A Rite of Courage

A little-known fact is that most insurance policies do not cover the cost (which can be formidable) of a wig. Wigs fall under the benefit category of prosthetics. I haven't priced them recently, or seen a claim in the past year, but I have seen wigs priced in the $600 price range for human hair.

This is not a benefit that I enjoy giving, or in the case of most coverages, not giving. Either way, the person calling is already suffering before they ever picked up the phone to call their insurance.

Cancer treatment, skin disease, or whichever medical cause has robbed the caller of a head of hair isn't easy to cope with. These calls are very sensitive calls that I don't like to be on the receiving end of. If it were up to me, I'd make sure they all got a wig. It's small compensation for the trial they are enduring.

Hair loss, for most commercial insurance carriers, isn't very concerning. Head prosthesis, unfortunately, falls under cosmetic.

My sweet cousin called me a few years ago to tell me she had to go through chemotherapy again. To prepare for coming hair loss, she purchased some vibrant tie-dyed head scarves. Not long after that call that she stopped calling altogether and insulated her world to a choice few individuals.

Her battle with cancer spanned decades and she had seen many years of remission from breast cancer before she succumbed in her mid-sixties.

I'll always remember Connie Jo for her jokes when she would call me to fill me in on the current status of her world. I'll see her in Heaven one day where no scarves are needed.

All images created in this post were generated in Blue Willow Discord channel. All included images in this post are property of the author

This is my five-minute freewrite
using prompt hair loss by @mariannewest. I challenge you to join the challenge and add @freewritehouse for regular contests!

Thank you for reading 📚.