Liposuction should be cash-flow performance

Liposuction should be for women with lipedema health insurance

Some people spend a lot of money to lose weight through liposuction. The health insurance does not come up for these costs. But for some patients the so-called liposuction according to the will of the Federal Minister of Health in the future will be cash.

Morbid fat distribution disorder

Nearly three million women in Germany suffer from a pathological fat distribution disorder (lipoedema). "This is due to a circumscribed, symmetrical subcutaneous fatty tissue proliferation predominantly the lower, in 30% of the upper extremities," explains the German Society of Phlebology (DGP) on its website. One of the treatment options is the so-called liposuction (liposuction). The costs of the therapies are currently not covered by the health insurance. This is about to change soon.

According to the Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn, liposuction (liposuction) for women with a morbid fat distribution disorder (lipoedema) to be cash. (Image: edwardolive / fotolia.com)

Disease occurs only in women

According to the DGP, the disease occurs exclusively in women. "Those affected can feel severely impaired in their quality of life," write the experts.

"This is, on the one hand, a consequence of the appearance, i. the increase in volume and the disproportion between upper body and lower half of the body, on the other hand suffer - especially in warm weather, after prolonged standing or sitting and in the evening - due to the edema of a feeling of tightness with pressure and tenderness, "it continues.

According to the information, the pain is mainly described as dull, oppressive and difficult. Localized are the lipoedema predominantly on the upper and lower legs.

The feet are usually free of swelling.

Liposuction can help patients

Liposuction is one of the ways to treat lipoedema.

But: "The costs for liposuction are usually NOT (!) Taken over by the health insurance companies, since it is not a standard benefit in terms of the benefit catalog of health insurance," says the Lipoedema Help Germany on its website.

"The amount of the costs for 1 liposuction varies from doctor to doctor and amounts to about € 3,900 to about € 5,000," explains the association.

Fast and unbureaucratic help

Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) wants to help affected women as quickly as possible and above all unbureaucratically.

According to a statement from the Ministry, an amendment to the Term Services and Provision Act has been tabled, which still needs to be discussed by Parliament.

As a result, the liposuction in lipedema by statutory order will then be cash.

"Up to three million women with morbid fat distribution disorders suffer daily that the health insurance companies do not pay for their therapy after a court decision. We want to help them quickly and unbureaucratically, "says Spahn. (Ad)