Does Blue Cross cover Nurtec?

In this article:

• Does Blue Cross Blue Shield cover Nurtec?
• How much does Nurtec cost?
• Why is Nurtec so expensive?
• How to check whether your BCBS plan covers Nurtec
• How much does Nurtec cost with BCBS
• What to do if insurance won’t cover Nurtec
• How to get Nurtec without insurance

In this article

• Does Blue Cross Blue Shield cover Nurtec?
• How much does Nurtec cost?
• Why is Nurtec so expensive?
• How to check whether your BCBS plan covers Nurtec
• How much does Nurtec cost with BCBS
• What to do if insurance won’t cover Nurtec
• How to get Nurtec without insurance

Nurtec ODT is a prescription drug with the active ingredient rimegepant that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent and treat migraine. But it can be expensive for some people without insurance coverage, averaging $1,410 for 8 tablets. If you have Blue Cross and Blue Shield insurance, Nurtec may be covered, but it depends on the plan and its requirements.

Does Blue Cross Blue Shield cover Nurtec?

Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) may cover Nurtec, but coverage depends on so many factors, like where you live, what type of coverage you have, and whether or not you have tried other migraine medications and gotten relief. It also depends on your plan’s drug formulary, which is a list of prescription drugs it covers. If it is on a higher tier, you’ll pay more for the drug than if it is on a lower tier. It may also depend on whether the plan considers it a preferred drug or a nonpreferred drug.

“If you are using Nurtec for migraine prevention, your insurance company usually wants you to try two or three other migraine prevention medications first before it will cover Nurtec,” says Marcella Mwaisela, MD, a neurologist at the Center for Neurology at Greater Baltimore Medical Center in Towson, Maryland. “And if you want to use Nurtec for migraine pain, your insurance company may want you to try at least two other prescription medicines first.”

For example, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield places Nurtec prescriptions on tier 2 of its national drug list, but it typically requires prior authorization (PA) and has quantity limits. When a prescription requires a PA, your healthcare provider’s office will need to submit additional clinical information before the plan decides whether to cover the drug. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts has the same requirements for its basic plans. For its Medicare prescription drug plans, Nurtec is often placed on tier 3 while also imposing quantity limits and requiring prior authorization, although specific plans may vary.

RELATED: Nurtec assistance for Medicare patients

How much does Nurtec cost?

If you don’t have insurance, the cost of Nurtec depends on the quantity prescribed and the location of your pharmacy, among other factors. The average retail price for Nurtec without insurance is generally $1,410 for a box of 8 disintegrating tablets.

Why is Nurtec so expensive?

Nurtec is expensive because it is a newer medication with no generic alternatives. Developing a new drug is an expensive process, and Nurtec is the only oral medication that can be used to prevent and treat migraine.

“For the millions of Americans living with migraine, Nurtec may be used not only at the onset of a migraine attack but also to prevent migraine attacks from occurring,” says Lauren R. Natbony, MD, FAHS, medical director at Integrative Headache Medicine of New York and an assistant clinical professor of neurology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center. “The versatility makes Nurtec a great option for people needing both rescue and preventive treatment for migraine,” Dr. Natbony says.

How to check whether your Blue Cross Blue Shield plan covers Nurtec

There are a few ways you can find out if your Blue Cross Blue Shield plan covers Nurtec.

• Log in to your BCBS plan website and find the most recent formulary. Search the formulary for Nurtec to find out which coverage tier it is in, and whether any other restrictions apply, such as quantity limits or prior authorization.
• Call your specific Blue Cross Blue Shield plan and ask a member services representative to look into your Nurtec coverage.
• Have your healthcare provider send a Nurtec prescription to your preferred pharmacy. The staff can process the claim and tell you whether the drug is covered or requires a prior authorization. Often, the pharmacy can notify your healthcare provider so that they can begin submitting the required documentation to your plan. 

How much does Nurtec cost with Blue Cross Blue Shield?

The cost of Nurtec with Blue Cross Blue Shield depends on many factors. Consult your specific insurance provider or pharmacy to get information about your coverage and your out-of-pocket costs.

Your healthcare provider may need to submit additional information to your insurance plan so that Nurtec will be covered. Once you and your healthcare provider decide that Nurtec may help you, ask whether a Nurtec prescription requires prior authorization. If so, your healthcare provider can start the process.  

You can also check the Nurtec manufacturer’s website for additional savings options that may be combined with your insurance plan. For example, you may be able to sign up for a Nurtec Savings Card, which is available for eligible patients with commercial insurance. This could help lower your copay. 

What to do if insurance won’t cover Nurtec 

If your insurance plan initially denies your prescription for Nurtec, there may be other options. Your healthcare provider can work with your insurance company to obtain coverage. A prior authorization (PA) may be required. In that case, your doctor’s office can submit the required documentation to show that the drug is medically necessary. 

If the PA request is denied, your healthcare provider can appeal the decision by submitting additional clinical information to your insurance plan. If the appeal is then denied, you may wish to look into prescription discount programs, like SingleCare, or manufacturer programs to help lower your cost on this prescription. 

Your healthcare professional and pharmacist can help you navigate the insurance process.

How to get Nurtec without insurance

You may save money with a Nurtec coupon from SingleCare, which could bring the price down to $923 for 8 orally disintegrating tablets. You can access Nurtec coupons with a SingleCare prescription discount card, which you can use at over 35,000 participating pharmacies across the United States.

Migraine Financial Assistance & Resources

Some patients may qualify for manufacturer savings programs or patient assistance programs that can help lower the cost of Nurtec. You can reach out to the manufacturer to see if you qualify for these programs. 

RELATED: Nurtec copay card

Nurtec prescription drug alternatives

If your insurance doesn’t cover Nurtec, there are alternatives available for the acute treatment and prevention of migraine. “But Nurtec may offer some advantages over other migraine medications, especially for people who are not getting enough relief from other medications or who can’t tolerate other migraine medications due to side effects,” says Alyssa M. Wozniak, Pharm.D., BCPS, assistant dean for Clinical Affairs, Outreach, and Special Projects in the School of Pharmacy at D’Youville University. 

People who live with migraine have elevated levels of a protein called calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), especially during migraine attacks. “During a migraine attack, CGRP is released, and it attaches to and activates receptors in the brain,” Dr. Natbony says. Nurtec belongs to a class of drugs known as CGRP receptor antagonists. These medications work by blocking the CGRP receptor sites in the brain, thus interfering with the series of events that lead to migraine. 

Nurtec alternatives for acute migraine treatment

For acute migraine treatment, Dr. Natbony recommends Ubrelvy (ubrogepant) or Zavzpret (zavegepant), which are CGRP receptor antagonists, similar to Nurtec. 

Another treatment option for migraine is a class of drugs called triptans, which act on serotonin receptors to help narrow the brain’s blood vessels and decrease pain signals. Examples of triptans are Imitrex (sumatriptan) and Maxalt (rizatriptan). “Your insurance company may require you to try one of these before agreeing to pay for Nurtec,” Dr. Mwaisela says. This process is called step therapy.

“Triptans have generic options that may make them more affordable,” Wozniak says. So they’re often more widely covered by insurance plans as well. But you shouldn’t use triptans if you have had a stroke or a heart attack, according to Dr. Mwaisela. “Nurtec, however, would be considered safer for these individuals.” 

Nurtec alternatives for migraine prevention

For migraine prevention, Dr. Natbony would recommend Qulipta (atogepant). Medications like Aimovig (erenumab-aooe) and Emgality (galcanezumab-gnlm) also target CGRP. “But these are injectable and often very expensive as well,” Dr. Wozniak says. “Your doctor and pharmacist can help you find the right treatment based on your needs and insurance coverage, as this, among other factors, needs to be considered to ensure a similar medicine is appropriate for you.                                                                           

The SingleCare prices in this article are the most accurate at the time of publishing in ZIP code 23666 as of March 8, 2026. Prices vary by pharmacy. Visit our Nurtec coupon page for updated Nurtec prices near you.