German Court Denies Man's Hair Piece Insurance Coverage Request

May 1, 2007 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - A court in southwestern Germany threw out an appeal by a man who wanted his health insurer to pay for his hair piece, claiming that he had been bald since childhood, Reuters reported.

The man’s plea might not have been that far of a stretch, as Germany’s state-funded system has been known to dole out benefits such as trips to spa resorts and breast implants, according to the news report.

However, the insurer refused the man’s request because it only provided “long-term hair replacement support” for women and minors.

“The hair’s protective function against the sun and the cold can easily be replaced by a hat,” the social court said in a statement. “The health insurance does not have to pay for that.”

The man had based his appeal on the grounds he had been bald since childhood, but the insurer told him it only provided “long-term hair replacement support” for women and minors.

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