NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A2683 Revised 04/29/25
SPONSOR: Bores TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the social services law and the insurance law, in
relation to coverage for a cranial prosthesis
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To provide for insurance coverage for those prescribed cranial prosthe-
sis (wigs) for a diagnosed health condition
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one: short title
Section two: provides for cranial protheses to be covered for those on
public health insurance plans with a diagnosed medical condition; speci-
fies the coverage amount
Section three: provides for cranial protheses to be covered for those on
private insurance plans with a diagnosed medical condition; specifies
the coverage amount
Section four: provides for cranial protheses to be covered by group
health plans for individuals with a diagnosed medical condition; speci-
fies the coverage amount
Section five: provides for cranial protheses to be covered by hospital
services corporations, health service corporations, or medical expense
indemnity funds for individuals with a diagnosed medical condition;
specifies the coverage amount
Section six: specifies the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
This bill aims to ensure that individuals suffering from medical condi-
tions that cause hair loss have access to necessary wigs and hairpieces
as part of their healthcare coverage. Hair loss, especially when caused
by a medical condition like alopecia or lupus, can significantly affect
a person's mental and emotional well-being. Many individuals experienc-
ing hair loss face a heightened sense of self-consciousness, depression,
and social stigma, which can negatively impact their quality of life. By
mandating that both private and public health insurance cover the cost
of wigs for those diagnosed with conditions that cause hair loss, this
bill provides crucial support for patients, allowing them to maintain
their dignity and mental health during difficult times. New York
wouldn't be anything like the first to mandate this kind of coverage,
and would join nine (and counting) other states in covering wigs for
alopecia patients.
In addition, the cost of wigs and hairpieces can be prohibitively expen-
sive, often falling outside the scope of what most insurance plans
currently cover. For individuals already facing the physical, emotional,
and financial burdens of a serious health condition, the lack of wig
coverage further exacerbates their hardship. This bill would ease the
financial strain on patients, making wigs more accessible and reducing
the psychological effects that hair loss can impose. By recognizing wigs
as a necessary medical expense, this legislation helps to ensure that
all individuals, regardless of their financial situation, have equal
access to the resources that support their recovery and mental well-be-
ing.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
None.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to any policy
issued, delivered, renewed, and/or modified on or after such effective
date.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2683
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 22, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BORES -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the social services law and the insurance law, in
relation to coverage for a cranial prosthesis
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "wig insur-
2 ance guarantee (W.I.G) act".
3 § 2. Subdivision 2 of section 365-a of the social services law is
4 amended by adding a new paragraph (nn) to read as follows:
5 (nn) (i) cranial prosthesis for individuals experiencing permanent or
6 temporary medical hair loss when:
7 (1) prescribed by a licensed provider for the course of treatment for
8 a diagnosed health condition, chronic illness, or injury, including, but
9 not limited to, alopecia areata, alopecia medicamentosa, scarring alope-
10 cia, and lupus;
11 (2) the policy provides coverage for a cranial prosthesis to a recipi-
12 ent no more frequently than once every twelve months; and
13 (3) the coverage is limited to seven hundred fifty dollars for each
14 instance of coverage, and shall be subject to any cost-sharing require-
15 ments that are otherwise applicable.
16 (ii) For the purposes of this paragraph, the term "cranial prosthesis"
17 means a wig or hairpiece.
18 § 3. Subsection (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law is amended by
19 adding a new paragraph 40 to read as follows:
20 (40) (A) Every policy which provides coverage for prostheses shall
21 provide coverage for cranial prostheses for individuals experiencing
22 permanent or temporary medical hair loss provided:
23 (i) a licensed provider prescribes such cranial prosthesis for a
24 covered person's course of treatment for the diagnosed health condition,
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04171-01-5
A. 2683 2
1 chronic illness, or injury, including, but not limited to, alopecia
2 areata, alopecia medicamentosa, scarring alopecia, and lupus;
3 (ii) the policy provides coverage for a cranial prosthesis to a
4 covered person no more frequently than once every twelve months; and
5 (iii) the coverage is limited to seven hundred fifty dollars for each
6 instance of coverage, and shall be subject to any cost-sharing require-
7 ments that are otherwise applicable.
8 (B) For purposes of this paragraph, the term "cranial prosthesis"
9 means a wig or hairpiece.
10 § 4. Subsection (l) of section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by
11 adding a new paragraph 23 to read as follows:
12 (23) (A) Every group or blanket policy delivered or issued for deliv-
13 ery in this state that provides coverage for protheses shall provide
14 coverage for cranial prostheses for individuals experiencing permanent
15 or temporary medical hair loss provided:
16 (i) a licensed provider prescribes the cranial prosthesis for an
17 enrollee's course of treatment for the diagnosed health condition,
18 chronic illness, or injury, including, but not limited to, alopecia
19 areata, alopecia medicamentosa, scarring alopecia, and lupus;
20 (ii) the policy provides coverage for a cranial prosthesis to an indi-
21 vidual enrollee no more frequently than once every twelve months; and
22 (iii) the coverage is limited to seven hundred fifty dollars for each
23 instance of coverage, and shall be subject to any cost-sharing require-
24 ments that are otherwise applicable.
25 (B) For purposes of this paragraph, the term "cranial prosthesis"
26 means a wig or hairpiece.
27 § 5. Section 4303 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new
28 subsection (ww) to read as follows:
29 (ww)(1) A hospital service corporation, health service corporation or
30 medical expense indemnity fund which provides coverage for prostheses
31 shall provide coverage for cranial prostheses for individuals experienc-
32 ing permanent or temporary medical hair loss provided:
33 (A) a licensed provider prescribes the cranial prosthesis for an
34 enrollee's or subscriber's course of treatment for the diagnosed health
35 condition, chronic illness, or injury, including, but not limited to,
36 alopecia areata, alopecia medicamentosa, scarring alopecia, and lupus;
37 (B) the contract provides coverage for a cranial prosthesis to an
38 individual enrollee or subscriber no more frequently than once every
39 twelve months; and
40 (C) the coverage is limited to seven hundred fifty dollars for each
41 instance of coverage, and shall be subject to any cost-sharing require-
42 ments that are otherwise applicable.
43 (2) For the purposes of this subsection, the term "cranial prosthesis"
44 means a wig or hairpiece.
45 § 6. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to any
46 policy issued, delivered, renewed, and/or modified on or after such
47 effective date.
