Im just curious – how likely is it that health insurance covers redness and scar treatments? I covered all my pills, ointments and Accutane. It seems very unfair if they did not relate to the final product.
I can call and ask, I know, but Im actually kind of paranoid about it, and if I do not have to see someone on the deal, I can only guess at the details on the phone now What does 0.
insurance, scar- wise, if anything?
Reply:I have had acne for 35 years. I have spent over $10,000 on treatments for scars and still am not happy with the results. For that much money I would have expected at least a 60-75% improvement. I may have gotten a 25 – 30% improvement, if that much. As I get older my scars seem to look worse and worse.
One of the reasons that I did not get very good results from dermabrasions is that I had cysts all underneath my skin. I didn't know they were there and neither did the doc until he started taking off the layers of skin. So be wary of doctors that will do a dermabrasion when you still have acne.
Reply:I have had constant acne for 13 years and have had many surgeries (2 dermabrasions, laser surgery, etc)
Nobody ever told me they couldn't do anything as long as I had active acne.
Be careful though – most doctors (even highly reputable ones) tell us surgery helps. I have seen pictures in their offices of miracles but never had any improvement or met anyone who improved as a result of these surgeries either. Do a lot of research first.
Some of the new breakthroughs look promising but I'm holding backa bit. Have spent $15,000 + and still no improvement and my scars are not very deep either (just wide from cystic acne) I'm sure it was the result of derms injecting the cysts to reduce them. Wish I knew that back then. Would have put up with the cysts.
Reply:What's "acne surgery" in this case?
By the by, anyone heard about the new thermal treatments? I think they're still in trial mode, but they seem to be working nicely. They can also use lasers to treat acne and have been getting remissions of 3-8 months in patients.
Reply:Hi,
I go in for what they call acne surgery about twice a month (about $100 procedure) and my insurance covers it. Not sure about micro though- have not gotten there yet.
Reply:Okay, sorry, I've calmed down. I'm kind of depressed now, but calmed down.
Anyway, I'm going to find me a derm in this area and see him–not for acne treatment, just for scar/redness advice. I just hope he doesn't tell me to get in touch with that woman again! 
Reply:This woman at a cosmetic surgeon's office just wrote back to say they can't do anything until I stop getting zits. I'm absolutely fuming. Last time I checked, some of these treatments _treat_ acne. HELLO? And it's not like the zits will ever end. Let's say I stop getting acne at 50, for pete's sake. Then I get the scars treated?! I get to look like a bloody freak for the next 25 years? I think she's mental. I KNOW she's mental. She wrote back saying something about my getting my boobs done, like I ever mentioned that? Forget that. I'm trying another tactic.
Reply:I asked my dermatologist about it and he said that insurance doesn't cover surgery to repair scars from acne.
In general, I have heard that the procedure has to be "medically necessary", meaning that it's causing you a health problem. They feel that acne scar revision is "cosmetic". They don't include emotional/mental issues as being a reason for scar surgery from what I have read. It seems so unfair to me – I just don't understand it.
Reply:I went for an appointment at my dermatologist's today and we discussed micro-dermabrasion. Insurance does not cover this, and nothing we would make me think they cover any other from of scar removal.
I asked my dad about it and he said it's because it's not a necessary procedure. Neither is having acne treated in the first place I thought, but I think it's the way acne treatment & prevention is "listed" that enables it to be covered under insurance. That's my 2 cents.
- guy –
[This message has been edited by guy (edited 04-02-2003).]
Related posts:
- Accutane users: an insurance do you have? [accutane] [cost insurance]
- Accutane Users – New Insurance Plan [new insurance] [accutane]
- Do most insurances cover dermatologist visits? [insurance plans] [insurance]
- Insurance Company and taking Accutane [derm] [accutane]
- Accutane insurance? plz help [accutane] [free prescription]
August 26th, 2010 
admin 
Posted in 
Tags: 