Reconstructive
Surgery – 90%
Benefits
are provided for the usual, customary and reasonable charges (as determined by
this plan) for services and supplies provided by a physician for reconstructive
surgery, meaning any operative procedure, any portion of an operative procedure
or any other treatment performed for the purpose of improving or restoring a
functional impairment which is defined as a state in which the special, normal
or proper action of any body part or organ is damaged.
Benefits
are not
provided for
cosmetic surgery (including any complications direct or indirect) meaning any
operative procedure, any portion of an operative procedure or any other
treatment performed primarily for the purpose of improving or reshaping
structures of the body in order to enhance the individual’s appearance and
self-esteem, and is not needed to correct or improve a bodily function. The
following are several examples of what are not covered: surgery for sagging skin
of the eyelids (blepharochalasis), face, neck, abdomen, hips, or extremities
(meloplasty,
rhytidectomy or lipectomy); breast augmentation, cosmetic reduction or uplift
procedures; reshaping of the nose (rhinoplasty) or ears (otoplasty); silicon or
collagen injections; or cosmetic laser procedures to any part of the
body.
Reconstructive
Breast Surgery
Benefits
are provided for the usual, customary and reasonable charge (as determined by
this plan) for services and supplies provided by a physician related to initial
reconstructive breast surgery following or coinciding with a medically necessary
mastectomy that is performed as a result of an illness or injury. In accordance
with the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998, such benefits
include reconstruction of the breast on which the mastectomy was performed,
surgery on the other breast to produce symmetrical appearance, and prosthesis
and treatment of physical complications at all stages of a mastectomy, including
lymphedemas.
Breast reconstructive surgery
to correct breast asymmetry is not considered medically necessary except
for:
- Poland
syndrome, in
conjunction with surgical correction of chest deformity; or
- Repair
of breast asymmetry due to a medically necessary mastectomy; or
- Prompt
repair of breast asymmetry due to trauma.
One
external prosthesis is covered each calendar year and two mastectomy bras are
covered every six months.
Benefits
are not
provided for reconstructive breast surgery
for complications arising from a cosmetic procedure such as augmentation or
reduction mammoplasty.
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