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Hi Ms A...welcome...glad you found us...we'll try to help...…... This will sound glib and frustrating...but is exactly why clusterheads HAVE to find a headache specialist. Even regular neuros get minimal training in headaches....PCPs probably even less. The best I had instructed me to call immediately when I got in trouble....and her staff was instructed that cluster patients had priority. Her clinic partner wrote a flaming letter of medical necessity that got me insurance coverage for oxygen and triptans....the ONLY Doctor, of any kind, who ever advised to "stockpile" meds (triptans) when out of cycle to combat the insurance companies ridiculous/heartless/clueless limits per month.... There is a thread here of clusterhead recommended Docs for various areas of the country: https://clusterbusters.org/?page_id=455 ...hoping one is close enough to you and taking new patients...be SURE to say you are a clusterheadache patient (in cycle if so!) and HURTING bad. Offer to fill in for a cancelled appointment. Bring any records of your diagnosis, any meds or strategies you have employed, a journal of some sort describing attack timing, numbers, pain level, possible triggers, cycle length, age of first incidence, symptoms, etc. Docs of any kind love this kind of detail from a patient...diagnostic jewels!....indicates you are serious, determined, thorough, likely to be treatment compliant. I will never forget the 1985 article I read in a headache newsletter that advised treating physicians that the presentation of such a journal...all by itself....was an indicator of clusterheadache….we seem to be a bit obsessive-compulsive... Best Jon

...had the same problem with multiple ins companies...it's almost an automatic denial to make you go away...DON'T! 1) appeal...in writing...and phone (save copies, record all dates and names of who you talked to). If they say O2 is not approved for CH...they are WRONG...and practicing medicine w/o a license...call 'em on it....they hate that (be prepared to go to state ins agency regulators). Treat it as a game...play to win...what you learn the first time is REALLY useful and fun the next time (at least 5 times for me). 2) Finding a headache specialist neuro is CRITICAL for a number of reasons....but one really important one is to rely on this person for a "letter of medical necessity" which basically states the reason for this medically accepted treatment for YOU. I had one written for me that was almost too hot to hold...the Doc was pissed and effective...the O2 (and triptans) got approved really fast! 3) If you get your insurance through your employer...get to know the insurance broker who sold the policy to your company. This person is the actual customer of the insurance company ….they really don't want to talk to you except to say "go away"... but they WILL listen to this person. Your HR dept SHOULD be willing and able to facilitate this. Besides the necessity letter this was the most effective strategy for me.... 4) be willing to pay out of pocket....it's that important a treatment...life altering actually. W/o O2 I might have been dead or insane. Got to know the manager of the O2 shop....so you are a person to them not just another name in a file. Picked up tanks myself...saving them delivery costs. I bought my own regulators, mask and tank caddy online...really cheaply too. E-tank cost was $10-14 ea over time. M tanks are about 2 1/2 times bigger...last much longer....so less trips to the oxy shop...might be cheaper per liter...can't remember. You WILL need a prescription or they won't even talk to you...…….. 5) CHfather is absolutely correct...welding O2 just as good and a great option.... and once the logistics are figured out it is likely cheaper. Like he says...there are folks here who can walk you thru.... Best Jon

I don't think they can legally refuse to provide it for that reason. O2 is a medically recommended and clinically proven treatment for CH. Call Humana. The process of fighting with insurers isn't fun, but I'd at least give it a serious shot. I'd check with your doctor's office, too. People have said that the battle seems particularly difficult in some states (Florida and New York come to mind). That might be a result of how O2 providers and insurance companies are regulated in some states -- I don't know. If you have a prescription, you ought to be able to get medical O2 and the related equipment (regulator and mask) by self-paying, but that might be real expensive. Another thing I don't know. As Tiaan said, you can take the alternative route as many have done and use welding O2 (which might even be less expensive in the long run, although there's more hassle because you have to return the tanks for refills yourself rather than having the a medical O2 supplier bring you the new ones and take away the used ones). It's hard for many people to appreciate how essential O2 is to managing CH, so either way, please don't give up. The welding O2 route is straightforward -- buy or rent tanks from a welding supply company (look it up online), and buy your regulator and mask online. If you decide to do that, let us know, and we'll tell you more.