Migraines are the most common type of headache, with about 12-13% of people suffering from them each year. The most common type of migraine is a “tension-type” migraine, which can affect almost any part of the head, neck and face. It tends to cause pain on both sides of the head and neck muscles tightens. This type of headache occurs regularly but not daily or on a fixed schedule.
You’ll never truly understand migraines unless you’ve had one yourself. It’s so much more than just a ‘bad headache.’ Our founder Dr. Dheshnie knows this from experience.
Already an accomplished, board-certified anesthesiologist, Dr. Dheshnie first began researching Botox because she was eager to find relief from her own migraines.
Read on to learn more about Is Botox For Migraines Covered By Msp, Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Botox Injections
Is Botox For Migraines Covered By Msp
Now there is a solution to prevent migraines before they occur – BOTOX® Therapeutic for migraines. BOTOX® Therapeutic has been used in medicine for over 25 years to reduce pain and spasticity. BOTOX® is FDA and Health Canada approved to help prevent and reduce the frequency and severity of chronic migraine headaches. Reducing your migraines will improve your quality of life.
Benefits of BOTOX Therapeutic for Migraines
- No Downtime
- Decreases frequency and duration of migraine headaches
- Cost of treatment is covered by most extended health plans
What Are the Symptoms of Migraine?
Most people who suffer from regular migraines know they will be getting a migraine even before their head begins to throb. The tell-tale symptoms and signs that occur before the onset of a migraine are called an ‘aura.’
Most common symptoms of a migraine are:
- headache
- sensitivity to light
- sensitivity to sound
- nausea
- vomiting
- fatigue
- blurred vision
What are common migraine triggers?
Migraines can be triggered by lack of sleep, lack of water, drinking wine or caffeine, caffeine withdrawal, hormonal changes, etc. For others, there are no triggers or things to avoid – migraines are an inevitable part of their life and it’s debilitating. BOTOX® Therapeutic provides a solution for migraine sufferers whether it is caused by specific triggers or not.
Who Should Consider BOTOX® Treatment for Migraines?
- Patients who have 15 or more headache days a month lasting 4 or more hours
- Patients whose chronic migraines are inadequately treated by medication and patients who don’t want to have to have to take migraine medication any longer
- Patients who want to enjoy some of the triggers they have to avoid – chocolate, aged cheese, wine, coffee, spicy foods, citrus fruit, etc.
What Do I Need to Do Before My First Appointment?
Most patients are referred by their family doctor or neurologist directly for a treatment. However, if you have history of chronic migraines that have already been investigated you can also call us directly to book a private assessment and consultation with Dr. Nasseri to determine if you would be a good candidate for BOTOX® Therapeutic injections for migraines. We recommend you create a headache diary for three months to track the frequency of your migraines and to bring this with you to your consultation with Dr. Nasseri.
What Does It Cost to Receive BOTOX® for Migraines?
Medical BOTOX® for migraines is usually covered under Extended Health Medical Benefit programs. During your consultation, we will apply for you to the ‘The BOTOX Access Program’. This program allows patients with third party coverage to receive their first Botox medication for migraines for free with a one-time guarantee of drug coverage (even if the treatment is denied by their extended benefits plan) and assists the patient with their insurance paperwork. The patient will only have to pay for the physician injection fee as that has to be submitted to your extended health plan separately.
If you do not have an Extended Health Benefits Plan and you meet the criteria for BOTOX® Migraine treatments, you can also choose to pay for it privately. The typical cost of BOTOX® Therapeutic medication is approximately $800.
BOTOX® Therapeutic treatment by a physician for migraines is a medical expense and can be claimed on your tax return.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Botox Injections
1. Why Do Doctors Prescribe Medical Botox®?
Doctors may recommend injecting medical Botox® into muscles to treat various conditions. This includes overactive bladder, cervical dystonia, strabismus, blepharospasm, chronic migraine, and upper limb spasticity. Doctors may recommend injecting medical Botox® into the skin to treat excessive underarm sweating. There are also many off-label uses for medical Botox®. Off-label uses do not have FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approval, but may have general acceptance among doctors.
2. Who Prescribes Medical Botox®?
The doctor who prescribes medical Botox® will vary depending on your condition. Neurologists, ophthalmologists, dermatologists, ENTs (ear, nose and throat doctors), urologists, and urogynecologists are common medical Botox® providers. Always look for a doctor who is board certified in his or her specialty. Ask about the doctor’s experience with medical Botox®. And find out who will be giving you the injection. If it’s a nurse or physician assistant, make sure that person is qualified and authorized to do it.
3. When Will I See the Results of Botox® Treatment?
Many people see improvements in their symptoms within a few days of a medical Botox® injection. The full effect may take longer and can last up to three months. You can repeat the injections as long as you continue to respond to Botox® and you aren’t having problems. The length of time between injections varies. You can help your doctor determine the best interval and dose for you by keeping track of your symptoms in a diary.
4. What Can I Expect the Day of a Medical Botox® Injection?
Doctors give medical Botox® by injection into the skin or muscles. It’s usually an office procedure. The number of injections varies for each condition and person. The needles for a medical Botox® injection are very thin so there is only mild discomfort for most people. The procedure can take up to 20 minutes and you go home the same day.
What are my other options?
You can still receive Botox injections if Medicare denies coverage. However, you’ll need to pay 100 percent of the costs out of pocket. This is true no matter what kind of Medicare coverage you have.
Your costs will depend on the number of Botox sessions you need and how much of the drug is required in each treatment session.
If Medicare denies your coverage and you decide not to get Botox, you still have other options. When the Botox was meant for a medical condition, you can talk to your doctor about other available treatments.
Here are few examples of alternate treatments you can look into for medical and cosmetic reasons.
For migraine
Your doctor might recommend new medications or a new combination of medications to treat chronic migraine. For example, many people are helped by taking a combination of antidepressants and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications.
Medicare Part D will cover most of the prescription drugs you’d need in these categories.
For muscle spasms
You might be prescribed a muscle-relaxing medication to help with your neck or other muscle spasms. If so, Medicare Part D will cover your prescription.
For overactive bladder
Medications that relax your bladder can provide relief from an overactive bladder. You can get coverage for these prescriptions through Medicare Part D.
For overactive sweat glands
A prescription antiperspirant can help treat overactive sweat glands. Many prescription antiperspirants are covered under Medicare Part D.
For crossed eyes
Eye drops can help treat crossed eyes. You might receive these eye drops in your doctor’s office or have a prescription you use at home.
Drops given by your doctor will be covered under Medicare Part B, while drops you use at home will be covered under Part D.
For TMJ disorders
NSAIDs can help with the pain of TMJ disorders. You can get coverage for prescription NSAIDS under Medicare Part D.
For cosmetic reasons
If you’re looking into Botox for appearance reasons and hoping it would be covered, you may have some other options. These options won’t be covered by Medicare either, but they can reduce your treatment costs.
If you’re looking for more affordable options, consider:
- vitamins
- skin creams
- facial patches
- chemical peels
Other treatments are pricier but might still cost less than Botox. These include:
- other injectable treatments
- FaceXercise
- acupuncture
If you’re not sure what the best alternative is for your situation, talk with your doctor or a skin care specialist. They’ll have recommendations and might even be able to figure out what’s most likely to be covered by Medicare.
Remember that even if Botox doesn’t end up being the right treatment for you, you still have options.