Health Insurance: Things You Didn’t Know It Covered

We all know health insurance will usually pay for a mammogram or a broken leg, but there are quite a few other things it covers that you probably didn’t know about. Let’s take a look at a few of the most common conditions most people didn’t know were covered.

Ear Pinning

If you’re a mother of young children, this is definitely useful advice. Did you know that many policy’s will cover a procedure known as otoplasty (ear pinning) for children 5 years and younger that have overly prominent ears? There’s actually no medical necessity for this procedure, but often insurance will pay for this procedure to prevent the psychological trauma kids endure in school from being teased about their ears.

The catch? The younger the child, the more likely they will pay. Usually after a child is 5 to 7 years old, they will not cover this procedure. Consult a doctor and your provider to find out whether or not your child qualifies.

Rhinoplasty

Insurance will not cover cosmetic work, but they often will pay to correct nasal deformities, such as a deviated septum or collapsed alar valve. As the name implies, a deviated septum is the term used to describe a crooked septum, or nasal bone. Because this deformity is inside the nose, many Americans don’t even know they suffer from it. Usually, you have to look inside to see the problem. A collapsed alar valve is the medical lingo which is used to describe a collapsed nostril. Both of these conditions can be difficult to deal with, especially if you have asthma or allergies.

The catch? As mentioned, insurance will only pay for deformities which are medically necessary. Also, sometimes the maximum amount they will pay is less than what the surgeon charges, so you may still be financially responsible for a portion of the costs. If you have any additional cosmetic work done, that portion of your rhinoplasty surgery will be entirely out-of-pocket. Consult a rhinoplasty forum to find out what the typical out-of-pocket costs are in your area.

Spider Veins

As we age, sometimes our veins and capillaries just don’t work like they use to. When the capillaries below the skin’s the surface dilate and cause blood to back up, it’s known as spider veins. Although these can occur anywhere on the body, spider veins on legs are the most common place. They are usually nothing more than a cosmetic blemish, but sometimes they can worsen and develop into a dangerous condition known as varicose veins – visibly larger veins which can feel achy and painful. When this occurs, health insurance will often cover treatment. Fortunately, the treatment for varicose veins is usually pretty simple. In a procedure known as sclerotherapy, a doctor will carefully inject a solution directly into the veins which will cause them to shrink and eventually disappear.

The catch? If it’s only a mild case, it won’t be covered because it’s just a cosmetic issue. But if they have enlarged and it is a severe case, insurance will usually pay because there are serious dangers of blood clotting. Ask your doctor and he should be able to easily determine the severity of your case.