How does the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act apply to women who have had breast cancer?
The Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA) is a law that protects patients who choose to have breast reconstruction surgery because of a mastectomy, according to the U.S. Department of Labor
(DOL).
For example, if a woman has had breast cancer, according to the DOL, the WHCRA guarantees mastectomy benefits must include:
- Reconstruction of the breast on which a mastectomy was performed
- Surgery and reconstruction of the other breast to create a symmetrical look
- Prostheses and physical complications at all stages of the mastectomy, including lymphedemas
Mastectomy benefits sometimes have a yearly deductible and could require the patient to pay co-insurance, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
Talk with your doctor for more information about the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act.
Learn more:
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Learn about the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act
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What the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act protects
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Learn more about the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act
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Know your rights after a mastectomy
