Others may count it as optional plastic surgery that you pay for. Each person must check their plan details to know how much is covered for mole removal.
When Health Insurance Covers Mole Removal?
Health plans in America cover different procedures based on their rules. Some see mole removal as medically reasonable while others count it as an optional cosmetic step.
Here are the two situations where mole removal is covered by our health insurance or not:
Medically Necessary Mole Removal:
Typically covered: If a doctor thinks a mole on your skin might be cancerous, your insurance will likely help pay for the removal of the mole. They might use something called an excisional biopsy, which means taking out the whole mole to look at it more closely under a microscope.
Reasons for coverage: If a mole needs to be removed because it could be cancerous or might cause skin cancer, insurance will cover the removal because it’s important for your health.
Cosmetic Mole Removal:
Not covered: Health Insurance usually doesn’t pay for taking off a mole just because you want to look better or if the mole doesn’t seem dangerous. If you have a mole that you don’t like the look of, or it’s bothering you but doesn’t seem to be a risk for cancer, insurance might not cover the removal.
Reasons for denial: Health Insurance companies typically cover medical procedures that are necessary for your health, and removing a mole for cosmetic reasons might not fall into that category.
Advice for Knowing Your Insurance
The best way to know if your health plan pays for mole removal or not is to directly ask them. Every insurance policy is different in what it covers.
Call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask if they would require a fee for removing your specific mole. Knowing these details for your unique plan ahead of mole removal can help avoid surprise medical bills!