Where Americans Are Treating Hair Loss: New Data Reveals Geographic Divide

New research reveals a striking pattern in how American men approach hair loss treatment, with prescription fill rates varying dramatically depending on where you live and what insurance coverage you have.

According to a recent study by GoodRx analyzing prescription data from 2024-2025, Washington D.C. leads the nation by a significant margin. In the nation’s capital, 3.7% of all prescriptions for men ages 18 to 44 are for hair-loss medications—more than five times the national average of 0.7%.

The Top-Treating States

The geographic divide is striking. Following D.C., Massachusetts ranks second with a 1.6% prescription rate, while New York comes in at 1.5% and California at 1.4%. Connecticut rounds out the top five at 1.2%.

These states share common characteristics: higher average incomes and major urban centers where professional appearance may carry extra importance. The pattern suggests that both financial resources and cultural attitudes toward baldness influence treatment decisions.

Where Treatment Rates Are Lowest

At the opposite end of the spectrum, West Virginia has the lowest prescription rate at just 0.18%—barely one-quarter of the national average. Mississippi and North Dakota both register at 0.24%, followed by Wyoming at 0.27% and Alabama at 0.28%.

This disparity isn’t due to genetics—male-pattern baldness, which affects approximately 30-50% of men by age 50, is common across all regions. Instead, factors like healthcare access, cost considerations, and social acceptance of baldness appear to drive these dramatic differences.

The Insurance Barrier

Even when men decide to address hair loss, insurance coverage creates another significant hurdle. For generic finasteride, the primary FDA-approved medication, about 70% of those with commercial insurance have unrestricted coverage. However, more than a quarter lack coverage entirely. Brand-name Propecia faces even tighter restrictions—only about half of commercially insured individuals have unrestricted access, and more than a third have no coverage.

Medicare coverage is particularly limited, with nearly 90% of beneficiaries lacking coverage for generic finasteride and almost 99% without coverage for Propecia. This is because Medicare explicitly excludes medications for cosmetic purposes. Medicaid offers better access, with about 60% of members having unrestricted coverage for generic finasteride, though many still face restrictions.

Beyond Medication

While the study focused on prescription medications, hair transplant procedures offer permanent solutions by relocating follicles from healthy areas to thinning regions. Emerging treatments like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections and microneedling techniques also show promise when combined with traditional approaches.

Male-pattern baldness affects over 50 million American men and has been linked to increased risks of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, making treatment a consideration that extends beyond appearance alone.