The cost of mole removal can vary depending on the type of technique used and other factors. It is important to note that most insurances will not cover mole removal except for a few specific conditions.
For many people, removing a mole is a matter of aesthetics or comfort when wearing certain clothing items. For others, however, moles are a symptom of other medical problems.
It is important to know in which situations the insurance will cover the removal of a mole and what the cost of this operation is with and without insurance.
Things you need to know about mole removal
The first thing to know is the two main reasons for removing a mole from our skin.
- The first reason is aesthetic: many people are unhappy with the looks of certain moles on their bodies. This aspect is especially important when the moles are located in very visible body areas such as the face, neck, etc.
- The second reason is preventive: doctors will try to remove moles on more than a few occasions because they may be a symptom of malignant or pre-cancerous growth.
The fundamental difference between the two options, apart from the medical aspects, is that the first case is not usually covered by health insurance, so the cost of removing the mole has to be paid in full.
When a doctor refers us to remove moles as a preventive measure, it may be covered by health insurance, although not all insurances cover it in the same way.
What procedures are followed to remove a mole?
There are different techniques for mole removal. The two most common are conventional surgery and laser removal. In both cases, the aim is to remove the mole and protect the area from possible infections.
There are also different techniques in conventional surgery, ranging from minor operations in which the mole area is removed and cauterized to more complex processes. Even a part of the skin surrounding the mole has to be cut off, the wound sewn up with stitches.
Before undergoing one of these interventions, it is important to know the description and the pros and cons. We can access this information through the professionals with whom we will undergo the intervention.
Remember, when it comes to an aesthetic intervention, eliminating a mole will not be covered by your health insurance in practically any case.
How much does it cost to remove a mole without health insurance?
The average cost of a mole removal procedure in the United States varies widely. It can range from $150 to over $400. This fact will depend on some factors, but the most relevant are:
- The type of mole and its size and location.
- Whether it is a cosmetic or preventative procedure
- The type of technique chosen to remove the mole
- The geographical location of the practitioner
- Whether the procedure is covered by insurance or not
When it comes to interventions covered by the insurance, the price will depend on the co-payment that has been established. There are different modalities. In the most common one, the insured person assumes a cost of between $50 and $150 depending on the intervention, while the insurer pays the rest.
Another model may be that the insurer covers a certain percentage of the cost of the intervention. It May range from 60% to 80%, depending on the type of insurance.
You may also incur additional costs with respect to the intervention. The two most usual additional costs would be:
- Care and follow-up: this would be equivalent to treatment sessions and monitoring the intervention’s evolution. The cost is usually low, although it will depend on the type of intervention.
- Analysis of the tissues removed: this is a fairly common additional cost. In many cases, the doctor will want to know if there are traces of malignant cells in the removed tissues. The average price for analysis can range from $200 to $500.
In short, if you wish to remove a mole for aesthetic reasons, it will not be covered by your insurance, and you will have to bear the cost of the intervention yourself.
If the mole is to be removed preventively, your health insurance may cover part of the costs, including part of the analysis costs of the tissue removed during the procedure.