Removal of Benign Skin Lesions and Scars
Cosmetic surgery and any complications of cosmetic surgery are not eligible for coverage, including any operative procedure or portion of one intended solely to improve physical appearance. Removal of seborrheic keratoses, sebaceous (epidermoid) cysts, nevi, papillomas and viral warts (excluding condyloma acuminatum) is medically necessary only when the lesion is symptomatic or has objective signs or symptoms listed in the policy, such as itching, burning, irritation, significant change in color or size or bleeding, physical evidence of inflammation, obstruction of an orifice or clinically restricted vision, clinical uncertainty about malignancy, a prior biopsy indicative of malignancy, or recurrent physical trauma that is documented to have occurred. Removal for reasons such as emotional distress, "makeup trapping" or location alone is considered cosmetic and not medically necessary.