Does Insurance Cover Hair Transplants? Here’s What to Know

Key Takeaways:

• Hair restoration procedures such as transplants are typically classified as elective or cosmetic, meaning they’re not considered a medically necessary procedure and are therefore rarely eligible for insurance coverage.

• Most types of insurance do not cover hair transplants for male pattern baldness, though limited exceptions may apply when hair loss is caused by injury, illness, or certain medical procedures or medications.

• Patients often pay out of pocket for hair transplants, with some clinics offering financing options and payment plans to help manage the high cost of these procedures.

• When insurance coverage does apply, it’s usually for treatments addressing hair loss from specific health conditions — such as alopecia areata or scalp trauma — rather than for cosmetic hair restoration procedures.
  

Hair transplants are a popular surgery, with research showing that 703,183 transplants were performed in 2021 (the year for which we have the most recent data). But they’re also a very expensive procedure, which leads many people to wonder: Does insurance cover a hair transplant?

We’ll answer that question and more below.

It’s very unlikely that insurance will cover the cost of a hair transplant surgery. In the vast majority of cases, hair transplants are considered cosmetic procedures, and cosmetic procedures are not covered as they are not deemed medically necessary. 

Research suggests that patients’ out-of-pocket expenses for cosmetic surgery are rising faster than the total costs of those procedures.

Most people pay for hair transplants out of pocket, without help from their health insurance provider.

In some (rare) cases, coverage may be available if hair loss results from a medical condition or treatment, including alopecia areata, scalp injuries or burns, or side effects of certain medications. It’s always best to check on your specific insurance policies for a better idea of what will be covered.

Many people wonder if insurance covers hair transplant procedures after hair loss due to chemotherapy. 

It’s unlikely that a transplant will be covered in this scenario — however, a hair transplant generally is not the right choice to remedy chemo hair loss, as this type of hair loss is typically considered temporary (though there are exceptions) and does not tend to leave enough hair in the donor area (areas of the scalp where hair still grows) to move effectively to the hairless area. 

If you’ve been looking into hair transplants, you’ve likely seen that Turkey is a popular destination for those seeking hair transplants abroad.

Other popular countries for medical tourism hair transplants include Mexico, South Korea, and Thailand.

While hair transplants abroad are often less expensive than in the United States (for example, the average cost of a transplant in Turkey is between $2000 and $5000), health insurance plans will not cover a hair transplant performed outside of the country.

You should always check with your specific insurer and plan to find out what’s covered.

While the specifics vary by insurer and plan, here are some situations where insurance may cover hair loss treatment:

• You have certain autoimmune conditions. Certain health conditions, such as alopecia areata, cause the immune system to attack hair follicles, leading to hair loss. Insurance plans may cover treatments for alopecia areata, including corticosteroid injections, immunotherapy, or janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors. Wigs may also be covered.

• You have a scalp injury. If an accident, surgery, or burn causes your hair loss, your hair transplant may be covered. For example, Aetna insurance states that a hair transplant may be considered a medical necessity, “when performed to correct permanent hair loss that is clearly caused by disease or injury,” in which case it would be covered.

• You’re experiencing hair loss as a medication side effect. Certain medications may cause hair loss as a side effect, including antidepressants, statins, certain antibiotics, antihypertensive medications, and more. Check in with your plan to see if hair transplants are covered in the case of hair loss as a side effect of medication.

A 2021 review of 90 hair transplant clinics found that, on average, patients in the U.S. paid $13,610 for the procedure. This number leaves many people wondering how they’ll afford a hair transplant.

Here are a few strategies for paying for a hair transplant:

• Set up an in-clinic payment plan: Most hair transplant clinics will allow you to pay in smaller monthly increments rather than one lump sum.

• Look into a CareCredit card: This is a credit card specifically for out-of-pocket medical expenses. It offers promotional financing options for a set time for certain expenses. Just note that it tends to carry a very high interest rate, upwards of 30 percent once the promotional period has ended.

• Look for promotional offers: Some clinics offer occasional promotional offers that are interest-free for a certain period of time.

• Consider the type of hair transplant and the number of grafts: Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) and follicular unit transplantation (FUT) are the two most popular types of hair transplants. FUT is generally less expensive. Hair transplants are often priced by graft (cluster of hair), so the fewer grafts you need, the cheaper the procedure will be.

Does an HSA cover a hair transplant?

No, hair transplants are generally not covered by Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) as they are not primarily for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of a disease or injury (which is what the IRS uses to determine what is HSA-eligible).

Can I use financing or payment plans to pay for hair restoration surgery?

Yes, many clinics offer payment plans or financing options allowing you to pay for a hair transplant in installments.

Why doesn’t insurance cover hair restoration procedures for male pattern baldness?

Hair transplant surgery is not a medically necessary procedure (it’s considered cosmetic, like most plastic surgery) and therefore is not covered.

Hair transplants can be a game-changer for anyone searching for a permanent solution to hair loss, but they’re generally considered elective cosmetic procedures rather than medically necessary. For this reason, most insurance companies do not provide coverage for hair transplant surgery. For those considering a transplant, it’s best to plan financially in advance, explore payment options, and discuss the most cost-effective approach with your provider.