Hi Everyone,
We get this question a LOT - what we know is that every insurance provider is different. Some insurer's will cover a portion or sometimes all of the cost of a wig (cranial prosthesis) while others won't cover any of the cost. It's extremely frustrating to me that insurance providers don't understand that for a woman to be able to work, and "be" in the world - having hair and looking normal is a major factor in feeling whole and facilitating the healing process.
I just had a call this week from one of our clients who is currently undergoing Chemotherapy, she said that what she didn't understand until she had her new wig, was that being able to leave her home and go about her day and not look "sick" was a huge boost to her mood and her sense of wholeness - by providing a feeling of normalcy she was more able to focus her energy on getting well and not worrying about other people's reactions to her condition.
When you're losing your hair (due to chemotherapy or any other reason) it's an emotional and stressfull experience and it can be difficult to process all of the information that is being thrown at you by your Doctor's - you need to be your own advocate to navigate the insurance maze and it can sometimes feel daunting. It helps if you can find someonein your Doctor's office who can help you work with your insurance provider to get financial renumeration for your wig or hairpiece...they work with insurer's every day and have built relationships within many different insurance provider's companies and it can expedite the process if you can get your paperwork into the proper hands as quickly as possible.
Every insurance company has a different policy - you need to review your policy get on the phone with your Insurance representative and ask WHAT EXCATLY they need from you to provide the maximum amount of coverage for your wig/cranial prosthesis.
Sometimes they want to see a Doctor's prescription, your doctor may need to write a letter or prescription that includes information as to why you need the wig, noting that it is not for cosmetic purposes but for your emotional well-being. They may also require supporting paperwork from the company that is providing you the wig or hairpiece (we can help with this.) The exact wording they require varies as well - you need to verify what they want, some insurer's want you to submit paperwork for a "Cranial Prosthesis" instead of a "wig" and some want just the opposite. Finding out their specific requirements can make all the difference in the amount of money you may be reimbursed.
As always, we are here to help in any way we can - if you have any questions about this information please feel free to post a reply or email me directly atjudiwc@williamcollierdesign.com
Warm Regards,
Judi Collier