CARY, N.C. — A woman who had breast cancer is advocating for mothers after learning there is no insurance that covers baby formula for those unable to breastfeed. 

Anna Crollman was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 27 years old. She got a double mastectomy. 

When she had her first child, she learned there is currently no subsidy or insurance coverage for formula for women who physically cannot breastfeed due to mastectomy. 

What You Need To Know

  • Crollman had breast cancer at age 27 and had a double mastectomy

  • She learned there is currently no subsidy or insurance coverage for formula for women who physically cannot breastfeed due to mastectomy

  • Under the Affordable Care Act, free breast pumps are provided, but not coverage for formula

  • Crollman is advocating for women who physically cannot breastfeed

Crollman is currently pregnant again. "Going on now to have another child after cancer just feels like such a gift," Crollman said. " Something that I don't think I ever really even imagined for us, just with how difficult our journey and story had been.”

Under the Affordable Care Act, women can receive a free breast pump and lactation support for no cost, but it's not helpful for women who have undergone a mastectomy. 

"But for those of us that were diagnosed in our twenties, I mean, thinking about parenthood and whether you want to grow your family and then what that looks like from a financial impact in a financial situation is something that I think we should all be thinking about more, both in legislature and in just in terms of our health care system," Crollman said. 

Crollman, along with several other mastectomy moms, recently received a full year of formula for free from formula maker Bobbie and the nonprofit The Breasties. Katie Couric delivered the good news. 

"I think I was going to get emotional watching that video again, and I think just seeing that sense of community and women that are all in the same situation, all just wanting to feed their babies," Crollman explained. 

Unfortunately, on a legislative end, not much has changed in the last two years. A petition continues to circulate on the issue. 

But Crollman wants to continue to use her platform for change.  

“On my blog, My Cancer Chic and all my social media, I'm advocating working with companies that can make a difference financially, whether that's, you know, pharmaceutical companies, legislators, companies that are very wealthy and have money to spend on causes like this," Crollman said.

In the meantime, she’s patiently waiting until her new bundle of joy is in her arms.

"Knowing we're going to be there again with a newborn, it feels like such a gift," Crollman said.