Medicare and health insurance won't pay for cosmetic surgery because it's not medically necessary — for example, surgery intended to improve a person's aesthetic appearance. However, you can get insured for reconstructive surgery that corrects abnormalities and repairs bodily function. You'll find it included in a bronze-level health insurance policy or above.
Here's a sample of policies from Finder partners that include private cover for plastic surgery. All prices are based on a single individual with less than $93,000 income and living in Sydney.
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Plastic surgery can be split into two categories:
Reconstructive surgery is performed to correct abnormalities, whether they're congenital or acquired, and repair damage as a result of trauma.
Cosmetic surgery is typically carried out to improve appearance rather than health. For example, facelifts, implants, eyelid surgery and liposuction.
| Response | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic or reconstructive surgery | 0.96% | 0.21% |
If you need to undergo reconstructive plastic surgery, you can get cover for the following types of procedures:
It's impossible to predict what the future holds and what sort of medical treatment you may require. If reconstructive plastic surgery is excluded from your cover, you could be hit with significant out-of-pocket costs should you ever need treatment.
You can also get health insurance for plastic surgery with some bronze plus policies. These only cost around $95 a month. If you want peace of mind, it may be worth switching to a policy that covers you.
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