HairToStay is a nonprofit organization that offers need-based grants to offset the expense of scalp cooling systems for chemotherapy patients being treated in the United States.

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ABOUT SCALP COOLING

There are two basic approaches to scalp cooling:  Manual Scalp Cooling Systems and Automated Scalp Cooling Systems.  Click here for more information about your options for scalp cooling.

Scalp cooling minimizes chemotherapy induced hair loss by continuous application of precisely cooled caps (either individual caps or using an automated scalp cooling machine) to the scalp beginning just prior to each chemotherapy infusion and continuing during and immediately following the infusion.  Currently, most insurance companies do not cover the costs of scalp cooling.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A SUBSIDY

Read the Eligibility Requirements below.  If you qualify for a subsidy, download and fill out the Scalp Cooling Subsidy Program Application and submit it along with the documentation requested in the application. You can submit it by email HairToStay@pap-apps.org, by fax to 888-246-6527 or by US mail to HairToStay Subsidy Program, P.O. Box 219, Gloucester, MA 01930. There is no deadline. Applications are accepted throughout the year. Please use the same name on your application as you use for ordering your scalp cooling treatment.

PLEASE NOTE THAT AS OF JULY 15, 2017 YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A NON-REFUNDABLE $25 APPLICATION FEE TO APPLY FOR A SUBSIDY.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

To receive a subsidy from HairToStay, you must meet the following requirements and provide supporting documentation as described in the Scalp Cooling Subsidy Program Application.

  • Demonstrate Financial Need: For most patients your household income must be at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).  Chart 1 below shows the maximum income levels that will still allow you to qualify for a subsidy. Special funds exist for residents of certain areas of Northern California, Hawaii and Nevada as well as for patients receiving treatment at the University of California San Francisco or in the State of Texas. Patients that qualify for those special funds may receive subsidies if their household income is at or below 400% of the FPL as shown in Chart 2.

FPL Table

 

  • Be a chemotherapy patient who has been diagnosed with a solid tumor cancer. [Scalp cooling is not recommended for blood (hematological) cancer patients and those patients are not eligible for subsidy.]
  • Be a full-time US resident receiving treatment in a medical facility located in the United States. 

  • Be already using or ready to use a scalp cooling system from one of the following Qualified Scalp Cooling Suppliers: 

  • If at any time during your treatment you apply for, plan to apply for or receive any other outside financial assistance for your scalp cooling treatments, you must identify those sources in the appropriate section of this application, or inform us if your application has already been approved. Receipt of other financial support may impact your ability to qualify for all or part of a HairToStay subsidy. Funds provided by family members or friends or fee discounts made available by the scalp cooling suppliers specifically to HairToStay approved patients do not need to be identified.

IMPORTANT: We do not subsidize scalp cooling treatment expenses incurred prior to your application being approved, only expenses incurred once your subsidy has been formally approved.

HOW YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED

You will usually be notified within one week of submission of a completed application regarding the status of your application. If you have not heard back, please contact us.

AMOUNT OF THE SUBSIDY AND HOW YOU WILL BE REIMBURSED

Subsidy recipients will generally be reimbursed up to $1,000 total. Reimbursement checks will be issued in a manner that reflects the specific scalp cooling supplier's billing practices, i.e., monthly rental programs will receive monthly subsidy checks. To be reimbursed, copies of statements from your scalp cooling treatment provider must be provided within one month of rental or charge. HairToStay will issue a check for the subsidy amount upon receiving each billing statement and confirming payment of that statement with your scalp cooling supplier.

Please note the following important policies regarding the use of your subsidy funds:

  • Once approved, you are only eligible to receive one subsidy from HairToStay.
  • Your subsidy must be used in-full within six months of approval, after which any remaining subsidy funds will no longer be available.   
  • You must submit your first invoice for reimbursement within eight weeks of approval or your subsidy will be inactivated. To reactivate it, you will have to reapply and pay a new $25 application fee.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

In addition to providing treatment subsidies, HairToStay is available to provide information to patients who are considering the use of scalp cooling, as well as guidance and support through the treatment process.

If you have questions about scalp cooling in general, please email Patsy Graham at patsy@HairToStay.org.

For all questions about the Scalp Cooling Subsidy Program please email HairToStay@pap-apps.org or call toll free at 800-270-1897.