Most cosmetic surgery procedures, were originally invented as a means of correcting medical or surgical conditions. Consequently, many cosmetic procedures may be covered by private insurance under certain cases. For example:
Breast Augmentation was originally performed after breast cancer surgery. Other pathologic conditions of the breast may also be covered by insurance.
Tummy tucks were originally used to repair large abdominal wall hernias.Patients with large abdominal hernias may be candidates for abdominoplasty.
Face lifts, may be used to treat skin tumors and other skin conditions.
Dermabrasion of the face, is not only good for wrinkle treatments, but may treat premalignant skin conditions.
Eye lid lifts may be used to treat ptosis.
Liposuction may be used to treat excessive sweating (hypehidrosis).
Spider vein treatments are covered by most insurance companies, to reduce venous congestion.
Since Dr. Katsaros is a Board Certified General Surgeon, as well as a Cosmetic surgeon, he can perform cosmetic procedures AND general surgery procedures simultaneously.
Uninsured Patients Who Need Surgery Are Welcome!
About one year ago, I got a call from a primary care group that was interested in referring uninsured patients for general surgery procedures. The problem was that these patients could not afford to have needed operations such as hernia repairs, hysterectomies, gallbladder surgery, etc. at the local hospital. A typical gallblader operation at the hospital may cost $25,000 or more. Even with insurance, the co-insurance (patient) portion of this bill would be high!
The solution? We perform these services at our own facility at a fraction (about 1/4th) the cost of what it would cost at the hospital. To finance our services, we use lenders who typically charge no interest for the first 16 months.
Using the financing companies that we use for cosmetic surgery patients, our general surgery patients are financing their needed surgeries for about $5 per day.
We have discovered that financing medical care is actually much cheaper than health insurance!
For example, one uninsured lady had a neck mass which required excision. Private insurance would cost her $800 per month. The local hospital told her it would cost her $15,000 to remove it, not including the anesthesiology fee, professional fee, lab fee, nursing fee, etc.
We removed the mass for $3,000 (all inclusive). The patient financed the operation for $3 per day ($90 per month).
As far as we're concerned, uninsured patients are not a problem, they're the solution!
What we discovered is that the vast majority of uninsured patients are working class uninsured, who can easily afford their health care. It's just that they're not able to afford the high cost of health care insurance.
Health insurance companies remain profitable by syphoning most of the premiums away from actual health care, As a result, these companies under pay hospitals and physicians and reduce services to patients. Meanwhile, in order to cover the huge insurance write-offs, are charging huge amounts, so as to recoup their money from the co-insurance (patient portion) of the bill.
Uninsured patients are increasingly discovering ways to bypass the health insurance rip-off by financing their own health care directly.