United Way fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community.
Help Close a Loophole in Breast Cancer Surgery and Breast Reconstruction Insurance Coverage Law
Dear Advocates,

Below is an update on SB 494, which we requested your action on two weeks ago. We are happy to report that your voices were heard and the bill passed in the Senate . Thank you! Your support is needed again to ensure the bill passes through the House Insurance Committee tomorrow.
SB 494 , authored by Senator Troy Carter, is scheduled to be heard Tues., May 19, at 1 p.m. in the House Committee on Insurance.

This bill would close a loophole in current law that allows some insurance providers to agree they must cover the reconstruction of a breast which has been preventatively or prophylactically removed, but NOT the actual preventative or prophylactic mastectomy.  

ACTION: Please send a letter of support for SB 494 by 5 p.m. today to Christie Russel, russellc@legis.la.gov .
  • View a sample letter from UWSELA Public Policy Chair Kim Sport to the Senate Insurance Committee on this bill here.
  • Address your letter to Chairman Brown and members of the House Insurance Committee.
  • Important: Ask for immediate implementation upon signature of the Governor since the prophylactic contralateral surgery will be performed upon active cancer patients. 

Below is more explanation of the need for this bill from Kim Sport.

"Consider this situation: A woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in her left breast and decides, in consultation with her physician, to have both her left and right breasts removed by mastectomy and to have both breasts reconstructed.  Some insurance companies will pay for the mastectomy on the left breast and the reconstruction of both breasts, but it will NOT pay for the mastectomy of the right breast. Without insurance coverage for the prophylactic mastectomy, many women cannot afford to pay for that mastectomy, thus foregoing reconstruction covered by law and living with non-symmetrical breasts for the rest of her life."
Thank you for fighting with United Way for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in our community. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Kim Sport
Public Policy Committee Chair
United Way of Southeast Louisiana
Charmaine Caccioppi
Executive Vice President & COO
United Way of Southeast Louisiana

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