[theqoo] “HAIRLOSS TREATMENTS ARE A MATTER OF SURVIVAL, NOT AESTHETIC”… SUPPORTED BY HEALTH EVIDENCE

Treatment for so-called “M-shaped hair loss” is expected to be included in the scope of health insurance coverage.

According to political circles on the 2nd, the government is actively considering a plan to include androgenetic alopecia,commonly known as “M-shaped hair loss”, in the scope of health insurance coverage. This is a follow-up measure to President Lee Jaemyung’s directive to develop countermeasures during a Ministry of Health and Welfare briefing late last year, when he stated, “Hair loss is not a cosmetic issue but a matter of survival.”

Until now, the government has only covered alopecia areata, a form of hair loss caused by stress, under national health insurance. It has now decided to add androgenetic alopecia, which occurs when male hormones inhibit hair growth. Androgenetic alopecia manifests not only as the M-shaped pattern where the hairline recedes on both sides of the forehead in men but also as thinning hair on the crown in women.

It is estimated that extending health insurance coverage to androgenetic alopecia will cost the health insurance fund approximately 150 billion won annually. Details such as the scope of coverage depending on specific subtypes, the patient copayment rate, and limits on the number of covered treatments have not yet been determined. A government official stated, “The budget scale and system design must undergo further public discussion.”

Following President Lee’s Directive… National Health Insurance to Cover ‘M-shaped Hair Loss’

Annual cost to the National Health Insurance system estimated at 150 billion won; co-payment rates to be determined after public discussion

Treatment for androgenetic alopecia, commonly known as “M-shaped hair loss,” has previously been classified as a “cosmetic” procedure and excluded from national health insurance coverage. However, given that one in three patients visiting hospitals for hair loss is in their 20s or 30s, and recognizing that hair loss can directly impact their livelihood, including employment, the government is reportedly moving toward including this condition in the scope of health insurance coverage.

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1. I also think to myself that my life would be better if not for the balding…

2. I f*cking hate this. We should be spending more on rare disease or cancer treatment itead

3. You’re going to use skin grafts for hair loss? Why not just do plastic surgery or liposuction too?

4. Stop making a fuss. Most women will not be using this “hairloss” benefit anyways. Lee Jaemyung is seriously a mess

5. Wow, I seriously don’t understand thisㅋㅋㅋ Isn’t treating obesity in severely obese people more directly linked to survival? What does hair loss have to do with survival?

6. There’s a Tweet from a foreigner getting a bunch of hearts for saying that Korea is a country made for inc*ls

8. But hair loss treatment is for cosmeticㅜㅜ

9. How much fuss did the Hannams make that they need to be satisfied like this?ㅋㅋ

10. Hair loss is a matter of “survival”?? Just use Wegovy and Mounjaro to treat severe obesity, severe obesity is a matter of survival, not hair loss.