May 16 2021 – Barbara Snowden
How to get a wig through your insurance?
HOW TO GET YOUR MEDICAL WIG COVERED THROUGH INSURANCE?
If you are a Tricare, Aetna, Humana or Cigna patient, we can perform these steps for you for free. Learn more.
Your hair is a part of your identity. The way you wear it, whether you keep it short, keep it long, side bangs, fringe, in a bun, or leave it down - it is a representation of you. Losing a part of you to cancer can be crippling, mentally and physically, for both men and women, but there are ways to cope with it.
A lot of men and women choose to wear wigs to return a sense of normalcy to their lives and feel like themselves again. However, with all the medical costs associated with treatments, it can be a tough decision for some people to spend additional money on buying wigs or toupees. Fortunately, many insurance companies have provisions for covering medically necessary wigs or cranial prosthesis. Use this guide to learn how to get your insurance to reimburse you for your medical wig.
WHAT IS CRANIAL PROSTHESIS?
A cranial hair prosthesis is a medical term used to describe a hair system designed specifically for those suffering from hair loss due to medical conditions or treatments, such as alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, trichotillomania, chemotherapy, or any other clinical disease or treatment resulting in hair loss.
HOW DO I GET MY INSURANCE TO COVER FOR MY MEDICAL WIG?
CHECK WITH YOUR INSURANCE PROVIDER.
Call your insurance provider and get a pre-approval from them before you purchase your wig. Most insurance companies at least cover a percentage of a medical wig purchase. However, the cost of your wig can vary based on the type of wig you choose. A synthetic wig may be covered completely, but you may have to pay a large portion out-of-pocket for a more expensive, human-hair wig. Therefore, it is best to check with your insurance provider to learn about their requirements and verify the amount they will cover beforehand.
A WRITTEN PRESCRIPTION FROM YOUR DOCTOR.
This is really important. You will need a written prescription from your oncologist for a cranial prosthesis. The terminology is crucial. Most insurance providers require a prescription that says cranial prosthesis, hair prosthesis, cranial hair prosthesis or extracranial prosthesis. Once you have the prescription, you may purchase the wig, save the receipt, and file a claim. Your wig will be classified as a “Durable Medical Equipment” when you file your claim.
HAIR REPLACEMENT SPECIALIST WITH A TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
Who you purchase the wig from is really important. Make sure to only work with a reputable, experienced hair replacement company with a current taxpayer ID number.
KEEP A PAPER TRAIL.
When working with insurance providers, it is important that you make copies of all paperwork related to your wig purchase. There is a chance your paperwork will be lost during the claims process, or your claim may be denied. This can save you a lot of time if you still have the information handy and you can just resubmit your claim.
FILE A CLAIM.
The final step! You have gotten a pre-approval from your insurance company, obtained a written prescription for a cranial prosthesis from your doctor, and you’ve purchased your wig. At this time, you should be ready to file your claim. Download and fill out the Claim Form from your insurance company’s website, and submit the following documents along with the completed insurance claim form.
- Federal Tax ID number of the company you purchased your wig from.
- Prescription from your doctor for a cranial prosthesis.
- Receipt of your wig purchase paid in full.
GET HELP FROM A PRO.
Getting reimbursed from your insurance provider can be a long and stressful process, especially when you are undergoing cancer treatments. Qualifying for a medical wig shouldn’t be made this hard, which is why we offer this service for free at African American Wigs.
Our staff can help you qualify for your wig without you having to spend a dime or your time. We have a variety of beautiful wigs for you to choose from. Once you have selected your wig, we work with your doctor to obtain a prescription and file a claim with your insurance on your behalf. Then we mail it out to you.
Feel free to give us a call (800)277-3710 or reach out to us via email, africanamericanwigs.net@gmail.com and we can provide you with personalized guidance on which direction is best for you to have your insurance cover your wig purchase, either by reimbursement or them paying up front. At AAW, our goal is to help our clients as much as we can, so they can focus their energy on their health and concentrate on healing.
Tagged: cancer wig, chemo, cranial prosthesis, medical insurance