Important Legal Notices & Policies
Legislation is constantly changing and these changes often times affect your benefits. Here at Ithaca College Human Resources we make it a point to make the most up to date legal notices available to our employees. This section contains a list of notices and policies that you should be familiar with. If you have any questions or concerns please contact us here at ICHR.
 | Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA) |
| Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act |
Dear Healthcare Member:
On October 21, 1998, a new federal law, the Woman’s Health and Cancer Rights Act, became effective. This law requires group health plans that provide coverage for mastectomies to also cover reconstructive surgery and prostheses following mastectomies.
As the Act requires, this letter informs you about the law’s provisions. The law mandates that a member receiving benefits for a medically necessary mastectomy who elects breast reconstruction after the mastectomy, will also receive coverage for:
• Reconstruction of the breast on which the mastectomy has been performed
• Surgery and reconstruction of the other breast to produce a symmetrical appearance
• Prostheses
• Treatment of physical complication of all stages of mastectomy including lymph edemas.
This coverage will be provided in consultation with the attending physician and the patient, and will be subject to the same annual deductibles and coinsurance provisions that apply for the mastectomy.
If you have any questions about your plan’s coverage of mastectomies and reconstructive surgery please contact the appropriate insurance carrier.
Sincerely,
Cheryl A. Freer
Director of Benefits
CAF/pao