Insurance companies need to cover liposuction for lipedema & other medical needs
Insurance companies need to cover liposuction for lipedema & other medical needs
Why this petition matters
Lipedema is a serious disease that is said to affect as much as 11% of the female population. It’s a genetic fat disorder in which both legs enlarge due to abnormal deposits of fat under the skin.
It is commonly misdiagnosed and confused with obesity even among doctors, however it has specific characteristics that differentiate it, such as pain, fat beads under the skin, easy bruising, and hyper-mobility of the joints.
With time, the patient feels more pain and can also develop chronic venous insufficiency, and lymphedema. It also severely impacts mobility, even in earlier stages of the disease.
Medical research points out that while there is no cure for lipedema, liposuction leads to an improvement in symptoms, helps patients lead a normal life, and in most cases, completely stops the progression of the disease.
However, the procedure can cost anywhere from $10k to upwards of $50k depending on the severity of the case, and it is not currently covered by any health insurance company because it’s considered cosmetic.
We, who suffer from lipedema, know that the procedure is not cosmetic. Many of us would rather stay away from surgeries, but we know that it’s the only way to live a normal life. Some of us are fortunate enough to be able to afford surgeries, but unfortunately that’s not the case for the majority.
We need health insurance companies to see us, to understand our struggle, and have some compassion. Please reconsider your position on liposuction for lipedema. This is NOT a cosmetic procedure. It is the only way for lipedema patients to live a normal life.
Lipedema resources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5533060/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6550731/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/31356433/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/31479212/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/30638291/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/21166777/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/21824127/
https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/10542/lipedema#diseaseOverviewSection
