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Comfort Wigs, Etc is an approved provider for almost all insurance/healthcare networks
in North Texas. Unfortunately, the administration costs were
prohibitive, often taking up to 5 employee administration hours and
usually 7 weeks to 16 months to get partial payment from the insurance
companies for each wig.
Comfort Wigs, ETC had gone through
rigorous screening for professionalism, privacy, liability, quality, licensing
and pricing by almost all insurance companies. We can help the
patient/client learn to check benefits and we will file the insurance
claim for you and have the money sent to you if the wig is included in
your benefit package.
MEDICARE
WILL NOT PAY
FOR ANY PORTION OF A
WIG , REGARDLESS THE REASON FOR HAIR LOSS
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The
only wig boutique in North Texas that will bill insurance
companies for a wig. Any of our staff can answer questions
regarding fees and billing policies
1. With over 450 wigs in
stock, we offer a wide range of wigs to meet most customers’ style
needs and budget.
2. 98% of wig styles come in average size and only about 55% of people’s
heads are average size. This means that about 45% of the wigs need
alterations to get them to fit the head properly.
3. A wig can be properly sized or altered if the client has very
short hair or no hair. If you elect to get the wig before your
hair is lost, there is an additional alteration fee when you
return for alterations after hair loss
4. Insurance companies do not automatically cover the cost of a
wig. The amount an insurance policy pays for a wig is
determined by the benefits your employer negotiated with the healthcare
plan.
5. Some insurance companies say they cover a wig, and then reject
the claim.
THE CUSTOMER IS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY BALANCE NOT PAID BY
THEIR INSURANCE COMPANY, REGARDLESS OF THE REASON.
6. If you have any questions regarding your specific insurance
benefits, we ask that you contact your company regarding the
details of the plan it is conducting on your behalf.
7. Please do not hesitate to ask us questions about our office
policies. We want the client to be comfortable in dealing with these
matters and we urge the client to consult with us if she has any
questions regarding our services or fees.
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8. A prescription from your physician is required for
billing. The prescription saves you sales tax on the wig and
qualifies the wig as a medical tax deduction.
A prescription does not guarantee that
a customer’s insurance company will cover a wig.
The proper prescription will include the patient's diagnosis code
as well as the physician's NPI and UPIN numbers
9. Wigs are subject to ‘wear and tear’ like an article of
clothing and will require some maintenance. Wigs that are
collar length or longer are subject to “friction frizz” that
can be remedied with a plastic hot air brush.
10. Under penalty of Texas law, we may not sell a used wig.
You may not return a wig after it leaves the store except
for manufacturer defects.
11. The customer is responsible for the cost of the wig
if the insurance company declines benefits for any reason.
12. The customer is responsible for getting their
prescription and other documents required by their insurance
company prior to billing of the wig.
13. The customer is responsible for expedite shipping fees,
i.e. overnight.
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We are in-network, with the following insurance companies:
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AEtna |
Blue Cross, Blue Shield |
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Cigna Health Services |
ppo Next |
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Accountable
Healthcare |
Healthsmart |
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Independent Physicians of
Denton County |
ProNet |
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North Texas Healthcare |
Multiplan
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United Healthcare |
Medicare (Does
Not Pay For Wigs) |
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Galaxy Healthcare |
One HealthPlan of Texas - Great West |
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Unicare |
Texas True Choice |
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Beech Street |
PHCS |
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Wig Insurance Information
Many networks pay for all, or a large
portion, of a wig for medically induced hair loss, depending on the annual
deductible and Out Of Pocket expenses met . These reasons may include chemotherapy, radiation to
the head, alopecia and trichotillomania (hair pulling). Aetna seems to be the
company most likely to cover a wig for alopecia or hair pulling. Medicare DOES NOT pay
for wigs no matter the reason of hair loss. Since wigs, or cranial hair prostheses,
are covered under some healthcare policies, it is imperative that
benefits be checked for each individual patient. Also understand
that even though your policy may cover a wig, they may cover only a
potion of the wig, or not at all.
Wig benefits (in your insurance policy) are determined by your employer
who each year negotiates with the insurance company for a healthcare package that
best meets the employer's and their employees needs. Therefore,
wig benefits are a contractual issue and, basically there is nothing that can be done to
get your wig paid for by the insurance company if a wig was not originally included
as a benefit. Comfort Wigs' staff was surprised that one company's
policy paid for a wig only if the policy holder was being treated for
breast cancer.
Try going to your employer's human resource manager and negotiate with them to
pay all or part of the wig, because "you need a good wig to be presentable
and self confident at work, and it will help you psychologically in the
healing process." An attractive wig helps co-workers to not focus on
the 'co-worker with cancer'.
Items not covered by
insurance networks in most states are: wig care products and services, the wig cut and style, hats, turbans, scarves
or any other head-coverings, however, several states do require insurance
companies to cover head-coverings. Check with your state.
Mastectomy Products
The Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act
of 1998 requires insurers who provide coverage for mastectomy surgery to
provide coverage for:
- Reconstruction of the breast on
which the mastectomy was performed
- Surgery and reconstruction of the
other breast to produce a symmetrical appearance
- Prostheses and physical
complications for all stages of mastectomy, including lymphedema, in a
manner determined in consultation with the attending physician and the
patient.
In essence, Federal Law mandates that healthcare providers who
cover the cost to remove a breast due to cancer must also cover the
cost of reconstruction and / or mastectomy products. There are
exceptions to every rule, i.e., self-insured groups, in some cases, will
not cover. The reason for this Federal Mandate is health as well as
aesthetic. When a breast is removed the loss of that weight on one
side will throw you off balance. Your body compensates for that loss,
which now effects your neck, shoulders and back and causes even
more problems down the road. Each healthcare provider has different 'standards' as
to the number of products and the frequency of purchase. Most insurance
companies we work with allow 1 breast prosthesis (2 if you are
bilateral) every 2 years and 2 to 4 mastectomy bras each year. And, of course, there is always your deductible.
Your deductible must be met before insurance will pay for these
products. Most insurance companies will also cover the BALANCE
products, so check that out also. Lumpectomy surgeries can include
removal of the affected portion of the breast. Companies that
manufacture breast forms produce several products that replace the
removed tissue with partial breasts that are available in several shapes
and up to 14 sizes to fill-in or balance the affected breast with the
other breast. |