The ACS EverYou (TLC) Wig Program Has Ended: Where to Get a Wig During Cancer Treatment

For decades, the American Cancer Society's "tlc" Tender Loving Care catalog — relaunched as EverYou in 2024 — was the first place many people were sent for a wig during chemotherapy. As of April 1, 2026, EverYou is no longer taking new purchases, and its customer support wound down at the end of May 2026. Many hospital handouts and resource lists still point to it, so if you've landed here after hitting that dead end: you're not out of options. This page covers what to do instead.

Getting a Medical Wig Now: The Practical Steps

1. Ask your doctor for a prescription for a "cranial prosthesis."

In medical and insurance language, a wig worn for treatment-related or medical hair loss is called a cranial prosthesis (you may also see "cranial hair prosthesis" or "scalp prosthesis"). Ask your oncologist, dermatologist, or nurse practitioner to write a prescription that says something like: "Cranial prosthesis needed for hair loss secondary to chemotherapy" (or to alopecia, radiation, etc.), including your diagnosis code. That one piece of wording matters — "wig" is often treated as cosmetic, while "cranial prosthesis" identifies it as a medical need.

2. Check your insurance before you buy.

Coverage varies widely. Some private plans reimburse part or all of a cranial prosthesis (commonly with an annual or lifetime cap); others exclude wigs entirely. Original Medicare does not cover wigs, though some Medicare Advantage plans offer an allowance — check your specific plan. Call the member number on your insurance card and ask: "Does my plan cover a cranial prosthesis with a prescription, what documentation do you need, and is there a cap?" Note the representative's name and reference number.

3. Get an insurance-ready invoice.

If your plan covers it, you'll typically need to pay up front and submit for reimbursement with: the prescription, an itemized receipt that says "cranial prosthesis" (not "wig"), and your plan's claim form. Any reputable wig retailer should provide this invoice on request — just ask before or after purchase. We provide them routinely.

4. Use HSA or FSA funds.

A wig purchased on a doctor's recommendation for hair loss caused by disease or its treatment is generally an eligible medical expense for HSA/FSA purposes. Keep the prescription or a letter of medical necessity with your receipt. (Your plan administrator has the final say — when in doubt, ask them first.)

5. Keep copies of everything.

Prescription, invoice, claim forms, and the dates and names from phone calls. If a claim is denied, you can usually appeal — resubmitting with the "cranial prosthesis" terminology and the letter of medical necessity resolves many denials.

Free and Low-Cost Wig Programs

If buying a wig isn't in the budget right now, these are real, active programs:

• EBeauty Community (ebeauty.com) — a national nonprofit wig exchange. Donated wigs are professionally cleaned and refurbished, then shipped to patients at no cost; you can request one online. EBeauty also partners with more than 90 hospitals and cancer centers to offer wigs on site.
• Wigs & Wishes by Martino Cartier (wigsandwishes.org) — a nonprofit that provides free wigs to women and children undergoing cancer treatment through a network of participating salons; you can request a wig through their website.
• Your hospital or cancer center — many comprehensive cancer centers run their own wig rooms or boutiques (often stocked by donations) and offer free wigs and head coverings to patients. Ask your oncology social worker or nurse navigator; this is often the fastest route.
• Local resources via the American Cancer Society — while the EverYou shop has closed, ACS still helps patients find local wig banks and support programs. Call 1-800-227-2345 or ask about local resources in your area.

If you're looking on behalf of a child, organizations such as Children With Hair Loss and Wigs for Kids serve children and young adults specifically.

How We Can Help

MyHairMail is a family-run wig retailer in Nashville, and helping people through medical hair loss is a big part of what we do every day. If we can be useful, here's how:

• Cap-size and fit guidance. Heads change during treatment, and a wig that fit before hair loss may not fit after. We'll help you measure correctly and choose between petite, average, and large caps — by phone, if that's easier.
• Gentle cap constructions. For scalps made sensitive by chemotherapy or radiation, we carry soft monofilament and hand-tied wigs made for sensitive skin, across budgets.
• Try styles on from home. Our virtual try-on lets you preview wigs on your own photo — helpful when salon visits aren't realistic mid-treatment.
• Insurance-ready invoices. Just ask — we'll issue your receipt with "cranial prosthesis" wording for your claim.
• A real person to talk to. Call us at (877) 393-4899. No pressure, no script — if a free program above is the better fit for you, we'll say so.