Areola Tattoos -- Covered by Insurance? Cost?

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Miller1353
Miller1353 Member Posts: 84
edited January 2016 in Breast Reconstruction

I am completing stage 2 surgery in Charleston this month. I will be ready for tattooing in Dec. Is this procedure covered by insurance? Anyone willing to give a ballpark figure for the cost of tattooing? Thank you!

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  • catbill
    catbill Member Posts: 326
    edited October 2011

    Cost???I'm not sure, but mine is covered by insurance.

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  • DFC1994
    DFC1994 Member Posts: 163
    edited October 2011

    yes,mine was covered by insurance.Mine was done at my plastic surgeon's office and the best I remember it was a little more than 200 dollars.I had it done this past Feb.Never had to have any touch ups at all yet. They told me most have to have 2-3 touch up's but I must be one of the lucky ones because mine atill look good.

    Good luck.

    Dee

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  • mawhinney
    mawhinney Member Posts: 1,377
    edited October 2011

    My insurance covered the cost. I have Medicare & Blue Cross/Blue Shield.  I assume the cost is consided part of reconstruction & therefore, covered.  Your doctor's office should be able to tell you if your insurance will cover the costs.  I rememeber reading that a tattoo artist charge $300+ for the procedure.

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  • Miller1353
    Miller1353 Member Posts: 84
    edited October 2011

    Thank you for your replies. I am glad it is covered by insurance. I would imagine that all of you had the procedure done by a plastic surgeon for insurance to pay?

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  • renee-tattoos
    renee-tattoos Member Posts: 161
    edited October 2011

    Hi demiller4

    Sent you a PM........any questions please let me know.....

    I am on staff at MUSC in CHarleston.......the 3d nipple/areola tattoo artist......

    LOVE CharlestonKiss 

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  • CorinneM1
    CorinneM1 Member Posts: 539
    edited October 2011

    I was told the following.  That if I had it done in the PS office by the PA, then it would be covered. However, the PA suggested that if I could afford it to go to an artist that they recommend for 3D tattooing.  The PS can use 1 color.  The artist can do more realistic shading techniques, but that they have been seeing that insurance will not cover it.  I am leaning towards going to the artist and paying out of pocket.  It will be right around the time of my birthday, and this is going to be my present to me.

    I have BS/BC PPO.

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  • mawhinney
    mawhinney Member Posts: 1,377
    edited October 2011

    It is my understanding that PS & doctors are required by the FDA to use medical grade dyes or pigments  which are not as strong & do not last  as long as the type of dyes used by tattoo artists. My tattooed areola done by my PS faded quite a bit in the first year.

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  • NatsFan
    NatsFan Member Posts: 3,745
    edited October 2011

    I had 3D tats done by Vinnie Myers who has done tats for quite a few women here.  Since he is not part of a doctor's office insurance didn't cover it.  He charged $350 for bilat tats, but I'm thrilled with the results. 

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  • hoopsielv
    hoopsielv Member Posts: 13
    edited October 2011

    Hi!  I just had my nipples done last Thursday.  I was told something similiar as above; insurance would pay if I went to the PS.  However, I had looked at many of the photos of the ones he had done and didn't think that they looked good at all!  I went to a cosmetic spa that was recommended to me by my breast surgeon. I had seen her photos too (the BS had a book of them from different sources) and all the ones I liked were done by this particular lady.  So yes, I paid out of pocket.  It was $600.  I would have gone to Vinnie Meyers if I could but I'm in southern Minnesota.  I'm still healing but so far so good. 

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  • jyg
    jyg Member Posts: 198
    edited October 2011

    We are planning on taking a vacation in the spring to the East coast just to see Vinnie for my tats. I figure the cost is well worth it, damn the insurance companies (who are happy to pay for Viagra).

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  • debb
    debb Member Posts: 56
    edited June 2014

    This topic hasn't been discussed for quite some time now but I am hoping to get some responses as I have quite a big bill ($2251.00) and the insurance is refusing to pay for the nipple tattooing (they denied it because they said it was a cosmetic procedure) done at my plastic surgeons office by his PA. The amount seems outrageous, I live in Delaware and could have paid $800 for bilateral tattoos by Vinnie Myers. I'm not even that satisfied with the results and am floored by the cost!! Advice anyone??

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  • besa
    besa Member Posts: 1,088
    edited June 2014

    debb- some thoughts....Have you filed an appeal with your insurance company? Does your plastic surgeon know that insurance is refusing to pay.  He/she should be helping you appeal this.   When the bill for tattooing was sent to your insurance company was it coded to show that you are a bc patient with a mastectomy and having reconstruction? 

    I have had this type of tattooing done twice - once at a tattoo artists shop and once by a tattoo artist working out of a plastic surgeon's office.  My experience was that any nipple/areola tattooing billed through a plastic surgeons office (done by a PA, tattoo artist etc.) was covered by my health insurance.  It is considered part of the reconstruction process.  (I think the price originally billed by a ps office if often negotiated down by the insurance company -if the ps participates with the insurance company).  My insurance would not cover the charges of a tattoo artist working out of their shop (but then the price billed was lower).

    I wonder if these insurance companies sometimes reject claims that should be actually be paid hoping that we just give up and go away...


     

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  • tolive
    tolive Member Posts: 1
    edited November 2014

    Insurance should pay for all stages of reconstruction after mastectomy, however, they will often deny this tattooing as cosmetic and an appeal should be done by the plastic surgeons office or a patient advocate (I always do a minimum of two appeals but most often have success with just one). Sending medical records proving medical necessity should do the trick as well as making sure that the diagnosis of V51.0 (post mastectomy), and 174.9 (breast cancer) or V10.3 (history of breast cancer) are attached to the claim. Feel free to email me at tmolivares72@gmail.com if I can assist in any way. I’d be happy to help!

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  • mhr1966
    mhr1966 Member Posts: 1
    edited January 2016

    I was wondering if you had it done and how much did it cost? Thanks

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