National Health Insurance to cover hair loss treatments starting in July
The government will expand National Health Insurance coverage to include some treatments for severe alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss, starting on July 1. Patients currently have to pay for such treatments out of pocket.
An AI-generated image of insurance coverage for severe alopecia areata treatment in adultsCHATGPT
The government will expand National Health Insurance coverage to include some treatments for severe alopecia areata — an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss — to reduce treatment costs for patients who currently pay the full price of medication out of pocket.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on Thursday that it had revised the reimbursement criteria for certain medications, including Olumiant tablets containing 2 milligrams of baricitinib, after consulting textbooks, clinical research and expert opinions. The change will take effect on July 1.
The primary goal of the revision is to broaden support for patients whose alopecia areata has not responded to existing treatments.
To qualify for reimbursement, patients must meet certain requirements involving prior treatment and the severity of their hair loss.
Eligible patients include those who have tried conventional treatments such as steroids or cyclosporine for at least 3 months but have not seen their Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score improve by 30 percent or more, as well as patients who could not continue such treatments due to the side effects.
The SALT score measures the percentage of the scalp area affected by hair loss.
Additionally, reimbursement will be available only to patients with a SALT score of 50 or higher or to those with a score between 20 and 50 who show symptoms such as the complete loss of both eyebrows and eyelashes.
A picture depicting boldness in men, left, and womenSEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
Coverage available for up to two years
To remain eligible for insurance coverage, patients must reduce their SALT score to 20 or below during the first assessment, which will take place after 36 weeks of treatment. They will then undergo follow-up evaluations every six months and be reimbursed for up to two years of treatment if it proves effective.
Patients will have to submit objective evidence of their progress, including medication records and photographs of the affected areas.
Long-term prescriptions covering up to 30 days may be issued upon discharge or during outpatient visits. After 24 weeks of treatment, patients who are in stable condition and have experienced no side effects may receive prescriptions that cover 60 to 90 days.
Current users also eligible for reimbursement
The government also established transitional provisions for patients who already pay for their own treatments.
Patients who began taking medication before the new policy takes effect must demonstrate that they met the reimbursement criteria at the time that treatment began. Those who have been taking medication for more than 36 weeks must submit evaluation results from that period. If such documentation is unavailable, they must undergo an assessment based on the new policies.
For existing patients, reimbursement eligibility will also be recognized for up to two years from the date when the revised policy takes effect.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
