Breast Implant Problems Lead to Insurance Complications

How sick does a woman have to get before her insurance company will pay for surgery to remove her breast implants? The answer is far from simple, especially given the fact that doctors disagree about whether certain illnesses should be blamed on the devices.

• Medical Necessity? Some insurers cover removal costs if the procedure is deemed medically necessary. Easy cases involve chronic pain in the breasts. The decisions are trickier when women assert that the devices caused autoimmune deficiencies.

• Research Recommended: Advocates are urging plastic surgeons to vouch for their patients who suffer from side effects common to many implant ...