Migraines & Headaches Resource Center

Health insurance coverage is getting harder and harder to purchase. Premiums are out of control – they often cost a week’s pay or more, especially if you have a spouse and kids to be insured. While the list of the “not covered” or “just barely covered” is growing, the other list – of things that most people feel are necessary when it comes to health coverage – is dwindling. Add to that the fact that many of us can’t afford monthly premiums because they have skyrocketed which leaves too many of us too vulnerable for too many conditions that need to be treated.

One of the latest casualties when it comes to insurance limitations is migraine headaches. Years ago, there was much to be learned about migraines, so these debilitating headaches were treated with various forms of pain medication and/or tranquilizers and muscle relaxers.

During the 80’s and 90’s newer prescription medications were developed specifically for the treatment, control and relief of migraines. Sometimes they were used alone and sometimes in combination with pain medication and other medications. The good news is that now in the 21st century numerous medications specifically for migraines have been developed and are available to migraine sufferers in many places throughout the U.S. and beyond. The bad news is that many of these medications cost an arm and a leg and are covered in only a limited amount or not covered at all by heath insurance

Some migraine sufferers are limited to ten or twelve pills per month by their health insurance, and, as a result, they have to choose which migraines to use one of their precious pills on, even though they should really be using this medication on every migraine they have. If they run out of pills during the month and have to re-order, the insurance won’t help, so it becomes an out-of-pocket expense. The expense for some of these medications is astonishing and migraine sufferers simply can’t afford to pay for them so they continue to suffer, even though they faithfully pay their insurance premiums. Migraines are often symptoms of other health issues. They can easily lead to a stroke. What if that happens the night they can’t or don’t take their medicine?

For those, like a friend of mine, who can’t afford insurance there can be Medicaid. If you fill out enough papers, don’t make one cent over Medicaid’s limits and can figure out a way to get approved for Medicaid, you could have insurance to help you with doctor visits and prescriptions. You must, however, be vigilant or you could lose coverage in the blink of an eye because you didn’t make a particular phone call to Medicaid, didn’t send in some

It is unfortunate that now that the medicines have been invented and are available, the insurance companies make it difficult, if not impossible, to get the medications they need. Are migraine sufferers just the latest casualty of insurance cuts or will something be done to get better coverage to help migraine sufferers get the medication they need? The new congress is looking very closely at these questions and more. Hopefully there will be some answers soon.