Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act

The Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 introduced changes in insurance coverage for a mastectomy. In accordance with the law, all group and individual health plans that provide medical and surgical benefits for mastectomy will cover reconstructive breast surgery, including:

• Reconstructive surgery on the breast on which the mastectomy was performed
• Reconstructive surgery on the unaffected breast to “produce a symmetrical appearance”
• Prostheses and treatment of complications of any stage of a mastectomy, including lymphedema (postsurgical fluid buildup)

These provisions apply to all policies issued by Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Health Advantage, BlueAdvantage Administrators of Arkansas, and Octave Blue Cross and Blue Shield and are subject to the applicable copayments, coinsurance, benefit limitations, exclusions and benefit maximums. If you have questions about your insurance coverage, contact your group benefits administrator or a customer service representative at the number listed on the back of your health plan ID card.