Insurance Information

Call your health plan at the number on your insurance card, and ask about coverage for a “cranial prosthesis” or “hair prosthesis.” Some plans treat a “wig” as cosmetic, so the name matters. Good questions to ask: Is it covered for my kind of hair loss? Do I need a prescription or a letter from my doctor? Do I need approval before I buy? Is there a dollar limit, or a limit on the type of wig? Can I buy from any wig shop and send in my own receipt? What does the receipt need to show? How long do claims usually take? It helps to write down who you spoke with and what they said.

We can give you an itemized receipt for your wig. For an online order, ask us and we’ll email it to you. The claim itself is between you and your plan. If your plan wants more on the receipt, such as a billing code or our tax ID, ask us and we’ll see what we can do. We can’t promise we’ll be able to add it, but we’ll check.

Plans often want a prescription for a “cranial prosthesis” that names your diagnosis and has your doctor’s signature. Some also want a letter of medical necessity. That’s a letter from your doctor explaining why you need one for your condition. Your plan can tell you exactly what it needs.

Original Medicare doesn’t cover wigs. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, ask the plan directly. These plans can offer extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t, and each one is different.

It may be possible. The IRS explains which medical costs these accounts can pay for in Publication 502. It lists a wig bought on a doctor’s advice, for the mental health of someone who has lost all of their hair from disease. Ask your HSA or FSA administrator whether your wig qualifies and what records to keep. The same IRS rule applies to the medical expense tax deduction, and a tax professional can tell you whether it fits your situation.