No Coverage?? This seems silly!

So, after i became excited about deciding to shave my head - I immediately started to inquire about insurance coverage...only to become frustrated with it!!
My employment benefits will not cover anything. I called up social assistance to see if they help out...they don't. They gave me a number for "assistive" something ( I can't remember it now)...they don't cover wigs at all. I have been looking all over for some sort of relief, but can't find anything.
Canada must have something for people with this medical "challenge" (disease seems so harsh). I can find lots of things for chemotherapy patients, but hardly anything for AA patients.

Before I get my last strainds bent out of shape - does anyone have any information about assistance with funding for a wig? If not - I'll just need to bite the bullet and not eat for a month - lol, just kidding.

I am eagerly waiting to shave my head, but I don't want to do it until I have my wig. I'm wishing I only knew how to count to ten - because then I wouldn't know how many hairs are actually falling out - they say a hundred hairs are normal - is that in an hour, or day??

I thought that I would be more stressed about this - but I have found that joking about it has been therapy in itself. I mean, what else can you do about it?? I read on somebody's blog, that they have gone through the tears, but still dislike it when people say "it's only hair"....I completely agree with that. My friend told me, "Oh NO....don't shave your head..." But really, it's so much easier to say that when you have a healthy, thick head of hair. Anyways...enough complaining...

Thanks again for listening!!! You are all great!!

Views: 5

Comment by Christie on January 20, 2009 at 3:27pm
Yikes!! I'm in Ontario, Canada...so I do have more coverage...just not for wigs. they don't consider it "medical"...
Hopefully with a new president - you guys in the states, will be given much more than you have right now!!
Comment by Carol on January 20, 2009 at 6:27pm
Christie,
Even if your insurance company doesn't have anything written specifically about alopecia it can't hurt giving them a call or email asking if they would consider coverage for a "cranial prosthesis" due to a rare autoimmune disease called alopecia. You will need a letter from your doctor (make copies of this as you may need it for other reasons) and I can arrange for you to get a pamphlet from NAAF explaining the physical and emotional symptoms of alopecia. It may be enough for them to at least consider it. If not there are a few good places that will give you a great price on a wig if you show them your doctors note. If you absolutely cannot afford to buy a wig at all, NAAF also has wig grants as well as some other alopecia groups which if you are selected you have a list of shops where you can get your free wig. Also keep your eyes peeled for posts from people who are giving away a gently used wigs. I hope that helps! :)
Comment by Lee on January 21, 2009 at 1:15am
Christie,
I had a big problem with this as well. You have to fight for them to cover...HARD! Go to the NAAF website and they have a section where they can help you with insurance companies ; )

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