How Much Does TMS Therapy Cost?
Depression is a mental health condition that can profoundly impact an individual's life; even with the support of a therapist, depression symptoms may continue. Though there are many options for treating depression symptoms, not all may work for every person.
TMS therapy can be a rewarding option for some people who experience severe depressive symptoms or treatment-resistant depression. When considering a new treatment to improve your mental health, you may want to understand its costs.
What is TMS therapy?
Transcranial magnetic stimulation, often called TMS therapy, is a procedure that is used to treat depression and chronic pain. TMS is a non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in a person's brain. Pulses of magnetic stimulation have been found to improve the symptoms of depression.
Treatment costs can be prohibitive, but TMS is highly effective
Even though the TMS treatment cost may be high, it has gained popularity for its effectiveness. For many, the cost is worth the price. If you're interested in TMS treatment, talk to a mental health professional or your primary care physician to see if you meet the FDA clearances to receive it. You may need a referral from a medical doctor to receive the treatment, and your insurance might not cover the procedure.
The TMS treatment process
The transcranical magnetic stimulation therapy treatments may feel simple for many patients, especially because magnetic stimulation is non-invasive. Though “transcranial” does mean in a literal sense “through the head,” the device delivering TMS therapy sits beside the head to do its work and never physically touches the patient. Clients may sit in a comfortable chair and wear earplugs while the TMS procedure occurs. The procedure often takes around 40 minutes to complete. You will be awake and alert the entire time, and you may feel minor scalp discomfort. If you experience pain, alert your doctor.
Success rate of transcranial magnetic stimulation
The TMS therapy success rate is often high. Harvard reports a 50-60% success rate of symptom reduction for most patients. About 20-30% of those patients experienced complete remission and reported no more symptoms after treatment.
Is TMS FDA-cleared for depression?
For many patients, knowing whether or not TMS is FDA-approved is essential before starting treatment. TMS therapy is FDA-approved for major depressive disorder, treatment-resistant depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, the treatment may not be FDA-approved if recommended for another condition. Discuss your options with a mental health professional or medical doctor before attempting a new treatment for your symptoms.
Check that your TMS therapy cost is covered by insurance
If you plan to pay for TMS with insurance, your provider may only offer coverage for treatment that is FDA-approved to treat certain conditions such as depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder. So even if your mental health professional refers you to TMS, your insurance may not pay if the treatment is not federally offered for your condition.
How much does TMS therapy cost?
Most major insurance companies cover treatment and therapy for major depressive disorder. That being said, as mentioned above, your insurance may refuse to cover TMS for certain conditions. For some people, TMS therapy may be cost-prohibitive. Though healthcare providers might offer a free consultation, sessions of TMS can cost between $400 and $500. The TMS treatment cost can vary because many people require a series of TMS sessions to see results. Studies show that TMS can cost from $2,000 to $11,000, your exact TMS cost depends on your age and the number of sessions utilized.
Will insurance cover the cost of TMS therapy?
Like many forms of therapy, major insurance companies might cover the cost of TMS therapy. Since it is often an FDA-approved course of treatment, more insurance companies may add the procedure to their list of coverages. However, every insurance provider has different policies, and your policy may vary from that of other states.
Insurance often only covers TMS for depression
Some insurance providers may not cover the cost of TMS treatments for conditions outside of depression. Others may not cover the condition at all. In these cases, you might have to pay out of pocket for the treatment. However, clinics may work with you on pricing, as some offer a sliding scale fee. If you are using insurance, check with the clinic or doctor who will complete the procedure to ensure they accept your insurance plan.
Preparing for TMS
You may undergo a physical examination and a psychological evaluation to prepare for TMS therapy. People who have certain medical implants may not be able to participate in TMS. Speak to your doctor about these items before treatment to reduce the chances of an accident or medical emergency.
Also, tell your doctor if you're taking prescription medication (including antidepressant medications), over-the-counter medications, supplements, or vitamins.
Are there risks to using TMS?
TMS therapy is considered safe. It is non-invasive, and clients may not feel any physical discomfort during the process. A patient can also remain awake during the 40-minute session. However, there may be side effects to consider.
Discuss treatment options with a mental health professional or doctor before making an informed decision. Even if TMS is not a fit, other treatments may be available.
Should I consider other therapies for my mental health treatment?
Before considering TMS to treat depression or any other mental health disorders, consider other treatments, including talk therapy and medication. In addition to being expensive, TMS may not work for every condition or symptom. You may choose to use transcranial magnetic stimulation in conjunction with medication or other forms of treatment depending on your doctor’s recommendations.
Lifestyle changes
It may be possible to improve depressive symptoms through lifestyle changes, like exercising more frequently. Exercise releases positive endorphins in the body, which can improve mood over the long term. However, if you're looking into TMS due to other treatments not working, lifestyle changes may impact you less.
Electroconvulsive treatment for depression
ECT treatment, also known as electroconvulsive therapy, is another option for those with severe depression. It may allow for molecular changes within the brain to encourage better communication between neurons. Like TMS, ECT is another option that people use when other treatment methods have not been successful.
Mental health counseling sessions
Cost may get in the way of some treatment options for depression. In these cases, online counseling may be beneficial. The average cost of in-person therapy is $100-$200 a session. Online therapy may range between $20-100 a session, depending on the platform or provider you use. These prices may save you hundreds of dollars a month if you do not have insurance or experience high insurance copays.
Online therapy has helped many people manage depressive symptoms. One study showed that online mindfulness-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) was as effective as traditional therapy in treating symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Takeaway
TMS therapy may not be a practical option for everyone. Still, it can be a rewarding solution for those experiencing depression after receiving traditional medication or counseling without results. Sessions of TMS can cost a lot and require you to commit to a specific timeframe. Speak to your doctor if you're interested in starting treatments. If you hope to supplement your TMS with counseling, consider contacting a therapist for more information.
How much does a typical TMS cost?
TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) therapy used to treat treatment-resistant depression is typically expensive, particularly if your insurance company won't cover the procedure. TMS therapy costs an average of $300-$500 per session, depending on your age, how many treatments insurance will cover (if any), and the number of sessions you need.
Is TMS therapy worth it?
TMS therapy is clinically proven to reduce treatment-resistant depression symptoms successfully. A Stanford University study found that TMS can have a success rate of up to 79% for treating major depressive disorder (MDD). A considerable body of current research also indicates that TMS is effective in treating individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), leading to FDA approval. Additionally, the FDA has approved a specific type of TMS (single-pulse TMS) for the acute treatment of migraines with aura and Deep TMS (dTMS) as a short-term treatment for smoking cessation.
While TMS is FDA-approved for the above conditions, its use in treating other conditions and mental health disorders is largely investigational or off-label—meaning it is being studied or used in specific cases without broad approval. Here are a few of the conditions for which TMS is used for or being researched:
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
TMS has been explored as a treatment for anxiety disorders, especially when co-occurring with depression. Some studies suggest that TMS helps improve emotion regulation and reduce anxiety symptoms in adults.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
TMS is being studied and used in some clinics to help reduce symptoms of PTSD, particularly by targeting areas of the brain associated with fear and stress regulation, such as the default mode, executive control, and salience networks.
Bipolar disorder
While it isn't FDA-approved specifically for bipolar disorder, TMS is sometimes used off-label for treating bipolar II disorder or the depressive phases of bipolar I. It is not typically used during manic episodes, as TMS has been linked to causing mania and psychosis symptoms in rare cases.
Schizophrenia
TMS is being researched to help with the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, meaning symptoms in which the individual lacks characteristics common to most. For example, negative symptoms might include a lack of motivation or emotional expression. TMS is not widely used for positive symptoms, defined as symptoms that don't commonly occur in most people, such as hallucinations and delusions. Again, this is because of its potential association with mania and psychosis symptoms in rare cases.
Chronic pain conditions
Conditions like fibromyalgia and neuropathic pain are being studied in relation to TMS, as it can potentially modulate pain perception by targeting specific brain regions.
Stroke rehabilitation
TMS has been used to aid in recovery after a stroke, particularly in improving motor function and helping with cognitive deficits. However, outcomes are mixed, and more research is required to determine its range of efficacy.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia
TMS is being investigated as a possible treatment for cognitive decline associated with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, though this is still in early research phases. Researchers caution that TMS therapeutic protocols typically used for younger people might have "unexpected detrimental effects in older individuals or in the brain compromised by AD pathology."
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
There is ongoing research investigating whether TMS can help with some symptoms of autism, particularly social and behavioral issues.
How many sessions of TMS do you need?
How many sessions you'll need depends on several factors, but the initial course of treatment typically consists of five 30–40-minute sessions per week over six weeks. Some individuals may begin to experience improvements after 2 to 3 weeks, but completing the entire course is recommended for achieving maximum benefit. In some cases, additional sessions or maintenance treatments might be needed, depending on the patient's response to TMS. The exact number of sessions can vary based on individual circumstances and how they respond to the treatment.
Is TMS therapy covered by insurance?
Some insurance plans in the U.S. will cover TMS therapy for major depressive disorder (MDD) with some conditions. For example, patients must have received a psychiatric diagnosis of MDD, traditional treatments for depression such as medications and therapy haven't worked, and the treatment must be deemed a medical necessity. Conditions for insurance coverage typically vary between providers; be sure to work with your physician and insurance company to determine whether you qualify.
Is TMS a permanent fix?
Although TMS isn't considered a permanent fix, many patients experience complete symptom remission or reduction for months after their treatment course is completed—with an average of approximately one year. Some report improvement during or after the initial 4 to 6 weeks of treatment. Like other treatments for major depression, many people experience a recurrence of symptoms over the course of their lifetime after TMS. Subsequent "maintenance sessions" or booster treatments can help in cases of relapse. These follow-up sessions may be spaced out over time based on the individual's needs. Additionally, many people continue other treatments like medication or therapy alongside TMS to manage their depression more effectively.
What is a disadvantage of TMS?
TMS is often time-intensive, and patients must be able to keep up with the daily treatment schedule for several weeks, depending on their response. Additionally, TMS can be expensive, especially if insurance will not cover the treatment. Complications or side effects are possible, but highly uncommon. The most reported side effects are reported directly after sessions and include headache, scalp discomfort, muscle spasms, and jaw pain caused by muscle contraction during the treatment. Some patients experience dizziness and lightheadedness. Hearing loss (preventable with earplugs) and seizures have been reported in extremely rare instances.
Who cannot have TMS?
Individuals with implanted or non-removable metallic objects in or around the head, excluding braces and dental fillings. People with implanted cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), vagus nerve stimulators (VNS), and pacemakers cannot undergo TMS therapy. Also, individuals with a history (or family history) of seizures or brain injury due to trauma, stroke, or tumor. Individuals with symptoms of mania or psychosis shouldn't use TMS therapy.
What is the TMS success rate?
The success rate of TMS is promising but often varies across studies. Response rates (referring to patients who experience a significant reduction in depressive symptoms range from 50% to nearly 80% in people with treatment-resistant depression—response rates for individuals with OCD average around 45% to 55% one month after treatment.
More research is required to determine the factors influencing treatment success, but some scientists posit that age and symptom severity may play a role. Completing the full course of treatment (4-6 weeks for most) improves outcomes, as do follow-up treatments and maintenance sessions and combining TMS with therapy or medications.
What is the age limit for TMS therapy?
The age limit for TMS therapy has been 18-70 years until March of 2024, when the FDA approved TMS for depression treatment in adolescents 15 years and older.
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