Just Diagnosed

Alopecia areata is a common disease that results in the loss of hair on the scalp and elsewhere on the body. There are three types of alopecia areata: alopecia areata, alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis.

Alopecia areata, the most common variation of the autoimmune disease, presents itself as round, smooth patches of various sizes.

In all forms of alopecia areata, the hair follicles remain alive and are ready to resume normal hair production whenever they receive the appropriate signal. In all cases, hair re-growth may occur even without treatment and even after many years.

Alopecia areata occurs in males and females of all ages and races; however, onset most often begins in childhood and can be psychologically devastating. Although not life-threatening, alopecia areata is most certainly life-altering, and its sudden onset, recurrent episodes, and unpredictable course have a profound psychological impact on the lives of those disrupted by this disease. But there is hope. In all cases, hair re-growth may occur even without treatment and even after many years.

Getting Treatment

Treatment options are best discussed with the Dermatologist who made the diagnosis. However, there is general information that NAAF can provide, based primarily on your type of alopecia areata. This information is only useful as a resource; your doctor should be your primary source of all medical information.

If you are unable to find a dermatologist in your area who treats patients with alopecia areata, please contact . NAAF has a list of dermatologists across the country that treats alopecia areata patients.

Patchy Alopecia Areata
Alopecia AreataTotalis/Universalis

How to File for Insurance Reimbursement

Many people with Alopecia Areata are trying to convince insurance carriers to cover the cost of a prosthesis even when the law does not require it. Information from people who have succeed in obtaining insurance payments for hair prostheses or medical treatments has been compiled in NAAF’s Insurance Packet. NAAF will provide this packet upon request.

Here, in brief, are the steps we suggest you follow to convince an insurance carrier to cover the cost of hair prostheses or medical treatment:

Prepare for Denial of Your Claim

• Speak with your plan administrator.
• Obtain a list of your rights as the Insured.
• Obtain a copy of your full contract.
• Know your contract.  Pay particular attention to exclusions for prosthetics (wigs may be excluded as cosmetic). If your policy does not spell out exclusions under prosthetics, this may help you win your claim. If your claim is denied as ‘not a covered benefit,’ write an appeal.
• As for a review by a medical review board
• Attach a copy of your original claim and all supporting materials.  Explain the difference between a wig and a prosthesis. Explain the functions of body hair: it protects the scalp from the sun; protects eyes from dust particles; regulates body temperature; filters particles from the nose and protects the skin.
• If you are undergoing treatment, explain again how this is NOT cosmetic treatment.
• Ask for a written reply (insurance companies resist writing anything that may be considered ‘bad faith’ in future court cases).
• Send your appeal to a claims supervisor or manager. If you don’t, the person who initially reviewed your claim may reject it again.

Consider Small Claims Court

• Keep all correspondence in preparation for this possibility.
• Do not reply on your memory.
• Insist on written confirmation from your carrier for all conversations.  Make sure this includes date, time and full name and title of the person with whom you spoke.
• You should follow up all conversations with your own confirmation letter, which you should supply to the insurance carrier. Make sure to document the date, time, and full name and title of the person with whom you spoke.

Contact Your State Insurance Commissioner

• You may file a claim against your insurance company through your state Insurance Commissioner’s office.

Work with your State Legislature to Secure Mandated Coverage
 

After an alopecia areata diagnosis, it is important to realize that you are not alone. NAAF has developed many programs aimed at connecting individuals who have alopecia areata in common. Whether you would like to talk with another parent on the telephone, or you would prefer to have your family attend a local support group, NAAF can help. It will do you no good to keep your questions and your feelings bottled inside; there is somebody who will understand, and may even have a bit of valuable advice.