Question for those with Hair Loss - Hair Loss / Alopecia Message Board

AdnRo · 03-22-2005, 08:54 AM

Hi!
I'm a 26 year old female. I started noticing my hair was thinning last fall, and it's only getting worse. I see that people generally see a dermatologist and/or an endocrinologist to get to the root of the problem. My question is, have any of you ever had your health insurance pay for it? I have Blue Cross HMO and I know they say they don't cover "cosmetic" related things. However, they do cover medical related issues, such as alopecia areata (I know this isn't the problem-my thinning is diffuse, not in patches), but not female/male pattern baldness (I think this may be the problem). However, obviously one cannot really know the cause of thinning hair until after an office visit, tests, scalp biopsies, etc. It seems like all these things could get quite expensive if paying out of pocket.
So, if anyone could share what their experience has been with determining the cause of hair thinning and insurance reimbursement, I would appreciate it.
Also, for those that paid out of pocket, approximately how much were the costs?
Thanks!!!!!

Veronicaberry · 03-22-2005, 01:42 PM

as long as you go to a doctor in the hmo the tests will be covered. You would need a referral from a gp to see an endo. So dont waste your time with a dermatologist they will just test you and then refer you to someone else but they cant refer you to an endo.

Go to your PCP then let them refer you everything will be covered.