Why don't insurance compaines cover 5 mg finasteride pills?

[sighsigh]

Apparently my insurance doesn't cover generic 5 mg/day finasteride pills.

I get that hair loss is a cosmetic problem and insurance companies generally don't cover medications which treat cosmetic problems. As 1 mg/day finasteride is FDA-approved for hair loss, I understand why the insurance companies won't cover it. But 5 mg/day finasteride is an FDA-approved medication for prostate cancer and not hair loss, so shouldn't the insurance companies cover that?

I'm asking because 0.5 mg/day dutasteride pills ARE covered by my insurance. These are FDA-approved for prostate cancer but not hair loss.

[vcity]

It depends on your insurance company I guess. Mine covers 5mg proscar, 0.5mg avodart but it doesnt cover 1mg finasteride.

[burtandernie]

They do cover it if your prescribed it for treating BPH like it was approved for. It also depends on your specific health insurance since each one is different and it changes yearly
With the increasing number of generic propecia makers and the price falling a lot though its not as a big of a deal as before. Propecia is pretty affordable now from what people say

[fred970]

In Belgium, Accutane, the acne medication, is covered by insurance, not minoxidil and propecia. Why? I still wonder...

[PatientlyWaiting]

I haven't paid for 5mg finasteride in years, my insurance company has been paying for it ever since like 2010.

[Mike K]

It boggles the mind I agree.

My insurance company paid for accutane, but not for 5 mg generic proscar. Go figure.

I'm sure glad it wasn't the other way around though. Accutane was way more expensive than generic proscar is.