@lk8 Pre-approval was not part of the process when I got Nidra.

My perception is "approval" has been an issue for some people. Initially, I got this impression from the Noctrix nurse I spoke with. She said it was important that the prescribing doctor include patient history--which someone at the Noctrix Co was going to evaluate. Maybe, this was because Noctrix wanted to build a good reputation with Medicare--only have qualified patients apply for insurance funding.

My doctor evidently did this acceptably because it was only a matter of 3 weeks between submission of the prescription and picking mine up.

Or, maybe Medicare looks at past billing related to RLS to see if there is history. I don't know how insurance works--deciding to approve or deny. But, I did have years of Medicare billing specifically for RLS care.

In general, I have read that all insurances deny some claims and that appealing is successful more times than not.

Most of my contact with Noctrix has been email--you could call one more time and ask Summer (or someone) to email what was said over the phone (give her your email or ask for hers) and then you would have this verbal agreement in writing. (Emails count in a legal sense as much as a paper letter).

I can understand the possible expense making you nervous--particularly not knowing if Nidra will work for you (until you try it).

Really, I think the company is trying to build a good reputation, and they will stand by what Summer told you.

My sense of Noctrix from the support I have been given is that they are honorable. I wouldn't post about them in glowing terms if my experience hadn't been so good. Also, I googled the Noctrix board a year ago and I was impressed with their resumes. I don't remember exact details but schools like MIT and Stanford come to mind.

My own experience was getting an email address somehow (after I read about Nidra in research articles) and then having a phone call with a nurse, who explained Nidra was only available in certain states, but not where I live--yet. I said I could travel to a state where it was available (Ohio), but she said it still wasn't possible. A year later, Noctrix contacted me and gave me permission to start the prescription process and then pick mine up in Ohio. I was very impressed that someone in the company followed up (without any prompting from me)--an entire year later.

My doctor did mention that some of his patients have been denied Nidra approval by insurance. But I have no idea how this looks in actual numbers. Is it "many" or does my doctor just think all his prescriptions should be approved (he is a RLS expert--so, really, they should).

I'm going to start a thread for people with Nidra so we can compare our Nidra experiences and maybe be helpful to people just starting out (like you will be). For me, there was a process of getting used to it. Then, the neuromodulation (change in my brain, reducing the frequency and severity) was months and months in coming.

Some people do not have the success I have had. I hope, lk8, that you will. Please do keep us posted!