Microdermabrasion is not covered by insurance. Every major insurer and state Medicaid program that has published a policy on this procedure classifies it as cosmetic for all indications, meaning there is no diagnosis or medical condition that qualifies it for coverage. This applies whether you’re treating acne scars, sun damage, fine lines, uneven skin tone, or any other skin concern.
Why Insurers Classify It as Cosmetic
Health insurance plans draw a hard line between procedures that are medically necessary and those considered cosmetic. Microdermabrasion falls entirely on the cosmetic side. Maryland Medicaid’s clinical criteria state it plainly: “Microdermabrasion for the treatment of any indication is considered cosmetic.” UnitedHealthcare’s policy lists the procedure code for microdermabrasion among services that “do not improve a Functional, Physical, or physiological Impairment” and excludes them from coverage outright. Aetna treats it the same way.
The reasoning comes down to depth. Microdermabrasion only affects the outermost layer of skin, using fine crystals or a diamond-tipped wand to gently exfoliate. It doesn’t reach deep enough to treat precancerous growths, remove significant scar tissue, or address any condition that insurers recognize as a medical problem requiring surgical intervention. Because of that limited scope, no insurer has carved out a medical necessity exception for it.
Dermabrasion Is Different
This is where people sometimes get confused. Standard dermabrasion, a more aggressive procedure that removes deeper layers of skin, can be covered by insurance in narrow circumstances. The two procedures share a name but differ significantly in intensity, recovery time, and what they can treat.
Dermabrasion may qualify as medically necessary for:
- Rhinophyma that causes functional problems like nasal airway obstruction or sleep apnea
- Precancerous skin growths (actinic keratoses) or superficial skin cancers when standard removal methods aren’t practical due to the number and spread of lesions, and topical treatments have already been tried and failed
Even for dermabrasion, the list of excluded conditions is long. Acne scarring, rosacea, freckles, age spots, melasma, wrinkles, sun-damaged skin, rough texture, and tattoo removal are all considered cosmetic. Acne scarring sits in a gray area where some plans will do a case-by-case review if your provider submits documentation of medical necessity, but approval is uncommon.
To qualify for covered dermabrasion, most plans require that you’re 18 or older, that the procedure is performed by a dermatologist or plastic surgeon, and that you have a qualifying diagnosis. If your provider recommends dermabrasion for a precancerous condition, the billing uses different procedure codes than microdermabrasion, and those codes are what trigger the insurer’s medical review.
What You’ll Pay Out of Pocket
Since microdermabrasion is a self-pay procedure, cost matters. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that the average cost of skin resurfacing procedures like microdermabrasion is $1,829. That figure can be misleading, though, because it likely reflects a range of resurfacing treatments. Individual microdermabrasion sessions at a dermatologist’s office or medspa typically run between $100 and $300 per session, and most providers recommend a series of four to six treatments spaced a few weeks apart to see meaningful results.
Prices vary by location, provider credentials, and whether the treatment is done in a medical office versus a spa setting. Some providers offer package pricing for multiple sessions, which can bring the per-session cost down. Health savings accounts (HSAs) and flexible spending accounts (FSAs) generally do not cover microdermabrasion either, since the IRS follows the same cosmetic versus medical distinction that insurers use.
What About Medicare?
Medicare follows the same framework as private insurance. Cosmetic procedures are excluded from coverage, and microdermabrasion falls into that category. Medicare does have a National Coverage Determination for the treatment of actinic keratosis (precancerous skin spots), but that applies to medically necessary procedures like standard dermabrasion or other removal methods, not microdermabrasion.
If You Think Your Case Is Medical
If your dermatologist has recommended skin resurfacing for a condition like precancerous lesions or rhinophyma causing breathing problems, the procedure you need is likely dermabrasion, not microdermabrasion. These are distinct procedures with separate billing codes and different coverage rules. Your dermatologist’s office can verify which procedure code applies and submit a prior authorization request to your insurer before scheduling.
For the vast majority of people searching this question, the answer is straightforward: if you’re considering microdermabrasion for smoother skin, fewer fine lines, reduced acne scarring, or more even tone, you’ll be paying the full cost yourself. No combination of diagnosis codes or documentation will change the cosmetic classification, because every major insurer treats it as a blanket exclusion regardless of the reason for treatment.