HSE Allowances
Hair Loss & Breast Care
The HSE allowance for wigs & breast care products is available every year to Irish residents. If you have a cancer diagnosis or have had a mastectomy you are entitled to funding towards your wig or hair piece, and your breast care products. If you have hair loss or hair thinning caused by alopecia, you may be entitled to claim from the HSE if you have a valid medical card.
In late December 2024, the HSE implemented a new standardised allowance for wigs and breast care products, designed to provide fair support for all cancer patients across Ireland. Previously, access to these allowances was restricted by address and limited to medical card holders, creating challenges for many individuals. With this new scheme, all cancer patients can now benefit from consistent financial assistance, regardless of their address or eligibility status, ensuring greater access to essential products during treatment and recovery.
As of yet, the HSE have not made any amendments to the allowance for alopecia. This alopecia wig grant still abides by the old guidelines requiring a valid medical card and the allowance value determined by the clients home address.
Applying to The HSE For Wigs & Breast Care Products
We can take care of processing your HSE allowance for wigs & breast care products. We have been doing this for clients for years, so you do not have to worry about anything. Below you will find out what is needed to make a claim.
To claim your yearly breast care allowance, you will need:
- A prescription/letter from your doctor stating the products you require. (See list below)
- Your next allowance is available 1 year from your previous approval date.
- You do not need a medical card
To claim your yearly hair piece allowance, you will need:
- A prescription/letter from your doctor stating
- Your diagnosis & that your treatment will cause hair loss
- Your need for a wig/hairpiece
- Your next allowance is available 1 year from your previous approval date.
- You do not need a medical card
To claim your yearly hair piece allowance, you will need:
- A prescription/letter from your doctor stating
- The form of alopecia you have
- Your need for a wig/hairpiece
- Your next allowance is available 1 year from your previous approval date.
- You will need a medical card
Wig & Hair Piece HSE Allowance
Wigs & Hair Pieces for Cancer
If you have hair loss due to cancer treatment you can claim an allowance of €770 from the HSE towards the cost of your wig or hair piece.
Your medical care team or GP must provide you with a prescription for your wig/hair piece. It must state why you need these products i.e. due to chemotherapy etc. When you have this prescription/letter book an appointment with us here in Roches.
Bring your prescription/letter with you to your wig appointment and we will complete all the paperwork on your behalf. The HSE will pay us directly, meaning you will not need to pay us anything, unless you spend more than your allowance of €770. You might spend less than your €770 allowance, in that case, the HSE will only pay us the value of the products you received.
This allowance can only be claimed once per year, even if you spend less than €770.
Wigs & Hair Pieces for Alopecia
If you have hair loss due to alopecia or hair thinning and have a medical card, you can claim an allowance from the HSE towards the cost of your wig or hair piece.
Your consultant or GP must provide you with a prescription for your wig/hair piece. It must state the type of alopecia you have i.e. alopecia areata, frontal fibrosing alopecia, primary scarring alopecia, alopecia caused by burns or trauma, alopecia totalis etc. When you have this prescription/letter book an appointment with us here at Roches.
Bring your prescription/letter with you to your wig appointment and we will complete all the paperwork on your behalf. The HSE will pay us directly, meaning you will not need to pay us anything, unless you spend more than your allowance. If you spend less than your allowance, the HSE will only pay us the value of the products you received.
This allowance can only be claimed once per year, even if you spend less than the maximum allowance value.
The allowance value varies throughout the country, it is based on the address your medical card is registered to. Allowances can vary from €440 to €767.
If your doctor is unsure what to give you, you can direct them to use our wig prescription template. However, for it to be valid it is essential that they use their headed paper when printing or saving it.
Breast Care HSE Allowance
If you have had a mastectomy to treat cancer you can get annual financial allowances from the HSE. These allowances are available towards your breast prosthesis, mastectomy bras, mastectomy swimwear and swim prosthesis. You no longer need to have a medical card to claim these yearly allowances.
The allowances for post-mastectomy products each year are:
- Up to €400 for
- 2x Mastectomy Bras
- 1x Breast Prosthesis
- Up to €150 for
- 1x Swimming Breast Prosthesis
- 1x Mastectomy Swimwear
Allowances are increased for those who have had a double mastectomy.
To claim, you will need a prescription/letter from your GP or consultant. It must be dated within 6 months of your appointment and the HSE requires a new prescription/letter every year. Your doctor must prescribe each item you require, we recommend asking them to itemise all products listed above, because if it’s not listed we cannot claim the allowance for you.
When you have your prescription/letter, book your appointment with us here at Roches and bring it along to your appointment. We can do all the paperwork for you and the HSE will pay us directly; meaning you will not need to pay us anything unless you spend more than your allowance. You might spend less than your allowance, in that case, the HSE will only pay us the value of the products you received.
If your doctor is unsure what to give you, you can direct them to use our breast care prescription template. However, for it to be valid it is essential that they use their headed paper when printing or saving it.
