Stress Incontinence: Is there Insurance Coverage
Date posted: April 19, 2009 by Helen Colen MD
Insurance companies do not cover labiaplasty procedures. Hymenoplasties and most vaginoplasty procedures are also considered elective. However large vaginal wall defects and some severe stress incontinence cases may be covered. Therefore, you should always discuss with your doctor whether the particular procedure you need is severe enough, and medically necessary enough to be covered.
Stress incontinence can be treated by an outpatient procedure where a small tape is inserted throught the vagina to uplift the urethre and give support. Sometimes a bigger operation is needed that requires hospital stay. Those procedures treat the problems by repairing the muscles between the woman’s bladder and vagina, thus increasing strength of her vaginal walls. Only your doctor can advise you.
If your doctor says that insurance should cover your procedure don’t give up if they first deny your claim; file an appeal. This time, include documentation from the doctor herself describing why this is a medical rather than cosmetic procedure. Whatever the consequences are, try to have the procedure. It will save years of embarrassment and feeling self conscious. It saves years of worrying about getting on the bus as the toilet may be so far away. It is a difficult way to live normally and enjoy daily activities.
2 Comments »Categories: Bladder control, Labiaplasty, Urinary Incontinence, Vaginaplasty, bladder surgery, hymenoplasty, labia surgery, urinary frequency
I actually knew someone who had to spend a few days in the hospital for this very reason. She managed to get her insurance to cover it, too, although I’m not sure how much of a fuss they put up. But it’s true: With a lot of things, they try to deny you first until you file that appeal.
This is something that so obviously should be covered by insurance. I’ve been around many people with this problem, and it is a huge inconvenience on their lives. It interferes with their ability to take care of themselves because, as you said, they’re reluctant to get out in public. If America truly cares about its aging population, then they need to consider incontinence as a legitimate medical issue deserving of real medical coverage.