Understanding your options, eligibility, and the application process.
Breastoration is committed to helping remove financial barriers that may prevent individuals from accessing, completing, or recovering from breast reconstruction. We understand that every patient’s journey is different, and we’re here to help you understand the assistance that may be available.
Review the FAQs below, gather your supporting documents, and ask your reconstructive surgeon to complete the Physician Breast Reconstruction Verification Form.
Submitting the physician form alone does not complete your grant application, establish eligibility, or reserve funding. Your complete application and required financial documents must also be received.
Select a question to view the answer.
Breastoration provides financial assistance to individuals experiencing financial hardship directly related to breast reconstruction. Eligibility is based on several factors, including financial circumstances, recovery needs, and available resources.
Not necessarily. Individuals undergoing breast reconstruction following a breast cancer diagnosis or a preventive mastectomy due to documented increased breast cancer risk may qualify.
Yes. If you are now pursuing delayed breast reconstruction following a previous mastectomy, you may be eligible. Assistance must relate to your reconstruction procedure and recovery, not expenses associated with the earlier mastectomy.
Breastoration may provide financial assistance for non-medical expenses related to medically necessary follow-up procedures, including reconstruction revisions, implant exchanges, additional stages of reconstruction, or surgery to correct complications from a previous reconstruction. Eligibility and assistance amounts are determined based on your individual financial circumstances and reconstruction-related needs.
Breastoration primarily serves Louisiana residents. Individuals living outside Louisiana who travel to the state for breast reconstruction may also qualify for limited travel-related assistance.
Breastoration may provide temporary financial assistance for needs directly connected to breast reconstruction and recovery, including lost wages, temporary childcare or caregiver assistance, transportation, lodging, and other qualifying reconstruction-related hardships.
Grant amounts depend on the type of reconstruction, demonstrated financial need, and available funding. Major reconstruction procedures: up to $5,000. Less extensive reconstruction procedures or revisions: generally up to $2,500. Extraordinary circumstances: additional assistance up to $2,500 may be considered. Out-of-state patients traveling to Louisiana: up to $1,500 for qualifying travel-related expenses only. These amounts represent maximums, not guaranteed awards.
Breastoration reviews household income in relation to the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Applicants with household income at or below 500% of the guidelines may qualify following a review of available resources. Applicants above that level may still be considered if they demonstrate financial hardship directly related to reconstruction.
Yes. Employment and insurance coverage do not automatically disqualify you. Breastoration considers factors such as unpaid leave, reduced income, available benefits, household resources, and reconstruction-related financial hardship.
Yes. Financial hardship is not limited to lost wages. Breastoration recognizes that reconstruction recovery can affect childcare, caregiving responsibilities, and essential household activities.
No. Breastoration does not make payments to physicians, hospitals, insurance companies, or medical providers. Its grants are designed to address qualifying financial barriers associated with accessing and recovering from breast reconstruction.
Breastoration assistance is specifically focused on breast reconstruction. It does not cover chemotherapy, radiation, unrelated medical care, pre-existing debts, or general ongoing financial needs. Temporary essential expenses may be considered when directly tied to qualifying reconstruction hardship.
We encourage you to apply before your scheduled reconstruction whenever possible. Applications may also be considered during an active staged reconstruction process or during the immediate recovery period.
You will need a completed application and supporting documentation, which may include: Physician Breast Reconstruction Verification Form; income verification such as a tax return, pay stubs, or benefits statements; household financial asset information; insurance information, if applicable; employment, leave, or disability information; a statement explaining reconstruction-related financial hardship; and travel expense documentation, if applicable.
This form is completed by your reconstructive surgeon to confirm your procedure, reconstruction status, expected recovery period, and any complications or circumstances that may affect recovery.
Yes, but submitting the physician form alone does not constitute a completed grant application, establish eligibility, or reserve funding. Your complete application and required financial documents must also be received.
No. Each application is reviewed individually. Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee funding, and all grant decisions are subject to Breastoration’s approval.
Recovery assistance is generally limited to the medically necessary recovery period, up to six weeks following breast reconstruction. The amount and duration depend on the procedure, physician restrictions, work requirements, and individual circumstances.
Additional assistance may be considered for extraordinary circumstances, such as complications, delayed healing, complex reconstruction, or prolonged physician restrictions. These requests are reviewed individually.
Patients undergoing staged reconstruction may qualify for assistance related to eligible procedures and recovery needs. Each request is evaluated based on the procedure, financial impact, and applicable grant guidelines.
You may still be considered if you are in the immediate recovery period and experiencing qualifying reconstruction-related hardship. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible because assistance is subject to timing requirements.
Applications are reviewed for completeness, reconstruction eligibility, financial need, and recovery-related hardship. Breastoration considers the type of procedure, household resources, employment limitations, caregiving needs, and available funding before making a final decision.
Yes. Breastoration uses a blind review process to help ensure that grant applications are evaluated fairly and objectively. Applicants' names, addresses, and other identifying information are removed from the materials presented for grant review. Decisions are based on eligibility, demonstrated financial need, and reconstruction-related circumstances rather than personal identity.
Review can begin once all required application materials have been received. Processing times may vary depending on the completeness of your application and whether additional information is needed.
Breastoration, Inc. makes all final grant decisions.
Our team can help answer questions about the application process and required documentation.
Email: ourteam@breastoration.org | Phone: 504-490-4600 | Website: breastoration.org
Questions? Email ourteam@breastoration.org or call 504-490-4600.
