Insurance companies should cover wigs

Yes, I was denied coverage, and it didn't matter how the RX was written (e.g. cranial prothesis),  it just isn't a covered item with my otherwise excellent insurance which covered most of my tx 100%.

Just FYI, The American Cancer Society offers free wigs in many areas.  Where I live, a large selection of donated wigs was brought to the Look Good Feel Better Class, and in some areas they give out a coupon that can be redeemed somewhere else for one.        Deanna

I always thought that if a Dr wrote a script for a wiga. it was covered or at least partially covered within reason (not necessarily a European hair custom hand made one but a decent one).



My CCI gave me a wig they had but it really wasn't me so I took it back and got a different one that I really liked but it wwas one they thought would never find the right person for it - have to agree - it's not for all. My VA PA also put in for a wig and VA got me a new wig.

I feel extremely lucky.  My insurance pays up to $500 for a wig -- it was considered a prostheses. I did wear it but was glad to be done with it 7 months after my last chemo.

Another Californian whose health insurance would not cover wigs, no matter how the ex was written. And another recommendation for the ACS wig bank!

Aetna HMO insurance covered my wig in full.  They covered up to 500.00.  The wig I purchased (and never ended up wearing because I didn't like how it looked or felt in the end) cost 350.00. I think all insurance should cover this though. I also wish insurance would cover holistic types of doctors as well. I would love to go to one to get tips on living more healthy now but it is too expensive. Not for treatment, but as an accent to treatment. 

That can be so frustrating. What our policies cover is typically a negotiation between an employer and the insurance plan. Some will choose the Cadillac plan while others won't go above a used Yugo. We can have the same insurance provider but our coverage can be markedly different.

I have BCBS insurance and they won't cover wigs either, even with a prescription from the oncologist for a "cranial prosthesis". I wasn't sure how long I would need to wear one so I bought one for $l40. It looked really great (most people couldn't tell it was a wig) but it only lasted about 3 mos. before it started looking ratty. I have bought 2 more since and, hopefully, my hair will start growing faster soon! It's been 10 mos. since I finished chemo!  I think I was more upset at Medicare not covering the cost of my compression sleeve; that really frosted me.

I had federal BCBS and they did not cover wigs either.  It really didn't upset me much that they did not and I was able to find one at a very reasonable cost. 

I agree with Chickadee.  While we all naturally want everything that we might need or want to be covered doing that overall for all kinds of conditions would cause the cost of our insurance premiums to skyrocket ... perhaps way beyond the value of the specific items we ourselves might use.     

I was reading about medical expenses that can be included in the medical deduction on your federal taxes, and wigs were listed.    You have to itemize and you can only deduct expenses which exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income and aren't covered by insurance.  But this might help some of you.

http://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/tax-tips/Tax-Planning-and-Checklists/Medical-Expenses-Checklist/INF12018.html

I agree with chickadee that while we all wish insurance would cover more, I think there are more important things than wigs.

 My ins denied coverage for  tykerb. It is possibly a life saving drug for me  and I had to fight to get it covered.

there are a lot of stage 4 women who get denied coverage of drugs and I would like to see those covered before wigs.

Laurie

I also have Federal BCBS but my policy does cover wigs.  Limited to $350 lifetime.  I chose instead to go to a costume store and bought a couple of cheapies.  I knew I wouldn't wear them much so didn't want to buy an expensive wig, covered or not.  I do think "cranial prothesis" should be a part of standard coverage.  Our emotional health is just as important as our physical.

As to drug coverage, I will NEVER understand insurance denying coverage for a potentially life saving drug or procedure.  Back in late 1999 my sisters onc said she needed a bone marrow transplant, BCBS denied it, calling it "experimental".  We (her family) desperately tried to raise the money to pay for it ourselves.  She progressed and died 8 months later.  Would it have helped??  We will never know.

So yes, I'd be willing to give up my wig coverage to have drug coverage expanded.

My insurance company has been excellent about covering the cost of all of my treatments. Specifically excluded though is a "cranium prosthesis". This is in writing that it is not a covered expense. I bought a wig for $400 & submitted the claim anyway. I received a denial. I wrote a letter of appeal - it took about 4 months but, they eventually overturned the denial & mailed me a check for $400! Don't give up!

Mine was covered through my cancer policy. A welcome benefit. As were bras and prosthesis.

I was diagnosed with stage 2 grade 3 HER2+ breast cancer this Feb. My physician sent a prescription in to Fl Blue for a cranial prosthesis (wig) as most of my long, very thick hair has fallen out. I'm a business professional, personal trainer, group exercise instructor, singer and model. This has beenn one of the hardest things I have ever gone through. I don't feel like myself, I don't look like me anymore and I've lost so much hair I don't even want to leave the house. All of the charities that are say they help with a wig, haven't gotten any calls saying they have one for me and now that my insurance has denied coverage it has caused me to feel so depressed I have a hard time eating, sleeping or doing any kind of exercise. I can't believe my insurance would deny a simple thing like a wig which would give me some of my dignity back, maybe even make me feel normal again. The company I work for has been completely unsupportive. It feels like the world has turned their back on me. Maybe someone else who has not been through this won't understand but if you have been through this know what it feels like to look in the mirror and not be able to recognize yourself or control your emotions.