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Women's Health and Cancer Rights ActReleased: Tuesday, June 15, 2010Everyday at UBCF I receive many applications from clients requesting assistance with the reconstruction of their breasts due to a mastectomy. The reason for so many women looking for assistance with this type of surgery is due to no insurance or the insurance they do have refuses to assist. Many Health insurance companies feel this type of surgery is cosmetic. As we all know Breast Reconstruction surgery is needed for so many women. Many women feel they need the surgery to feel like a woman again, as well as for their mental and physical well being. On October 21, 1998, twelve years ago, the government passed a law stating: “Federal law requires most group insurance plans that cover mastectomies to also cover breast reconstruction.” This law is called The Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA). The WHCRA law helps protect many women with breast cancer who choose to have their breast reconstructed after a mastectomy. The American Cancer Society posted the following guidelines in accordance with the WHCRA law and has listed websites and National Organizations that may be able to assist you. Please take a moment to read the information below. The WHCRA:
Under the WHCRA, mastectomy benefits must cover:
Mastectomy benefits may have a yearly deductible and may require that you pay co-insurance. Co-insurance is when health costs are insured for less than the full amount and the patient must pay the difference. For instance, the company may cover 80% of your expenses after you pay the deductible, leaving you to pay the other 20%. This 20% is also called a co-payment or co-pay. But any required deductible and co-insurance must be like those the plan uses for other conditions it covers. So, if a plan pays 80% for hospital and surgery fees for an appendectomy, but only 70% of hospital and surgery fees for breast reconstruction, that would violate the WHCRA. In addition to the American Cancer Society, other sources of patient information and support include: Cancer Legal Resource Center (CLRC) Health Insurance Info National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) US Department of Health and Human Services US Department of Labor *Inclusion on this list does not imply endorsement by the American Cancer Society. No matter who you are, we can help. Contact us anytime, day or night, for information and support. Call us at 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org. Contact United Breast Cancer Foundation if you need any assistance with the remainder of your Breast Reconstruction surgery at www.ubcf.info or call us at 1-877-822-4287. | Tucker's StoryMy Grandmother had breast cancer - the fact that she had it puts me at a higher risk. When I felt a lump in my breast, I didn't want to deal with it and prayed that it would just 'go away.' God didn't make it disappear, but He did send me an angel.  Call or Click |
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