Cold Cap Therapy: Cost, Insurance and Financial Assistance

Cold caps are devices that reduce the hair loss caused by chemotherapy. UCSF supports two types of cold cap therapy: DigniCap and Penguin.

This table shows estimated costs based on treatment regimen and cold cap type.

For a fee, Penguin provides extra services by request:

• A Penguin employee stays with you during your appointment to switch out the caps on your head = $555 for eight hours.
• Three-hour live hospital "capping" training for caregivers = $395.
• Two-hour Zoom or at-home "capping" training for caregivers = $225.

Penguin clients must buy their own dry ice. The cost depends on where you buy it, but figure on roughly $100 per infusion session. Penguin can provide a list of stores that carry it.

Insurance coverage

A growing number of insurance companies are covering cold cap treatments during chemotherapy. Patients with a health savings account or flexible spending account can use those funds to cover the cost of cold caps.

We recommend calling your insurance company's customer support line to ask whether your scalp cooling treatment will be covered. Use the contacts below for further information on how to see reimbursement.

Financial assistance

HairToStay is a national nonprofit that has partnered with UCSF to cover up to $1,500 in cold cap treatment costs for low-income patients. To be eligible for a subsidy, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be a chemotherapy patient diagnosed with a solid tumor cancer. Scalp cooling is not recommended for blood (hematological) cancer patients and those patients are not eligible for a subsidy.
• Be a full-time US resident receiving treatment at UCSF.
• Demonstrate financial need: For UCSF patients, your household income must be at or below 600% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).

To apply, fill out the Scalp Cooling Subsidy Program application and supply the requested supporting documentation.

Please visit the HairToStay website for more information.