Insurance coverage for bilateral mastectomy

My insurance company did. Cigna. I think a law passed in the late 90's that requires that they must. Not sure the wording but look it up

I just had a BMX Nov 6 of this year -- with PRMA in San Antonio.

As far as we knew -- the left breast had cancer -- the right did not. I am 57 -- and when they did the lumpectomy, tiny 'surprise' tumors (previously undetected by MRI/sonogram/Mammogram/Ct-scan) were discovered in what should have been clean margins.

I seriously began to doubt that the machines can see as much as I thought they should. 

So -- I agonized over whether to have the right breast removed, too... and consulted two different breast reconstruction centers... (in Denver and San Antonio -- both do the DIEP reconstruction).

I was told both places that in the fairly near future, new insurance changes will probably no longer cover prophylactic removal.... but for now -- most insurance companies do.

What swayed me was the idea that by the time I finish my reconstruction -- a full year of my life will have been dedicated to breast cancer. There is no way I would choose to devote another year in the future to more surgery and more recovery. I want my life to be as full of LIFE as possible -- not illness.

With your past experience -- I can understand your concern and your desire. 

I assume that you already have a dx on one breast -- and perhaps have had a lumpectomy?

Are they suggesting a mastectomy for the one breast? If so, I am pretty sure you can add the second. 

If your docs think you are 'done' for now (with the lumpectomy/chemo/rads) then it might be a harder fight... but if mastectomy is already called for, I believe most insurance companies will allow the second removed as well.

I have BCBS.

Best of luck -- your docs can be your best advocates with the insurance company -- and will probably know the answer to this question.

Linda