Many health insurance companies will initially reject treatments for vitiligo, or will approve only some, because they claim the condition is only cosmetic. Of course we know that’s not true. The key with insurance companies, is to be persistent until you achieve success. Until health insurance companies universally begin accepting vitiligo as a legitimate medical condition that affects psychological and physical well-being, in addition to susceptibility to sunburn, this is how it must be done.

The first step, is to have your dermatologist write a letter to the insurance company, explaining vitiligo, explaining the psycho-social effect, and the physical risks of vitiligo, such as serious sunburn. This is often sufficient, but it will be more convincing if you follow up with a letter of your own to the health insurance approval dept. Sometimes it will take more letters, phone calls, and supporting evidence, but if you are persistent, most insurance companies, even HMO’s, will eventually give in, rather than have to receive any more letters and calls from you.