Canadians with Alopecia

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61 Comments

Comment by JeezLouise on May 8, 2008 at 7:13pm

Carol - I'm insured through my work, but it's Johnston's (Johnson's?) insurance.
Louise

Comment by Carol on May 6, 2008 at 1:58pm

JeezLouise
What insurance company are you with? I'm at the point where I think I may try handing it in with my taxes like Coral Lee suggested. I'm sick of fighting with them - is it impossible to make anything insurance related pleasant?

Mike - We may move to Sask. eventually. We went in January to a town called Oxbow and almost bought a house.

Comment by JeezLouise on May 5, 2008 at 7:35pm

My insurance has been pretty good - I am reimbursed 80% of the cost, up to $400 per year. It still basically only means one wig per year is covered by insurance, but it's better than nothing.

Mike - I lived in SK for 2 years when I was 11/12 years old, but it's been awhile ;)

Comment by Mike on May 5, 2008 at 4:18pm

Hey everyone. Great to see a Canadian group! Are there any here from Saskatchewan???

Comment by Diane on May 4, 2008 at 7:34am

Few years ago, I've asked... the answer I got was that they only reimburse one wig to cancer patient undergoing chemo.... I never asked again and did not fight for it... I've heard that in Québec, one can get it paid through the RAMQ but it is a long fight.... the only person I knew who was succesful with it took her request to her deputy!

Comment by Coral Lee Schober (a.k.a HeavenTree) on May 3, 2008 at 10:39pm

If you cannot get insurance to cover your wigs, get a prescription from your family doctor or derm for a Medical Hair Prothesis (not sure I spelled that correctly), then submit your script and the receipt for your wig along with your income tax return. You will get a portion back from the government. Hope that helps.

Comment by Carol on May 2, 2008 at 9:17am

Insurance eh? I've dealt with them and they are just so - AGH! They told me they'd reimburse me for one wig but only if I had developped alopecia after we started our plan. Unfortunately that wasn't the case so I never got a wig. I wrote letters, gave them letters from doctors and a package from the NAAF (which only seems to matter in the US) and nothing! If you're going to fight it though make sure you refer to a wig as a prosthesis and make sure they are aware of all the mental effects of alopecia. In this case it doesn't hurt to victimize yourself to get your way. I'm sure it'll work at some point. Good luck!

Comment by Cheryl Carvery on May 1, 2008 at 8:57pm

Thought I would add a question to this forum. Do any of you have any luck with getting insurance to pay/contribute to your wig purchases. I know in the USA they a lot of people receive reimbursements for wigs.

Comment by Orbit on May 1, 2008 at 6:22pm

Yep, runny nose and watery eyes, that's me - so glamorous! I'm always getting crap in them. When I am cleaning anything dusty, vacumming, or gardening I wear one of those little hospital masks. It helps keep the allergens at bay. I know i look like a SARS victim, but really don' t care.

Rebecca, I haven't had the burning or pain described in the eye area. You may want to ask the doctor. Don't worry about the brows, you'll get better at drawing on the eyebrows, it only takes me about 5 mins to do both these days.

Comment by Erin on May 1, 2008 at 1:28pm

I have no eyelashes other than random ones that come and go, but never a full lash line.. and no eyebrows at all. I definately find that I have eye problem from this.. I've had blisters and bumps on my eyeballs.. it is annoying, that is also along with my immune system attacking them haha.. anyway also the no nose hair part sucks.. i am always having a runny nose.. ohh well haha

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