As we age, the muscles supporting our eyelids weaken, causing the eyelids to stretch. Subsequently, excess fat will gather underneath the stretched skin, causing droopy upper eyelids, eye bags, and sagging eyebrows. This will interfere with your side vision, particularly the upper parts of your peripheral vision. Luckily, blepharoplasty helps to rectify this problem.
Apart from eliminating these vision problems, blepharoplasty gives your eyes a younger look, making you appear more alert. If you are considering having this procedure, you need to figure out how you will finance it. One of the common questions asked by blepharoplasty patients is: Can insurance cover it? The reality is that most insurance companies don’t cover cosmetic surgery.
However, there are certain instances where your insurance provider might be compelled to cover your eyelid surgery.
Your Vision Severely Affected
Sometimes, your upper eyelids could be sagging so severely that they completely block your vision, interfering with your ability to carry out everyday activities. If you have vision obstruction, then your insurance company might consider your blepharoplasty is medically necessary. But for them to cover you, you have to provide a doctor’s note and images of your eyes to prove your case. Although it is not guaranteed that your insurance provider will cover your surgery, you should try as much as possible to demonstrate the need to have the surgery to enhance your vision and quality of life.
Another Related Medical Condition
Although age is the number one cause of sagging eyelids, sometimes the problem could be other underlying medical conditions such as thyroid eye disease and chronic eye dermatitis. If you are suffering from any of these diseases, your insurance company might cover your eyelid surgery. Again, you have to provide a doctor’s report to prove that you have an underlying medical problem.
It is important to note that most, if not all, insurance providers require proof of vision obstruction and related medical conditions to decide if you are qualified for the coverage. They will also order a vision test by a qualified and board-certified eye doctor. If the results prove you have a visual impairment, your doctor will take pictures of your eyes and send them to your insurance provider. Your coverage plan determines whether the insurer covers all or a part of the cost of your blepharoplasty. Either way, you need to discuss with your doctor the available payment options.
