What is a Cranial Prosthesis?

A cranial hair prosthesis is a custom hair system specifically designed for patients who have lost their hair due to medical conditions. These conditions include chemotherapy, alopecia totalis, alopecia areata, trichotillomania, and other conditions resulting in hair loss.

Other common terms used to describe a medical wig include: cranial hair prosthesis, hair prosthesis, and full cranial prosthesis.

 

Your Insurance Will Let You Know If You’re Covered

Whether or not your medical wig is covered by your insurance company depends on your plan. But it’s possible to receive full payment for your full cranial prosthesis. However, while some insurance companies will pay for your prosthesis upfront, others require you to pay upfront and then get reimbursed.

Many insurance companies cover 80-100% of the cost for your full cranial prosthesis. They also allow one cranial prosthesis per year for medical hair loss. Additionally, you may also be able to deduct your prosthesis as a medical expense on your taxes. However, it has been confirmed that if medical bills exceed 7.5% of an individual’s income, then the wig is tax deductible. Still, it’s recommended though that you should discuss this with your CPA.

Unfortunately, in default policies, the Standard List of Exclusions prohibits coverage for wigs. Even so, you can ask your employer’s human resource department to renegotiate your contract to include your cranial prosthesis coverage. And if you have secondary insurance, you can contact your insurance broker to do the same.

 

Types of Hair Loss Covered By Insurance

• Hair Due to Chemotherapy

• Kidney Related Hair Loss

• Hair Loss Caused by Cancer

• Radiation Related Hair Loss

• Hair Loss Due to Thyroid Problems

• Medical Hair Loss Due to Life and Environmental Changes, Thinning and/or Balding, Genetics, Stress, Aging, Reaction to Medical Illness 

• Alopecia