Greater Need for Medical Grade Wigs with Proposed Legislation - Are You Ready?

The support for the hair loss community continues to grow with a reintroduced government plan. If it passes, there will be a greater need for Cranial Prosthesis Specialists to help supply the newly insured hair loss community medical-grade wigs.

There will also be a need for additional certified specialists to meet this demand.

What is the Proposed Legislation for the Hair Loss Community?

In 1998, the Connecticut Chapter of the Alopecia Areata Foundation proposed legislation that required insurance companies to cover the cost of medical grade wigs for those experiencing medical-related hair loss.

In 2021, House Rules Committee Chairman James P. McGovern (MA-02) and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) led their colleagues in re-introducing Wigs in the Durable Medical Equipment Act. This legislation will help individuals affected by Alopecia and patients with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy and other types of medical related hair loss.

Difference Between Private Insurance and Medicare Coverage

Many private insurance plans cover wigs for those undergoing treatments that cause hair loss or are affected by alopecia areata. This bill would allow cranial prosthetics (wigs) coverage under Medicare.

On August 2, 2022, of this year, Senator Blumenthal introduced the proposal and amendment of the bill proposing to amend title XVII of the social security act.

The proposal is as follows “Section 1861(n) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(n)) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: “Such term also includes cranial prosthesis furnished to an individual, but only where the dermatologist, oncologist, or attending physician of the individual certifies in writing the medical necessity of such prostheses as part of a proposed course of rehabilitative treatment.”

What this Means for Those Suffering Hair Loss

For people suffering from medical-related hair loss, this is huge. This proposed bill means those not just covered with private insurance are eligible for cranial prosthetics covered through health insurance.

As a cranial prosthesis specialist, this means that if passed, your network of clients can increase by 17.8%.

The estimated percentage of Americans covered through health government health insurance is 17.8%. Being able to service all clients regardless of their insurance is a win because all victims of medical-related hair loss deserve a sense of normalcy.

More Opportunities for Medical Wig Specialists

As a cranial prosthesis specialist, one of the primary goals is to provide clients suffering from medical-related hair loss a sense of normalcy as they navigate through the perils of hair restoration.

If this bill passes, this will assist you in doing so. Currently, clients covered through government insurance are not covered and have to pay out of pocket for prosthetics. This bill will allow them to experience a sense of normalcy without additional financial burdens.

How to get More Information and Help

For more information about this bill and ways to support it, please visit:

S.4708 - A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide coverage for wigs as durable medical equipment under the Medicare program, and for other purposes.

You can text to sign the position and support it.