The Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA) contains important protections for women with breast cancer who choose to have breast reconstruction after a mastectomy. It was signed into law on October 21, 1998. The US Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services have oversight of this law.
WHCRA:
- applies to group health plans for plan years starting on or after October 1, 1998
- applies to group health plans, health insurance companies and HMOs, if the plans or coverage provide medical and surgical benefits for a mastectomy
- reconstruction of the breast on which the mastectomy was performed
- surgery and reconstruction of the other breast to produce a symmetrical or balanced appearance
- the prostheses (or breast implant)
- any physical complications at all stages of mastectomy, including lymphedema
The WHCRA will not allow:
- plans and insurance issuers to deny patients eligibility or continued eligibility to enroll or renew coverage under the plan to avoid the requirements of WHCRA
- plans and insurance issuers to provide incentives to or penalize doctors to cause them to provide care in a manner not supportive with WHCRA.
The WHCRA is a complex law. If you have questions or concerns about it, please contact the US Department of Labor's toll-free number at 866-487-2365. You can also call your health plan directly (a number should be listed on your insurance card) or your State Insurance Commissioner's office (a number should be located in your local phone book in the state government section).
The following information is intended to provide general guidance on frequently asked questions about the Women's Health Act:
I have been diagnosed with breast cancer and plan to have a mastectomy. How will the Women's Health Act affect my benefits? Under the Women's Health Act, group health plans, insurance companies, and HMOs that offer mastectomy coverage must also provide coverage for reconstructive surgery after mastectomy. This coverage includes reconstruction of the breast removed by mastectomy, reconstruction of the other breast to produce a symmetrical appearance, breast prostheses, and treatment of physical complications at all stages of the mastectomy, including lymphedema (swelling that sometimes happens after treatment for breast cancer).
This law sets a federal floor so that women can obtain breast reconstruction following mastectomy even if they live in states that do not require insurance companies to provide this coverage.
Does the Women's Health Act require all group plans, insurance companies, and HMOs to provide reconstructive surgery benefits? Generally, yes, as long as the insurance plan also covers medical and surgical benefits for mastectomies. However, certain church plans and government plans may not be required to pay for reconstructive surgery. If you are insured under a church or government plan, check with your plan administrator about it.
Under the Women's Health Act, may insurance providers impose deductibles or co-insurance requirements for reconstructive surgery in connection with a mastectomy? Yes, but only if the deductibles and coinsurance are consistent with those established for other benefits under the plan or coverage.
My state requires the coverage for breast reconstruction that is required by the WHCRA and also requires minimum hospital stays for my mastectomy. If I have a mastectomy and breast reconstruction, am I also entitled to the minimum hospital stay? It depends. If you have coverage through your employer and your employer is insured, you would be entitled to the minimum hospital stay required by the state law. If you have coverage through your employer but your coverage is not provided by an insurance company or HMO (that is, your employer self-insures your coverage), then state law does not apply. In that case, only the federal Women’s Health Act applies and it does not require minimum hospital stays. To find out if your group health plan is insured or self-insured, contact your plan administrator.
If you obtained your coverage under a private health insurance policy (not through your employer), check with your State Insurance Commissioner’s office to learn if state law applies.
Are health plans required to give me notice of WHCRA benefits? Yes. Both health plans and health insurance issuers are required to provide you notice of WHCRA benefits when you enroll and every year after that. The annual notice may be sent by itself or it may be included in almost any written communication by the plan or insurer, such as newsletters, annual reports, policy renewal letters, enrollment notices, and others Enrollment notices may consist of a phone number or Web address from which to get more information about coverage.
Does WHCRA affect the amount that my health plan will pay my doctors? No. WHCRA does not prevent a plan or health insurance issuer from negotiating the level and type of payment with doctors. However, the law prohibits insurance plans and issuers from penalizing doctors or providing incentives that would cause a doctor to give care that is inconsistent with WHCRA.
Do the WHCRA requirements apply to Medicare or Medicaid? No. The law does not apply to Medicare and Medicaid.
Where can I get more information about my rights under WHCRA? The US Department of Labor has published answers to frequently asked questions about WHCRA on its website at http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/Publications/whcra.html. Or you may call the Department of Labor at 866-USA-DOL or 866-487-2365.
This information was taken from the American Cancer Society website.
Genetic Nondiscrimination Information Act The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), signed into law on May 21, 2008, is the first federal legislation that will provide protections against discrimination based on an individual’s genetic information in health insurance coverage and employment settings. The health insurance protections offered by GINA are expected to roll out 12 months after the bill is signed, whereas the employment protections will be fully realized in 18 months.
Specifically, the legislation protects against genetic discrimination by health insurers or employers by:
* Prohibiting group health insurance plans and issuers offering coverage on the group or individual market from basing eligibility determinations or adjusting premiums or contributions on the basis of an individual’s genetic information. Insurance companies cannot request, require or purchase the results of genetic tests, and they are prohibited from disclosing personal genetic information.
* Prohibiting issuers of Medigap policies from adjusting pricing or conditioning eligibility on the basis of genetic information. They cannot request, require or purchase the results of genetic tests, or disclose genetic information.
* Prohibiting employers from firing, refusing to hire, or otherwise discriminating with respect to compensation, terms, conditions or privileges of employment. Employers may not request, require or purchase genetic information, and they are also prohibited from disclosing personal genetic information. Similar provisions apply to employment agencies and labor organizations.
Adapted from materials taken from the Coalition for Genetic Fairness website.
Breast Reconstruction Resources: Insurance Laws by State Insurance Coverage Required for Post-Mastectomy Breast Reconstruction If Mastectomy Is Covered Alabama: Provides that federally funded and publicly funded state programs that provide coverage for mastectomy surgery shall also provide coverage for reconstruction of the breast. [Section 22-6-10]
Alaska: Conforms state law to federal standards. Provides that health care insurers providing medical and surgical benefits for mastectomies must comply with 42 U.S.C. 300gg-52 regarding coverage for reconstructive surgery following mastectomies. [Sec. 21.42.400]
Arizona: Conforms state law to federal standards. Provides that health care insurers providing medical and surgical benefits for mastectomies must comply with 42 U.S.C. 300gg-52 regarding coverage for reconstructive surgery following mastectomies. Arkansas: Provides that every health benefit plan that provides coverage for mastectomy surgery shall also provide coverage for reconstruction of the breast. [23-99-405]
California: Treatment for breast cancer shall include coverage for prosthetic devices or reconstructive surgery to restore and achieve symmetry for the patient incident to a mastectomy. [10123.8.(d)]
Connecticut: Provides benefits for the reasonable costs of reconstructive surgery on each breast on which a mastectomy has been performed, and reconstructive surgery on a non-diseased breast to produce symmetrical appearance. [Sec. 38a-504(c)]
Delaware: Coverage available for (1) all stages of reconstruction of the breast on which the mastectomy was performed; (2) surgery and reconstruction of the other breast to produce a symmetrical appearance; and (3) prostheses and physical complications of mastectomy, including lymph edemas. [§3563]
Florida: Covers prosthetic devices and reconstructive surgery incident to mastectomy, including surgery to reestablish symmetry; surgery must be in a manner chosen by the treating physician. [627.6417]
Illinois: Coverage for breast reconstruction in connection with a mastectomy shall include (1) reconstruction of the breast upon which the mastectomy was performed; (2) surgery and reconstruction of the other breast to produce a symmetrical appearance; and (3) prostheses and treatment for physical complications at all stages of mastectomy, including lymph edemas. [ 215 ILCS 5/356g]
Indiana: Covers prosthetic devices and all stages of reconstructive surgery, in the manner determined by the attending physician and patient, including reconstruction of the other breast to produce symmetry. [27-13-7-14]
Kansas: Covers breast reconstruction, including surgery of the other breast to produce a symmetrical appearance, prostheses and physical complications, in a manner determined in consultation with the attending physician and the patient. [40-2,166]
Kentucky: Provides coverage for breast reconstruction, including surgery of the other breast to produce symmetrical appearance, prostheses and physical complications, in a manner determined in consultation with the attending physician and the patient. [304.18-0983]
Louisiana: Includes coverage for reconstruction of the breast on which the mastectomy has been performed, coverage for surgery and reconstruction of the other breast to produce a symmetrical appearance, and coverage for prostheses and physical complications, all stages of mastectomy, including lymph edemas and such coverage shall be in a manner determined in consultation with the attending physician and the patient. [22:250.17]
Maine: Provides coverage for reconstruction of the breast on which surgery has been performed and surgery and reconstruction of the other breast to produce a symmetrical appearance if the patient elects reconstruction and in the manner chosen by the patient and the physician. [§2837-C(2)]
Maryland: Requires coverage for reconstructive surgery resulting from a mastectomy, including surgery performed on a non-diseased breast to establish symmetry. [§15-815]
Michigan: Covers breast cancer rehabilitative services, delivered on an inpatient or outpatient basis, including reconstructive plastic surgery and physical therapy. [500.3616]
Reconstructive surgery and prosthetic devices are covered after the attending physician has certified medical necessity. [500.3613]
Minnesota: Covers all reconstructive surgery incidental to or following injury, sickness or other diseases of the involved part, or congenital defect for a child. Specifically includes benefits for all stages of reconstruction following mastectomy, including surgery and reconstruction of the other breast to produce a symmetrical appearance and prostheses. Also specifies that limitations on reconstructive surgery do not apply to reconstructive breast surgery following medically necessary mastectomy. [62A.25].
Missouri: Covers prosthetic devices and reconstructive surgery necessary to achieve symmetry, as recommended by the oncologist or primary care physician. [376.1209]
Montana: Covers reconstructive surgery following a mastectomy resulting from breast cancer, including all stages of reconstructive surgery on the non-diseased breast to establish symmetry and costs of any prostheses.[33-22-135].
Nebraska: Requires coverage for medical and surgical benefits for mastectomy and for all stages of reconstruction of the breast after a mastectomy has been performed and reconstruction of the other breast to produce a symmetrical appearance. The measure also requires coverage for prostheses and physical complications of mastectomy. [44-797].
Nevada: Covers at least two prosthetic devices and reconstructive surgery incident to mastectomy, including surgery to reestablish symmetry. [NRS 608.157]
New Hampshire: Covers breast reconstruction, including surgery and reconstruction of the other breast to produce a symmetrical appearance, in the manner chosen by the patient and physician. [417-D:2-b].
New Jersey: Covers reconstructive breast surgery, including coverage to achieve and restore symmetry, and provides benefits for prostheses. [17B:26-2.1a.]
New York: Covers breast reconstruction following mastectomy, including reconstruction on a healthy breast required to achieve reasonable symmetry, in the manner determined by the attending physician and the patient to be appropriate. [§3221]. North Carolina: Provides coverage for reconstructive breast surgery, including all stages and revisions of surgery performed on a non-diseased breast to establish symmetry, and reconstruction of the nipple/areolar complex without regard to the lapse of time between mastectomy and reconstruction, as well as coverage for prostheses and physical complications in all stages of mastectomy, including lymph ademas. [§58-51-62]
North Dakota: Specifies that health insurance policies may not be issued or renewed in the state unless they provide the benefit provisions of the 1998 Federal Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act. [26.1-36-09.11]
Oklahoma: Covers reconstructive breast surgery performed as a result of a partial or total mastectomy, including all stages of reconstructive surgery performed within 2 years on a non-diseased breast to establish symmetry. [§36-6060.5.(D)]
Pennsylvania: Covers prosthetic devices and breast reconstruction, including surgery on the opposite breast to achieve symmetry, within six years of the mastectomy date. Additional legislation adds language consistent with federal law. Rhode Island: Covers prosthetic devices and reconstructive surgery to restore and achieve symmetry incident to a mastectomy. Surgery must be performed within 18 months of the original mastectomy. [§27-18-39]
South Carolina: Covers prosthetic devices and breast reconstruction, including the non-diseased breast, if determined medically necessary by the patient and attending physician with the approval of the insurer. [38-71-130]
Tennessee: Covers all stages of reconstruction for the diseased breast, including lumpectomy, and procedures to restore and achieve symmetry between the breasts, in the manner chosen by the patient and physician, within five years of the reconstructive surgery on the diseased breast. [56-7-2507]
Texas: Covers reconstruction of the breast incident to mastectomy, including procedures to restore and achieve symmetry, for contracts delivered, issued for delivery or renewed on or after Jan. 1, 1998. 1999amendment conforms statute to federal law. [§1357.004]
Utah: Follows the example of the federal statute by requiring coverage for medical and surgical benefits for mastectomy and for all stages of reconstruction of the breast after a mastectomy has been performed and reconstruction of the other breast to produce a symmetrical appearance. The measure also requires coverage for prostheses and physical complications of mastectomy. [31A-22-630]
Virginia: Covers reconstructive breast surgery performed coincident with a mastectomy performed for breast cancer or following the mastectomy, and surgery performed to reestablish symmetry between the two breasts. [§38.2-3418.4]
Washington: Covers reconstructive breast surgery if mastectomy resulted from disease, illness or injury, includes surgery to reestablish symmetry. [48.46.280]
West Virginia: Includes coverage for reconstruction of the breast on which mastectomy was performed and the opposite breast for symmetry; also provides coverage for prosthesis and complications as determined in consultation with attending physician and patient. [§33-16-3]
Wisconsin: Covers breast reconstruction of the affected tissue incident to mastectomy and specifies that such surgery is not considered cosmetic. [149.14(4)(a)]
The information was taken from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons website.
Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of any medical institution.