How Much Does HF10 Therapy Cost?

Published on October 8, 2025 | Prices Last Reviewed for Freshness: November 2025
Written by Alec Pow - Economic & Pricing Investigator | Medical Review by Sarah Nguyen, MD

Educational content; not medical advice. Prices are typical estimates and may exclude insurance benefits; confirm with a licensed clinician and your insurer.

People considering high frequency 10 kHz spinal cord stimulation want two things: relief that lasts and a clear price they can plan around. HF10 therapy, delivered by the Nevro Senza system, is an FDA-approved implantable treatment for chronic trunk and limb pain, including failed back surgery syndrome, non-surgical refractory back pain, and diabetic neuropathy. This guide explains typical totals, what drives the bill, how insurance pays, and realistic ways to lower out-of-pocket exposure—so you can decide if the spend makes sense for your health and budget.

HF10 therapy starts with a short trial using external equipment, then a permanent implant if pain relief is strong. The implant includes leads near the spinal cord and a small pulse generator under the skin, programmed in clinic visits over time. The approach avoids paresthesia (no tingles, no buzz) and holds on-label indications that expanded in 2021–2022; the detailed supplement notes are in the FDA’s S039B document.

Article Insights

HF10 is covered by Medicare and many commercial plans, with coinsurance applied to the allowed amount after the deductible (see Nevro’s coverage & eligibility).

Cash or list totals for implants commonly fall between $35,000 and $70,000 depending on lead type and market, illustrated by a Virginia Beach paddle-lead bundle.

Rechargeable generators designed around ten years can reduce exchange surgeries versus non-rechargeable units that often last 2–5 years.

Outpatient bundled payments under Medicare often lower coinsurance compared with inpatient routes; see this concise HOPD reimbursement guide.

Ask for exact CPTs, site of service, and network status before authorization, then verify your plan’s out-of-pocket maximum (Nevro’s reimbursement playbook helps).

How Much Does HF10 Therapy Cost?

The HF10 Therapy cost ranges between $15,000 and $70,000, depending on region, insurance, and facility.

As of September 2025, cash or list prices for spinal cord stimulator surgery vary widely. Bundled marketplace offers show $49,019–$69,588 for full implant episodes with leads and generator—for example, an Oklahoma City percutaneous-lead bundle. Some clinics post line-item self-pay notices (e.g., a generator insertion around $24,000) before device supply costs; see this Colorado cash schedule. Consumer round-ups of typical ranges—useful for ballpark only—are summarized by CostHelper.

With Medicare, allowed amounts follow national payment frameworks. In outpatient hospital settings, Medicare bundles SCS services into comprehensive APCs; a practical coding overview is Abbott’s national coding guide. Ambulatory surgery centers use device-intensive ASC rates that often price lower than hospital outpatient.

The exact cost varies with provider, coverage, and your clinical plan—most of the bill is the implantable device plus the procedure. Nevro’s explainer on stimulator costs pairs well with a recent NCBI cost-study for context.

Multiple analyses suggest HF10 can be cost-effective versus conventional management, with initial costs offset within 2–3 years by reduced opioids and fewer pain-related services—see this health-economic model and a broader economic review. Real-world payer interest echoes in industry reporting on health-economic benefits, while legal updates (e.g., device-related claims) are tracked by firms like Robert King Law.

Real-World Cost Examples

Regional spreads are real. A Virginia Beach paddle-lead bundle (~$69,588) contrasts with an Oklahoma City percutaneous bundle (~$49,019), and Las Vegas ASC posts around $61,441 for percutaneous placement—illustrating how contracts, anesthesia, and device costs shift totals. (See a Las Vegas ASC listing for one snapshot.)

Some centers publish line-items you can use to estimate builds: generator insertion CPT 63685 ~$24,000, paddle-lead 63655 ~$15,500, percutaneous lead 63650 ~$5,000 per array (device supplies billed separately). One example is the Colorado cash notice above.

You might also like our articles on the cost of a nerve conduction test, an Orthofix bone stimulator, or a spinal cord stimulator.

Detailed Cost Breakdown

The HF10 journey has distinct layers. The trial uses percutaneous leads and an external stimulator (CPT 63650 + pro fees + facility/anesthesia/imaging), and the permanent stage adds generator insertion (CPT 63685) with either percutaneous leads again or a paddle-lead laminectomy (CPT 63655). Facility benchmarks for trial placement are visible in Medicare’s 63650 lookup, and the general Procedure Price Lookup shows averages for related codes.

Worked illustration (outpatient, rounded; not a quote): Trial facility $6,500, surgeon $600, anesthesia $300; permanent percutaneous implant facility $29,600 generator + $6,500 leads, surgeon $800, anesthesia $500, first programming visit $120. Medicare coinsurance is ~20% of allowed amounts after the deductible; commercial plans vary.

What’s Covered by Insurance?

HF10 is covered by Medicare nationwide and by many commercial plans when conservative care has failed and a successful trial is documented—Nevro offers a quick pre-auth checklist. Medicare patient-share examples appear in the 63655 lookup, and payer baselines are summarized in Boston Scientific’s SCS reimbursement guide.

Factors That Influence Cost

Lead strategy: Dual percutaneous leads typically run lower facility totals than a paddle-lead laminectomy with its added OR time and higher outpatient levels (see the Oklahoma City percutaneous bundle above versus the Virginia Beach paddle bundle).

Geography: Wage indexes and local contracts shift allowed amounts market to market.

Device choice: Longevity changes lifetime cost—ten-year rechargeable designs reduce exchanges versus shorter-life non-rechargeables; clinical notes discuss durability in both manufacturer and PubMed sources (e.g., battery lifespan data).

Alternative Therapies and Their Costs

Epidural steroid injections often post $600–$1,500 cash (see Sidecar’s price map). Radiofrequency ablation coinsurance can be a few hundred dollars per level under Medicare (overview by Medical News Today). Home TENS units run $70–$200 (e.g., a popular TENS 3000), while PT sessions without insurance commonly bill $50–$155 depending on evaluation complexity (see PT cost guide).

Ways to Reduce Cost

Go in-network. Verify surgeon, facility, and anesthesia groups. One phone call can save thousands in tiered plans.

Bundle when possible. Transparent packages (surgeon + facility + anesthesia + basic follow-up) simplify apples-to-apples comparisons. Ask for itemized CPTs for both trial and implant, and lean on manufacturer reimbursement teams to streamline paperwork (see the Nevro reimbursement guide linked above).

Expert Tips and Clinical Insights

High-frequency 10 kHz SCS shows superior responder rates versus traditional low-frequency SCS in randomized data—handy for appeals and shared decision-making (start with the pivotal RCT).

Confirm your programming plan and visit cadence up front; every adjustment is a small professional charge, and some centers offer remote support. Keep EOBs and match them against your pre-cert codes.

Total Cost of Ownership Over Time

Battery life matters. Rechargeable HF10 generators are engineered for ~10 years, which can avoid one or more exchange surgeries versus some non-rechargeables; Nevro’s replacement FAQs outline typical timing (common replacement questions). Plan for occasional reprogramming and, when indicated, imaging.

Hidden & Unexpected Costs

Pre-op testing, psychological clearance, and imaging can add $200–$800. Some facilities list device pass-throughs or surgical supplies as separate line items—ask for an itemized estimate. Travel, parking, and time off work also hit the real-world budget, especially if you live far from a neuromodulation center.

Insurance Coding & Reimbursement—Quick Hits

Codes to know: trial percutaneous lead (CPT 63650), paddle-lead laminectomy (63655), generator insertion/exchange (63685), programming (95970–95971). In HOPD, comprehensive APC rules package many adjunctive services into one payment. If your evaluation supports a trial and your plan authorizes an outpatient implant, bundled payment often lowers coinsurance versus inpatient—keep every EOB.

HF10 Cost Tiers at a Glance

Answers to Common Questions

Is HF10 therapy covered by Medicare?

Yes—when criteria are met (failed conservative therapy and a successful trial), with patient cost-share applied to allowed amounts. Use Medicare’s Procedure Price Lookup for your local averages.

Can you get HF10 without doing a trial first?

Coverage generally requires a documented trial showing meaningful relief before permanent implantation.

How much does a Nevro HF10 system cost out of pocket?

Self-pay line items can start around $24,000 for generator insertion, while bundled episodes often land around $49,000–$70,000. Insured patients pay deductibles/coinsurance up to their plan’s out-of-pocket maximum.

How does HF10 compare on value to conventional SCS or ongoing injections?

Randomized and health-economic analyses show 10 kHz SCS can be clinically superior and cost-effective in models used by technology evaluators like NICE—which supports its use after other measures fail.