§4245.__Coverage for wigs

1.__Required coverage.__All health maintenance organization individual and group contracts must provide coverage for the purchase of a wig or hairpiece when the wig or hairpiece is purchased to cover baldness or thin hair resulting from a disease attested to by a physician.

2.__Application.__The requirements of this section apply to all policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State on or after October 1, 1999.__For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

SUMMARY

This bill requires individual and group health insurance policies and health maintenance organization contracts to cover the purchase of a wig or hairpiece when the purchase is made to cover baldness or thin hair resulting from a disease attested to by a physician. The bill requires similar Medicaid reimbursement to the extent allowed by federal law.