The Wig and Hairpiece Subsidy
(This article was prepared with information from the Ministry of Health website, current as of October 2009).
This particular payment may not apply to everyone but could be of assistance for women having experiencing temporary hair loss due to cancer treatments.
The New Zealand Government (through Sector Services, a division of the Ministry of Health) provides a subsidy to help women purchase a wig/hairpiece and related headwear. Here we offer some information on how to access this entitlement.
If you would like to talk to someone who has accessed the subsidy, please call us on 0800 BreaCanSupport (0800 273 222) and we’ll talk you through it.
What is the wig/hairpiece and headwear subsidy?
Where can I obtain information about the wig/hairpiece and headwear subsidy?
Am I eligible for the subsidy?
What products can I claim?
How much is the payment, do I have to pay anything and what time period does it cover?
What if my hair grows back and then I lose it again?
How do I get my wig/hairpiece and headwear?
What happens when my entitlement period ends?
Headwear supplier Head High
Wig supplier Wigs by Haircreations
What is the Wigs/ Hairpieces and Headwear subsidy?
The subsidy is for those who have hair loss due to a medical condition or from some cancer treatments. The payments reduce the cost of purchasing and maintaining a Wig or Hairpiece or other related products.
Where can I obtain information about the wig/hairpiece and headwear subsidy?
The Ministry of Health issues a leaflet about the subsidy and how to claim it. This should be given to you by your specialist. These leaflets are also available at the Cancer Society and public hospitals. If you have not received this information:
1. request it from your specialist
2. visit the Ministry of Health website for Wig/Hairpiece and Headwear payments
3. telephone Sector Services information on 0800 458 448, Monday-Friday 8am – 5pm (on Wednesdays the hours are 930am – 5pm).
4. Call us on 0800BreaCanSupport (0800 273 222) and we can help.
Am I eligible for the subsidy?
You may claim for this service payment if you:
1. are a New Zealand citizen or are ordinarily resident here; and
2. have a medical condition that has caused you to lose your hair (like treatment for cancer, alopecia or other scalp conditions that cause hair loss). You will need a current medical certificate from your specialist or GP listing your NHI number, details of the hair loss condition and whether it is permanent or temporary.
What products can I claim?
The subsidy can be used to cover the cost of the following items only:
1. Wig or hairpiece
2. Headwear (hats, turbans etc)
How much is the payment, do I have to pay anything and what time period does it cover?
The amount depends on whether the hair loss is permanent or temporary.
1. For adults with temporary hair loss, the entitlement is $400 (including GST) over a one-year period. All or part of the $400 can be claimed at any time over the one-year period.
2. For adults with permanent hair loss, the entitlement is $2280 (including GST) over a nine-year period. All or part of the $2280 can be claimed at any time over the nine-year period.
If you purchase items that cost more than your entitlement balance, then you must make up the difference e.g. if the Wig or Hairpiece you have chosen for your first purchase costs $495, the final cost to you will be $95. You or the supplier can claim the remaining $400 from Sector Services.
Note 1: The entitlement period begins on the date you make your first purchase from a supplier. If you are 18 or over and your growth has been affected by cancer or cancer interventions you may be entitled to $1200 over a three-year period. To apply for this entitlement please contact the Ministry of Health and provide supporting medical information (from your GP or specialist).
Requests for this entitlement should be sent to:
Disability Services
Ministry of Health,
PO Box 5013,
Wellington 6140.
Note 2 : At the end of your entitlement period any unspent amount is cancelled. If your hair loss is permanent, an entitlement of $2280 (including GST) will be credited, for a nine-year period. In other cases application must be made to Sector Services for another entitlement by sending in a new medical certificate verifying that your hair loss is either temporary or permanent. A new entitlement balance with then be credited.
What if my hair grows back and then I lose it again?
If you lose your hair again and it is still considered temporary hair loss, the second claim is treated the same as the first. You will be eligible for an entitlement of $400 for a one-year period from the date you make your first purchase after losing your hair again.
How do I get my wig/hairpiece and headwear?
Your GP or medical specialist will provide you with information about the subsidy, the medical certificate and a list of suppliers in your area. Make an appointment with a wig supplier and choose the products that are right for you. The supplier can then make a claim for the subsidy on your behalf or you may wish to make the claim yourself.
Claim by supplier
The supplier fills in details of the product and its cost on the Wig and Hairpiece Claim Form and then ask you to fill in your personal details, and sign the form. The supplier will then complete an additional form (stating that they are claiming on your behalf) and forward both forms to Sector Services, with your medical certificate (where this is your first claim). You do not pay for the product yourself but keep a copy of the receipt the supplier gives you for your personal records.
Claim by you
You pay for the product yourself. To make a claim for reimbursement you must first have a Sector Services payee number. Ring Sector Services on 0800 458 448 for a Payee Number Application Form and a Wig and Hairpiece Claim Form. You will need to complete the forms and return them to Sector Services for reimbursement of your costs. Claims will not be paid unless the following items are received: a completed Wig and Hairpiece Claim Form, a receipt from the supplier and a current medical certificate (for initial claims only).
What happens when my entitlement period ends?
At the end of your entitlement period any unspent amount is cancelled. If the Ministry is satisfied that your hair loss is permanent, an entitlement of $2280 (including GST) will be credited, for a nine-year period. In other cases you must apply to Sector Services for another entitlement. To do this you must send in a new medical certificate that verifies that your hair loss is either temporary or permanent. A new entitlement balance with then be credited.
Wigs by Haircreations
An Auckland business located in Newton offering a comprehensive range of wigs, hairpieces and information. Their website is also worth a look as it features information about choosing a wig and what styles/colours may be right for you. Visit www.wigs.co.nz
More questions or concerns? Please call us on 0800BreaCanSupport (0800 273 222) and we can help.
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