Hair-loss stocks surge to daily limit after government signals national health insurance coverage

Stocks linked to hair-loss treatment surged — with several hitting their daily upper limit — after the government announced plans to extend national health insurance coverage to hair-loss therapies. The government said it would pursue coverage beginning in the second half of this year, with a plan under review to prioritize people between the ages of 20 and 34.

According to Korea Exchange, TS Trillions opened up 23.60 percent on the Kosdaq on Sunday and immediately hit its daily limit, closing the session up 29.96 percent at 1,206 won.

TS Trillions manufactures TS Shampoo, a hair-loss care product, and its share price has repeatedly spiked whenever President Lee Jae Myung's hair-loss campaign pledge comes back into the spotlight.

Hyundai Pharm, another stock in the hair-loss category, also surged 29.84 percent to close at 7,440 won on the main bourse Sunday.

Withers Pharmaceutical jumped as much as 29.88 percent on the Kosdaq in early trading before closing up 29.58 percent at 8,630 won. FromBio climbed as high as 29.95 percent before paring gains to finish up 6.98 percent at 853 won, while Innojin rose as much as 17 percent before settling up 6.83 percent at 1,549 won.

Lee has expressed support for extending national health insurance to hair-loss treatment since his days as a presidential candidate, repeatedly saying that hair loss is "a matter of survival." The government confirmed it plans to pursue coverage in the second half of the year.

Under the current system, national health insurance covers hair loss caused by autoimmune conditions such as alopecia areata and seborrheic dermatitis, but hair loss stemming from genetics or aging is classified as non-covered.

Health and Welfare Minister Jeong Eun-kyung said at a press briefing June 11 that her ministry had conducted a working-level review of the fiscal implications of extending coverage to hair-loss treatment. "We plan to gather public opinion in the second half of the year and then move forward with coverage," she said.

The government is also reviewing a plan to apply coverage first to people aged 20 to 34, taking into account the real-world impact hair loss has on young people's romantic and employment prospects, sources said.

백종원·소유진 막내딸…가희 댄스팀 ‘센터’ 됐다

https://biz.heraldcorp.com/article/10771862