hardship medical expenses

[k man]

do the regs contemplate different types of medical expeses being acceptable and others not being acceptable? specifically, can the participant have elective surgery or cosmetic surgery? i think they can. our plan uses the 213(d) definition of medical expenses.

[Harwood]

Don't know about regs - how about 213(d) itself?

(9) Cosmetic surgery.

(A) In general. The term "medical care" does not include cosmetic surgery or other similar procedures, unless the surgery or procedure is necessary to ameliorate a deformity arising from, or directly related to, a congenital abnormality, a personal injury resulting from an accident or trauma, or disfiguring disease.

(B) Cosmetic surgery defined. For purposes of this paragraph , the term "cosmetic surgery" means any procedure which is directed at improving the patient's appearance and does not meaningfully promote the proper function of the body or prevent or treat illness or disease.