxpayers should not have to foot the bill for it.

Answer 8

she should contact medicare or her doctor could refer her to someone who can help, if it is debilitating then i dont see why not. hope she gets help. thanx for caring.