Does Insurance Cover CBD Oil in 2022?

The never ending topic of insurance! It can be complicated to understand what is covered, how much of it is covered, and what you have to end up paying. As we look more into CBD and CBD oil offerings, it’s caused many of us to ask - “huh, is this covered?” 

And while the answer is probably a bit more complicated, the short of it is no, insurance does not cover CBD oil as of 2022. Don’t worry, we’ll explain and answer additional questions in this piece so you have a better idea of why insurance doesn’t cover CBD oil - even if you get a prescription from your doctor. 

Even if you have a prescription from your doctor to purchase medical cannabis from a dispensary, it still does not qualify to be covered by insurance. This is, in part, due to the legal status of marijuana in the U.S. While CBD is considered legal as long as it has under 0.3% THC, medical marijuana is still classified as a Schedule I controlled substance through the Controlled Substances Act. So while you may be able to obtain a medical marijuana card from your doctor in a state that it is legalized, the federal government’s classification prevents it from being covered. 

If your healthcare provider prescribes medical marijuana (technically considered a controlled substance under the federal law) they must then be registered with the the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Even if medical marijuana is legal in that state it must still be logged and registered with a DEA number to verify the healthcare provider’s ability to prescribe. 

Despite having supported research on the potential benefits of using CBD oil, it is not recognized by the FDA or health insurance companies as something worth coverage. This means that you will have to pay out of pocket for any CBD products you purchase. 

While CBD is not classified in the same way as medical marijuana, or marijuana in general, health insurance companies will only pay for items on the drug formulary. A formulary (also called a drug list) is generally just a list of prescription drugs that are covered within a drug or insurance plan. Since the FDA has not approved CBD products for prescription use or categorized it within the classification of drug schedules. The drug schedules listed by the DEA are as follows:

• Schedule I - Drugs, substances, or chemicals that currently have no accepted medical use (Heroin, LSD, Ecstasy)
• Schedule II - Drugs with high potential for abuse or dependence (Vicodin, OxyContin, Fentanyl)
• Schedule III - Drugs with moderate to low potential for physcial and psychological dependence (Ketamine, Anabolic Steroids, Testosterone)
• Schedule IV - Drugs with a low potential/risk for abuse or dependence (Xanax, Valium, Ambien)
• Schedule V - Drugs with the lowest potential for abuse (Cough medicines with codeine, Motofen, Lyrica)

The only cannabis products covered by insurance are ones that are approved by the FDA. There is only one FDA-approved prescription CBD medicine, called Epidiolex. It is used to treat seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS), Dravet Syndrome, or Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TCS) for patients 2 years or older. While this is the only direct cannabis-derived drug product, there are three synthetic cannabis-related products:

• Marinol and Syndros - Both contain dronabinol, a synthetic Delta-9 THC, used for nausea after cancer chemotherapy and in treating anorexia-related weight loss for AIDS patients. 
• Cesamet - Contains nabilone which has a similar chemical structure to THC, but is synthetically derived and used fro nausea associated with chemotherapy for cancer patients.

The benefits and uses for CBD oil range from:

Chronic Pain - A 2018 study found that 15 of 18 trials demonstrated a significant analgesic effect of cannabinoids when compared to a placebo. A portion of patients also self-reported a 30% reduction in pain intensity (based on a scale of 0-10). 

Epilepsy - CBD has actually been approved for use with one medication for helping with seizures. 

Anxiety - Existing preclinical evidence strongly supports CBD as a treatment for generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, OCD, and PTSD when administered acutely. They mention that the research is lacking for chronic CBD dosing with more data suggesting that acute dosing may be successful for patients.  

High Blood Pressure - In 2017, researchers found that an acute administration of CBD (600 mg of CBD) can reduce resting blood pressure and even blood pressure associated with stress and an increase in heart rate.

Perhaps one day health insurance companies will cover CBD products, but for now, this doesn’t seem immediate. However, this doesn’t mean that the cannabis world isn’t done changing. Individual states have recently changed their statuses of what is legal or illegal based on cannabis products. The varying degrees of status really depend on your individual state, so be sure to check before you order any new product, especially online or if you’re looking to purchase a product with a higher THC content (think delta-9 and delta-8 products). 

As the landscape changes we will most likely see many more changes in the years to come. It’s best to stay up to date and continue researching on your cannabis journey. Only time will tell if insurance will cover these products.

The options are endless based on your needs! BATCH’s products are formulated to create a superior CBD experience, without any worry for additions like pesticides or heavy metals. 

With all this talk about the legality of CBD, you shouldn’t be scared about exploring your options. You can always discuss with your physician before taking a cannabis product, but do some additional research to make sure you’re choosing from a brand that cares about extraction and quality. 

BATCH extracts from our hemp flower through ultra-cold, food grade ethanol. Our preferred hemp strain is called Umpqua, a hardy type that produces multiple pounds of flower per plant. It has a stellar cannabinoid and terpene profile, making it the choice for full-spectrum hemp genetics. 

This is more technical speak for saying that we ensure that our products are only the finest quality and efficacy. Never buy from a brand that does not detail their process or show transparency through third party lab testing. 

BATCH BRIEF: To make sure our blends are up to snuff, we first create an internal test report. This ensures that our products are full of rich cannabinoids. 

+ Federally Compliant

+ Full Potency

+ Full Cannabinoid Profile

We get that it’s frustrating trying to find a solution to the stressors in your life. And now knowing that you can’t find CBD products covered by insurance makes the process a little more daunting. But you don’t have to break the bank to get quality CBD products. 

Because we’re so invested in our product, we want everyone to be able to try it out for free! Choose your free CBD Sample to experience the BATCH benefits without committing to an entire bottle to start. This sample contains 165 mg CBD total and comes in a 5 mL bottle (~5 servings, or a week’s supply). 

We also have a CBD Sampler Pack that is the best of BATCH so you can find which CBD method works best for you. Each package contains four CBD samples:

• 25 mg CBD Gummies (3 CT)
• CBD Oil Tincture Blend (1,000 mg/oz - 5mL)
  • Choose from: Original, Calm, Clarity, Dream
• Fire & Ice CBD Relief Balm (0.5 oz)
• 25 mg CBD Softgels (3 CT)

BATCH BRIEF: You can also add in our Nighttime Gummies Sample (3 CT) for $4.99 extra.

If you like the products, you’ll love saving 25% on every CBD subscription. You get the BATCH VIP treatment when you sign-up as a Gold Member to recieve:

1. Save 25% On Every Order - Subscribe to any product and never worry about paying full price again. We will apply all BATCH sales to your orders automatically
2. Choose Your Schedule - Decide between a 30 or 60 day delivery schedule. Every order is shipped free with priority.
3. Adjust, Pause, Or Cancel Anytime - Sometimes things change, and so can your membership. You have complete control over to adjust your subscriptions whenever you please. 

BATCH BRIEF: As a Gold Member you’ll also receive free care packages from out team, plus special gifts throughout the year!

Talking about insurance is never the most exciting topic, but we hope this guide proves to explain your options with CBD. While the coverage for insurance isn’t there yet (maybe one day), you don’t have to go broke findind CBD products that work for your life. 

Think about what you are looking for and consider chatting with your doctor about if CBD is even an option for you based on your medical history and other medications. You can refer to the BATCH Blog for additional insights as well. 

And don’t forget to try your Free CBD Sample if you’re new to BATCH!