Breast Coverage Health And Its Endowments
Having well-endowed breasts is normally considered a blessing for most women. Yet, some consider it a burden. Having too large breasts can impact them to the point of not being able to perform daily activities, such as exercising or running. And it can literally cause unending pain - surgery is much needed in that case.
Unfortunately, despite existing scientific studies that outline the medical necessity for breast reduction, many insurance companies are denying thousands of women the procedure each year because of rigid, unfounded conditions to secure coverage.
In a study presented at the conference of American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) last 2006 in San Francisco, it was pointed out that people often think breast reduction is an elective cosmetic procedure. But the sad truth is that majority of women seeking this surgery are legitimately debilitated by their breasts.
The same paper criticized the criteria most insurance companies are using, which is not supported by medical literature and eliminates a large number of women from coverage, forcing them to fend for themselves.
Most insurance companies require patients to exhibit specific signs and symptoms prior to approving breast reduction as medically necessary. The amount of tissue removed to relieve symptoms associated with overly large breasts is the most controversial of all insurance criteria.
The authors of the study reviewed the breast reduction policies of 87 health insurance companies. Despite contrary medical studies, 85 companies require a minimum amount of tissue to be removed to cover the procedure, and 49 of these companies require a minimum amount to be removed independent of the patient's height and weight.
According to other related studies, although most patients have a one-and-a-half to two cup size reduction, the amount of tissue removed, body weight, level of obesity, or bra cup size do not affect the benefits that patients receive from breast reduction.
Meanwhile, in order for a woman to avail of a breast coverage health insurance reduction, she must exhibit all of the following symptoms: back, neck, shoulder, and arm pain; rashes; bra strap grooves; and numbness in the upper torso. However, it was found that while most patients suffer from many of these symptoms, rarely do they exhibit all.
Most patients are women between 30 and 50 years old who have had upper skeletal pain for years. Many of them have tried various treatments, including physical therapy and pain medications, to manage the pain before turning to breast reduction. Still, many of these women are turned away by their insurance companies because a breast coverage health insurance reduction is not part of their health policies.
To avoid getting any headache with all the medical expenses aside from the physical pain, check whether you need a breast reduction as a necessary procedure to end it all. Next is to find out how your insurance carrier treats such matters by discussing it with your physician. Your doctor will certainly know what kind of health problems you have now or risk having in the future. Ask your doctor for information on all the options, and determine whether the doctor believes that breast reduction is medically necessary. If so, you and your doctor can talk to the insurance company to find out whether it will be covered by the plan. You may have to get a second opinion to confirm or disprove the findings.
After all, if you are suffering from pain or other problems resulting from large breasts, chances are that the insurance plan will want to help you. By covering breast reduction, you might avoid other, more costly health problems in the future. Work with your insurance company and your doctor toward a solution, so you could avail of a breast coverage health insurance reduction.
Based on an ASPS statistics, more than 114,000 breast reductions were performed in 2005 alone, which shows the seriousness of situation.
But put away the gravity and you will realize that there is actually a great opportunity for insurance sales people to offer health insurance to those who need them, i.e., through health insurance leads.