Does Insurance Cover Hair Loss Treatment?

Hair loss can be a devastating experience, as the familiar face in the mirror begins looking like a stranger. According to Mayo Clinic, if your hair loss is caused by a medical condition, the cost of some treatments might be covered by insurance but in most cases, insurance will not cover hair loss treatment because hair loss is not a medical condition itself.

Is Hair Loss Treatment Covered by Insurance?

“Some medical conditions can also cause hair loss,” William Yates, MD, a board- certified hair loss expert based in Chicago, Illinois tells ishonest Connect to Care. “Severe or sudden weight loss, deficiencies of iron, protein, or vitamin D3, thyroid disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and a myriad of other health problems may lead to hair loss,” Yates says.

“Insurance never covers hair restoration, regardless of the cause,” Yates says. Insurance will usually pay to treat the conditions that cause hair loss — just not the hair loss itself. For example, if you have PCOS, your insurance may cover exams and tests to treat the disease.

Depending on the diagnosis, treating the underlying cause may influence the hair to regrow. When it doesn’t, you will have to pay out of pocket. If you have androgenetic alopecia, you won’t get any insurance coverage at all for treatment, Yates says.

There is one noteworthy exception. Finasteride is a drug for treating an enlarged prostate. It is also approved to treat androgenetic hair loss by blocking the effects of DHT. If you have an enlarged prostate, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and hair loss, you may be able to get insurance coverage for Finasteride.

Get Help Now

Hair loss can be upsetting. Don’t let your fear keep you from receiving treatment. The sooner you address symptoms, the faster you can begin regrowing hair. Early treatment may also prevent irreversible hair loss. Speak to a medical professional today to begin regrowing healthy hair.

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