Bill > S04961

This bill requires health insurance policies in New York to provide coverage for cranial prostheses (wigs or hairpieces) for individuals experiencing medical hair loss due to diagnosed health conditions, chronic illnesses, or injuries such as alopecia areata, alopecia medicamentosa, scarring alopecia, and lupus. The coverage has specific parameters: it must be prescribed by a licensed provider, is limited to one cranial prosthesis per year, and has a maximum benefit of $750 per instance, subject to the policy's standard cost-sharing requirements. The bill amends existing insurance law to apply this requirement to individual policies, group policies, and hospital and medical service corporations, ensuring that people experiencing medical hair loss have access to cranial prostheses as part of their treatment. By mandating this coverage, the bill aims to support patients dealing with health conditions that result in hair loss, providing them with a means to address the potential psychological and aesthetic impacts of their medical conditions.

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4961