California Mandated Insurance Coverage for Scalp Cooling

Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation requiring health plans to cover scalp cooling to prevent hair loss.

Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Cancer

Isometric editorial illustration of a silicone scalp cooling cap with tubing, representing medical technology covered under new state insurance laws. — California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1682, mandating that health insurers cover automated scalp cooling systems for cancer patients. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should insurance companies be required to cover supportive treatments like scalp cooling for cancer patients?

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 1682, which mandates that large-group health plans cover FDA-cleared automated scalp cooling systems. The new law aims to mitigate the psychological and physical burden of chemotherapy-induced hair loss for patients.

Why it matters

Without insurance, patients typically face out-of-pocket costs ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 for these treatments. This coverage seeks to alleviate the financial barrier to a technology that can help patients maintain their privacy and identity during treatment.

Scalp cooling systems reduce chemotherapy-induced hair loss by 50% to 75% for many users. The mandate applies to FDA-cleared automated systems, though it excludes manual devices that rely on freezers or dry ice.

The players

Gavin Newsom

He is the Governor of California who signed Assembly Bill 1682 into law.

The details

The technology functions by chilling a fitted cap to narrow blood vessels in the scalp, thereby limiting the amount of chemotherapy medication that reaches hair follicles. The law covers policies issued, amended, or renewed in California but explicitly omits manual cold caps from the mandatory coverage requirements.

September 27, 2026: Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1682 into law.
January 1, 2027: Health plans are required to begin providing coverage.

Health Landscape

This legislation marks a shift in how supportive care services are integrated into state-mandated health insurance policies. By codifying coverage for Assembly Bill 1682, California joins a growing movement to classify scalp cooling as a medically necessary service rather than an elective luxury.

Patients covered under large-group health plans in California will see insurance coverage for prescribed automated scalp cooling begin in 2027. This change significantly reduces the financial burden for those seeking to minimize hair loss during chemotherapy cycles.

The takeaway

Patients considering this option should consult with their oncology team to determine if an automated, FDA-cleared system is appropriate for their specific treatment plan. It is also advisable to review individual insurance plan updates starting in early 2027 to verify specific coverage criteria.