Have pity on me and just explain the easiest way to get diet medication

[Anonymous]

There are so many places popping up that are prescribing GLP-1s. If you don’t want any hassle but you still want an MD, call a plastic surgeon. Dr visit isn’t covered by insurance but you’ll walk out with either a compound or a script if your insurance covers the meds.

Or you can go to a Botox place that’s run by an NP. You’ll leave with either the compound or a schedule to return weekly for injections.

Most of the online providers will write you a script. Getting the script isn’t the issue, it’s paying for the drugs. If your insurance covers it, that’s great. But if not, it’s about $1000/mo. Compounds are $3-500/mo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP my PCP prescribed Zepbound. BMI of 31 and high blood pressure. Jumped through every insurance hoop ever with doctor support and they still wouldn't pay so I did 2 months at $1200 out of pocket/mo. My PCP started compound shots because so many patients couldn't get insurance coverage. I did that for 4 months then switched to Emerge since I knew I could handle it on my own. Couldn't be happier. $350/mo. No problems with compound or delivery. I haven't moved past the starter dose. And may stay on it forever. I feel great and look even better. Down 35 lbs in 9 months.

This is great. Were you on HBP meds before? Are you off now?

[Anonymous]

LifeMD

[Anonymous]

what does everyone mean about compounds versus the normal drugs?

[Anonymous]

My insurance will cover it but only if BMI over 30. For BMI between 27 and 30, they will cover it if you have one of the conditions on the list (high blood pressure, prediabetic, high cholesterol, sleep apnea etc.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could someone just give me the basics-can I go to an online doctor? Do they take insurance? How much does everything cost? I am fat, but don't want to deal with my primary care doctor.

Why don't you want to go through your primary care, especially if you're fat?

We have Tricare and even if you are fat you have to have at least two specific medical conditions that are the result of obesity and you also need to have tried two prior medications which didn’t work. All of this needs to be documented. Not as easy as you think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:what does everyone mean about compounds versus the normal drugs?

https://www.goodrx.com/classes/glp-1-agonists/compounded-semaglutide

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP my PCP prescribed Zepbound. BMI of 31 and high blood pressure. Jumped through every insurance hoop ever with doctor support and they still wouldn't pay so I did 2 months at $1200 out of pocket/mo. My PCP started compound shots because so many patients couldn't get insurance coverage. I did that for 4 months then switched to Emerge since I knew I could handle it on my own. Couldn't be happier. $350/mo. No problems with compound or delivery. I haven't moved past the starter dose. And may stay on it forever. I feel great and look even better. Down 35 lbs in 9 months.

This is great. Were you on HBP meds before? Are you off now?

Yes! I check my BP at home each morning and have stopped taking my Losartan. Feel great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about a full inventory and checkup from the primary to ensure you understand everything and have bloodwork done to make sure this new med will work well with your body type? Will you be getting bloodwork done? Are you already on medications?

These are not new meds. GLP-1 antagonists were approved by the FDA almost 20 years ago.

I meant “new med” for the person. Anytime you add a new medication you should be checked by a doctor to make sure things are okay. I know GLP-1 are proven and have a track record. This is more about a doctor’s supervision who knows someone’s whole history/the whole picture.

Congrats if you have a doc who knows you. At my family med practice I see a different NP or PA every time. Even when I see a familiar provider, they don't remember me. Not sure what the norm is out there.

[Anonymous]

I love WeightWatchers Clinic! I'm on Mounjaro, but they're offering compounded medications now also.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not going to judge how overweight anyone feels they must be to access medicine. The hassle/cost/stress will keep people from messing around for a few pounds.

Easiest one is Emerge - but do not expect customer service because you are paying through the nose for a peptide pharma has know about for decades and only recently marketed.

Insurance: 1. You call YOUR insurance. QUESTIONS: Is it on their formulary FOR WEIGHT LOSS (Wegovy/Monjaro) [NOT for type 2 diabetes (Ozempic/Zepbound, you need to evidence A1C to a certain level; Pre-diabetic? No meds for you! You want Oz/Zep? Gotta get diabetic.]. 2. Will YOUR insurance PLAN cover it (might have had to pay for an extra Rider-type add-on when your employer negotiated your coverage) even if it is in their formulary. 2. Does YOUR insurance demand a prior authorization? 3. Does the prior authorization HAVE to show clinical notes that you have tried other medicines and made you sick/had no effect.

Once you sort out your insurance demands you can play the doctor lottery to see if you can get a doc who believes in weight loss meds.

At the George Washington University Medical Faculty Docs - I had a doc that would NOT engage in a conversation about meds. Instead, you get sent to “weight loss hell” - I mean clinic and told “six-month wait to get onto a list to someday get an appointment.” Then - a week or so later, I got a call “we here at weight loss hell have a wait list to get on the list to someday get an appointment - looks like its about a nine month wait - call back every week and see if we are taking names for the list.”

So THAT is why we hop online and talk to a rando doc and get medicine.

Anyone who says “move more, eat less” can go F off. I have lost 30-60#s on and off time after time over my life - I know more about moving more and eating less than you ever will, I promise you. 40% of adults are obese and the number will continue to rise — so you just keep judging away.

I use Emerge and the customer service is great, at least so far. Very efficient and fast, as you say. I have texted and called the pharmacy with the dumbest questions and have always received courteous responses.

[Anonymous]

There are at least 20 websites / companies offering this service.

[Anonymous]

I too am also baffled by all of this. Should I ask my PC to prescribe compound GLP-1 from a reputable or compound pharmacy or should I just go to one of the zillion sites online and do it that way? I don’t think I’ll be able to afford Wegovy or Zepbound bc neither is covered fully by my insurance and even with the coupon it’s expensive. The compound versions are so much cheaper—so what’s the rub? Is it that you’re more likely to experience complications from compound than the pharma brand? Are these online places not reputable at all? Can anyone speak to their experience with compound from the big names-Hers, IVIM, Henrys? A year ago compound seemed taboo and now everyone seems to be buying it directly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could someone just give me the basics-can I go to an online doctor? Do they take insurance? How much does everything cost? I am fat, but don't want to deal with my primary care doctor.

Go to a weight loss doctor / bariatric surgeon - I see Inova Weight Loss. Both the appointment and the meds are covered by insurance.

It took months and months to get that first appointment, so in the meanwhile I signed up with an online service that connects you with a prescribing doctor (I used Calibrate, no idea if they are still in business). The service itself was about $1200 for the year and they prescribed brand-name meds that were covered by insurance.

My GP was entirely unsupportive even though I had a BMI of 32, left arm pain, and joint issues. I've also had an unrelated doctor (OB GYN) berate me for taking the meds. There's a lot of ignorance and judgment out there, I don't blame you for not wanting to bother with your GP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I too am also baffled by all of this. Should I ask my PC to prescribe compound GLP-1 from a reputable or compound pharmacy or should I just go to one of the zillion sites online and do it that way? I don’t think I’ll be able to afford Wegovy or Zepbound bc neither is covered fully by my insurance and even with the coupon it’s expensive. The compound versions are so much cheaper—so what’s the rub? Is it that you’re more likely to experience complications from compound than the pharma brand? Are these online places not reputable at all? Can anyone speak to their experience with compound from the big names-Hers, IVIM, Henrys? A year ago compound seemed taboo and now everyone seems to be buying it directly.

My pcp says her concerns about safety are so grave that she won't prescribe to compounding pharmacies. She literally wouldn't be able to sleep if she did.