While excess skin removal can appear cosmetic on the surface level, there are a number of health reasons for the procedure including yeast infections, rashes, back problems, and interference with physical activities.
According to Mountain View Cosmetic Surgeon Dr. John C. of Palo Alto Medical Foundation, there are a variety of procedures available after weight loss surgery, but patients need to be aware of certain facts before undergoing the procedure:
- Patients who undergo weight loss surgery, need to expect problems from excess skin and getting insurance coverage to get it removed.
- Most insurance companies cover the weight loss surgery itself, but do not cover excess skin removal.
- Proving that there is a legitimate medical reason for the loose skin removal is greatly helpful when filing the claim with the health insurance company. Skin removal for the back may be more difficult than for the abdomen, so medical documentation is vital.
- Patients have several different options of treating loose skin after weight loss surgery, and they should ask their cosmetic surgeon to provide a surgical plan that works best for them.
- Doing several different procedures in a short time span does not necessarily increase risk or recovery time.
- Patients need to be in good health and stabilized in weight for them to be a good candidate for excess skin removal.
- Inactivity during surgical recovery will generally not lead to weight gain, and patients have to wait weeks before returning to exercise.
- Patients should be aware that cosmetic surgeries done after the weight loss surgery, will generally not help them reach final weight loss goal.
As explained before, while it may appear to be purely cosmetic, excess skin can greatly diminish a patient’s quality of life and cause a variety of health problems such as infections, rashes, and back problems.
Overview of Kaiser Excess Skin Removal Claim Denial Lawsuit
Kaiser Insurance is one of the most prominent healthcare providers in California, but it has also come under fire for wrongly classifying loose skin claims as cosmetic procedures.
Kaiser Insurance was recently hit with a class action lawsuit from a woman who was suffering from loose skin after weight loss resulting from a bariatric procedure.
In a tentative ruling, the presiding California judge ordered Kaiser to stop automatically classifying excess skin removal claims as cosmetic and denying coverage to thousands of patients.
Following a bench trial from plaintiff Wendy Gallimore, Alameda Superior Court Judge Wayne S. Carvill stated that he would likely issue an injunction to Kaiser Insurance to review and modify weight loss surgery patients making sure the company complies with California law on the matter.
While Judge Carvill did not say he would make Kaiser cover all excess skin removal procedures, Kaiser should no longer categorize all such surgeries as cosmetic.
Gallimore filed the Kaiser Insurance excess skin class action lawsuit in early 2012, claiming that it denied her excess skin claim that resulted from a weight loss surgery in May 2006. She lost more than 100 lbs. and had suffered from excess skin on her arms, back, and torso.
Gallimore stated that by denying her claim despite valid medical reasons, Kaiser had violated California’s Health and Safety Code.
This Kaiser Claim Denial Class Action Lawsuit is Wendy Gallimore. vs Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Case No. RG12616206, in the Superior Court of California, Alameda County.
Join a Free California Kaiser Bad Faith Insurance Lawsuit Investigation
A bad faith lawsuit investigation has been launched into allegations that Kaiser Permanente in California is refusing to pay valid medical claims for skin removal following significant weight loss or weight loss surgery.
If you or a loved one were denied coverage for plastic surgery skin removal after weight loss, you may have a legal claim.
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