Does Insurance Cover Cefaly and Other Migraine Options

Insurance coverage for Cefaly and other migraine options can be a bit of a puzzle, but don't worry, we're here to help you navigate it.

Many insurance plans cover Cefaly, but the specifics depend on your provider and policy. Some plans may require a prescription from a doctor, while others may cover it with a diagnosis of migraines.

Cefaly is a prescription-only treatment, so you'll need to consult with your doctor to get started. They'll help determine if Cefaly is right for you and guide you through the insurance process.

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Getting insurance to cover the Cefaly device can be a challenge. Many patients don't even ask their insurance companies to cover devices and just assume they don't.

Insurance companies aren't really covering the costs of these pricey devices, although the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs does cover the Cefaly, Nerivio, and gammaCore devices for veterans with headache disorders.

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Some patients have been able to get the Cefaly covered as a TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) unit under the "durable medical equipment" (DME) aspect of their insurance. However, the FDA categorizes the Cefaly as a TENS unit, it's more specifically an external trigeminal nerve stimulation (eTNS) unit.

The Cefaly device, which delivers electrical impulses to the area involved in initiating migraine attacks, can be used as both an acute and preventive treatment for migraine. Science shows that external trigeminal nerve stimulation, done with the Cefaly device, is an effective migraine treatment.

Here are some devices that are not typically covered by insurance, but may be covered under specific circumstances:

Another option to consider is using your health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) to pay for devices.

Cefaly has been found to be effective in reducing migraine attacks and cluster headaches. Recent research has shown that it can terminate attacks that are already underway and prevent future attacks. In fact, a study published in Scientific Reports in 2022 showed that 26% of users reported pain freedom after two hours of treatment.

The Cefaly device has been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration, and it's also been shown to be effective in preventing attacks. With compliant daily use, 38% of users saw at least a 50% reduction in the number of migraine attack days. Additionally, 59% of people with acute migraine attacks saw pain relief after one hour of treatment with Cefaly.

Here are the results from the TEAM study:

The Cefaly device can be a valuable option for people with migraine who face an elevated risk of medication overuse headache. Many people prefer non-drug treatment, and Cefaly offers a non-invasive alternative to medication or Botox injections. In fact, 79% of people with acute migraine attacks saw pain relief with Cefaly.

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The Cefaly device is a transcutaneous supraorbital nerve stimulator that's been shown to be effective in treating migraines. It's a non-invasive device that delivers electrical impulses to the area involved in initiating migraine attacks.

The Cefaly device can be used as both an acute and preventive treatment for migraine, and research has shown that it can terminate attacks that are already underway. In fact, a study published in Scientific Reports found that 26% of users reported pain freedom after two hours of treatment, and 57% reported resolution of their most bothersome migraine symptoms.

The Cefaly device is not cheap, and getting insurance to cover it can be a challenge. However, some patients have been able to get it covered as a TENS unit under the "durable medical equipment" aspect of their insurance. This is because the FDA categorizes the Cefaly as a TENS unit, although it's more specifically an external trigeminal nerve stimulation (eTNS) unit.

There are other options for paying for the Cefaly device, including using a health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA). These accounts can be used to pay for out-of-pocket medical expenses, including the Cefaly device.

Here are some key statistics about the Cefaly device and its effectiveness:

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs does cover the Cefaly device for veterans with headache disorders, along with the Nerivio and gammaCore devices. However, insurance companies are generally not covering the costs of these devices, making it a frustrating experience for patients.