A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide coverage for wigs as durable medical equipment under the Medicare program, and for other purposes.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would change Medicare rules to allow the program to help pay for wigs for certain patients. Right now, Medicare does not generally cover the cost of wigs, even for people who lose their hair as a result of medical treatments like chemotherapy or radiation therapy for cancer. Under this proposal, wigs would be officially classified as "durable medical equipment" — the same category that covers things like wheelchairs, walkers, and oxygen equipment — which would make them eligible for Medicare reimbursement.

The people most directly affected by this bill would be Medicare beneficiaries (generally adults 65 and older, as well as some younger people with disabilities) who experience hair loss due to a medical condition or treatment. For many patients, particularly cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, wigs can be an important part of maintaining dignity and emotional well-being during treatment, but they can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. This bill would reduce that out-of-pocket financial burden for qualifying Medicare recipients.

The bill was introduced in the Senate and has been sent to the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees Medicare-related legislation. It has not yet been voted on. If passed, it would require Medicare — and likely Medicare recipients through cost-sharing like copays or deductibles — to share in the cost of wigs when prescribed or recommended for a medical reason. The broader financial impact on the Medicare program would depend on how coverage rules are ultimately written and what conditions qualify a patient to receive this benefit.