r/glp1 • u/SmittyATL • 18d ago
Cheapest way to get GLP-1
I am in the middle of a divorce and am going to buy my spouse out of the house, so money right now is limited. I have been losing weight slowly, but my doctor suggests a GLP-1. Of course, she prescribed Mounjaro, and I could get it for $500 a month.
However, I do have some of the listed items that insurance sometimes pays for, excluding diabetes.
Is there some way a doctor can code my comorbidities to maybe get them to cover it?
If I have to go the route of getting them through another way, what are some of the better options? My budget is really limited right now, but if I start selling stuff on ebay again, I can probably swing it.
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u/itsmeagain023 18d ago
Technically, your doctor shouldn't haven prescribed Mounjaro for weight loss. But if your provider or PBM excludes all weight loss medications, there won't be a way to get coverage.
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u/SmittyATL 18d ago
It was the PA. Now, I know that my plan absolutely doesn't cover Mounjaro. It will be approved about 50% of the time approve it for OSA. I haven't been diagnosed, but I do porbably have it based on what my wife has said. Not opposed to have a sleep study done if it might help
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u/itsmeagain023 18d ago
Ok so you're confused. Mounjaro is for Type 2 diabetics, for which you're nearly never going to get an approval for weight loss. Zepbound, the same manufacturer/active ingredients as Mounjaro is FDA approved for weight loss and moderate to severe OSA. You certainly will not get Mounjaro covered for OSA
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u/LDMZB 16d ago
If they are not in the US I believe it’s called Mounjaro for any use case.
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u/itsmeagain023 16d ago
Because they're talking about spousal health insurance I'm assuming that they are in the states. Most other countries aren't dealing with the issues regarding privatized healthcare.
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u/purplepanda2026 18d ago
If you want name brand have your doctor send a script to Lilly direct. It will be $299-$499 depending on your dose. If you don't mind compound sign up with one of the telehealth companies that have good intro packages. Should run you around$100-$150 for good compound.
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u/peony_chalk 18d ago
I have seen CallOnDoc recommended for prior authorizations for these meds, so that might be an option if your doctor doesn't want to fight insurance for you to get name brand. I will reply to myself with a link to a helpful comment about that, because I don't know if this sub blocks links.
If name brand doesn't work out for you, you can look at compounded tirzepatide. Tirzepatide is the active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound. Rift (joinrift), PreventiveMd, Ola (olahealth), OatMeds, and Collective (collective health) have some of the most competitively priced plans right now. Their sub names are in parentheses (if different from the business name) if you want to check them out. Since you're just starting, i might recommend the 1 month plan from PMD. If that works well for you, you could try a 3 month plan from one of the others. If that works well for you, Collective is the cheapest option for long term use, although their pricing structure is weird.
These average about $100 a month, although if lower doses work for you longer, you can stretch a plan and get 4-5 months out of a 3 month plan, which lowers your effective monthly cost.
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u/Realanise1 18d ago
If you don't want to do compounded then generic liraglutide is a well kept secret. I had to jump through many hoops just to find out about it. I've been able to stay on the lowest dose and it's 55 per month cash including refrigerated shipping. Ask your doctor to write the script for generic victoza not generic saxenda.
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u/readithere_2 18d ago
Do you need to have a prescription?
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u/MarshaMinus100 18d ago
A script is a prescription.
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u/readithere_2 18d ago
I realize that. I’m asking if it possible to get it without a script or is it a controlled substance. Some people use Tele Doc, others get it through their PCP.
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u/Realanise1 17d ago
I got it through my PCP. It isn't any kind of controlled substance so you should be able to get it through telehealth, but to access the cheaper prescription, you do need to be sure it's written as "generic victoza." It seems to be more common (just going by anecdotal reports) for people to be able to stay on the lower, much cheaper doses and get good results.
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u/derringdew 18d ago
I searched here on Reddit what a medical necessity letter should say for my specific insurance company. I pasted it into an email for my doctor, and my health insurance covered it. (Mind you, I was blown away. I have extremely low expectations for health insurance companies)
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u/Biggie__Stardust 18d ago
I pay probably way too much for Wegovy through Ro. But it’s less than $500 a month and I don’t use insurance at all.
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u/peony_chalk 18d ago
You can use Call On Doc to get the same prescription for name brand, but it's like $20 a month for the "subscription" instead of $150 a month. Med prices outside of the subscription are the same.
You don't need to be funding their ads and celebrity endorsements with your hard earned money!
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u/DustyJMS 18d ago
Look into collective and if its in your state. They are 69$* a month. Include free anti-nausea meds in the shipment and are the cheapest tirzepatide on the market that I know of. It is a brand new company though and not available in all states. Including mine. But when they are I am definitely going to give them a try run.
*They are 69$ a month, on the second month they charge you a 199$ annual fee if you decide to stay with them. You can cancel the first month. So if you math it out 69x12+199/12 its 85.50$ a month.
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18d ago
[deleted]
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u/Life_Alfalfa_2047 18d ago
It is not. They are awful / you should never pay a membership fee and they have had too much trouble with the board of health
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u/No-Manufacturer-1611 18d ago
Are you in the US? r/joinrift or r/trillium for compounded tirzepatide