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Hair stylist designs wigs for chemotherapy patients
By Stephanie M. Book , Staff writer
Lewisville Leader
10/09/2002
Don Seal may be one of the
few hair stylists whose work is covered by health insurance. But those wanting a perm or
buzz cut shouldn’t go searching for their insurance cards quite yet. Seal
specializes in preparing wigs for cancer patients. He is the first stylist in
Texas whose wigs are covered by Blue Cross-Blue Shield’s HMO Blue. He is the
only Dallas-Fort Worth area stylists approved by Cigna, United HealthCare, and
one of two providers covered in Aetna policies.
Approval allows cancer patients who suffer hair loss from chemotherapy to
receive a wig worth up to $500 with minimal out-of-pocket expense, helping ease
their transition back into the workplace and daily life.
Seal, owner of Comfort
Wigs, Etc., located at 2410 S. Stemmons Fwy. Suite C in Lewisville, said he
started working with wigs for cancer patients almost 10 years ago. But he
couldn’t find a good brand of wig and often referred clients to vendors for a
better brand of wig.
Several years ago, his brother suffered through cancer and later had Seal cut
his wig. Seal said his brother’s disposition changed immediately, encouraging
him to work more with cancer patients.
Seal searched for a better
brand of synthetic wig and, 2-1/2 years ago, found out insurance networks could
approve him. Comfort Wigs, Etc. is now approved by 18 insurance companies and
climbing. Seal received approval from Unicare on Monday.
Seal carries close to
500
wigs at a time in the store. He said he uses mostly synthetic wigs because real
hair wigs are too much trouble for the chemotherapy patient to maintain.
“With the synthetic wigs,
you don’t have bad-hair days,” he said. “You don’t have to blow dry or curl”. Seal carries machine-made
wigs and those with a monofilament top, a transparent cap to which the hair is
attached.
“When you look at the wig,
you can see right through it to the scalp, and the hair looks like it is
literally growing out of the head,” he said. “It is amazing and quality. It
looks and feels real.” Seal said the wigs come in
various styles and lengths. Though 95 percent of all people wear an average
size, Seal carries petite and large sizes as well. Wigs cost $90 to $1500.
He said the patient can
come to the shop for a visit, look at the hair and figure out what they want,
decide the price range or at which price insurance approved them.
The patient can then make
another appointment to get the wig fitted and cut while wearing it. “No cancer survivor forgets
how they felt when they lost their hair,” he said. “I work to obtain a
completely natural-looking hairstyle and, in many cases, the patient likes the
wig as well as their own hair. A high-quality wig almost always elevates the
patient’s attitude and self esteem.”
Because Seal is a licensed
cosmetologist, he is able to cut the wig on the patients’ head, something most
wig providers are not licensed to do.
“Most patients don’t want
to stand out,” he said. “One of my most pleased clients told me while cutting
the wig that her husband cried the night before at the thought that she would
have to shave her head. She then called me two days later and said her husband
couldn’t even tell the difference between her hair that morning and the wig that
evening, and he cried again.”
“A lot of people cannot afford a wig and especially a good one, but their
whole demeanor and self-esteem changes when they get a wig,” he said, “and then
again when they get a quality wig cut properly for their head.”
Comfort Wigs, ETC is also
the only provider in the DFW Metropelx who takes insurance assignments (patient pays
only their co-pay) for breast prostheses, mastectomy bras and camisoles for
almost all insurance companies. Seal said he employs three Certified Mastectomy
Fitters who fit patients in comfortable, private dressing rooms. He tries to
keep his business atmosphere inviting in décor and always has refreshments.
“It does not look like a
clinic, and the people really appreciate that,” he said. “We tried to create a
safe haven for patients to come and feel comfortable and not feel rushed.”
Other providers require the
patient to pay for the wigs and mastectomy products out of pocket and then file
for reimbursement from the insurance company.
“Lots of people don’t know
about these insurance benefits. I literally had to teach some of the insurance
companies about wig coverage. That is why it took so long to get the approvals,”
he said. “Now I am having a rough time to get recognized by chemotherapy
treatment
centers.”
Seal said that Medicare
pays for mastectomy products but not wigs. “These people need to know
because many of them are on fixed incomes,” he said.
State Sen. Jane Nelson,
R-Flower Mound, pushed the legislature to pass a bill mandating insurance
coverage for up to $150 for wigs or head coverings. Nelson will propose
increasing that amount to $200 when the legislature next convenes in January. Seal said she asked him to
speak about the law to the Texas senate next spring. In the meantime, Seal
suggests that people write to Nelson to encourage her in her endeavors to push
this legislation next year.
“One in every eight women
will get breast cancer in their lives. You could be writing for yourself,” he
said. “The cost for insurance to cover a wig is nothing compared to the overall
cost of treating the disease, and it does so much for the person.”
For information
specifically catered to women and men undergoing chemotherapy treatments and
answer to questions about hair loss and what patients can expect during
treatment and hair re-growth, call Seal at 214-488-8885 or visit
http://www.comfortwigsetc.com |