The Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 (WHCRA) was signed into law on October 21, 1998. The WHCRA provides protections for individuals who elect breast reconstruction after a mastectomy. The WHCRA covers women who undergo a mastectomy for any medical reason, not just to treat breast cancer.
Under WHCRA, if your group health plan covers mastectomies, the plan must provide coverage for certain services relating to the mastectomy. However, if your coverage is provided by a “church plan” or “governmental plan”, you will need to check with your plan administrator as certain plans may not be subject to this law.
WHRCA rights apply to individual coverage as well and are generally within the jurisdiction of the state insurance department where you live.