GLP-1 Medications
Wegovy (Semaglutide) + Zepbound (Tirzepatide) + Saxenda (Liraglutide)
Understanding GLP-1 Medications
Wegovy (Semaglutide) + Zepbound (Tirzepatide)
Foundayo & Saxenda (Liraglutide)
What are GLP-1 medications
Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist medications to help people lose weight by mimicking the body's natural GLP-1 hormone to reduce appetite, increase feelings of fullness, and slow digestion. These FDA-approved drugs are effective for treating obesity in individuals with a high BMI or with weight-related health conditions and are prescribed under medical supervision to manage intake and support long-term weight control.
Brand vs. Compounded GLP-1
Wegovy is the brand name for Semaglutide and is made by Novo Nordisk and Zepbound is the brand name for Tirzepatide which is made by Eli Lilly. Both Zepbound and Wegovy are FDA approved for weight loss while compounded Semaglutide and Tirzepatide are not FDA approved for weight loss. The brand Wegovy and Zepbound are often covered by health insurance (Tricare / Medicare / Employer Health Plans) and our staff is experts at handling the prior authorizations for our patients. If your insurance does not cover Wegovy or Zepbound, we will go over cash pay options from the manufacturers and also less expensive compounded Semaglutide and Tirzepatide.
Does my insurance cover GLP-1 medications?
Many of our patients are blown away when we are able to get GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Zepbound covered by their insurance. Many times patients tell us “my insurance doesn’t cover these medications” and then we check their benefits and do a prior authorization and are able to get Zepbound or Wegovy covered under their insurance copay. Many of our patients have prescription benefits through CVS Caremark who covers Wegovy. Many of our patients have insurance through their employer such as Blue Cross, Aetna, Cigna among others that will cover these medications with sometimes $0 out of pocket expense.
How do I check my insurance coverage?
We would be happy to do a complimentary check for you. Just click the book an appointment button and select GLP-1 Insurance Verification and book an appointment. This will allow us to check your benefits without you spending your time talking to your insurance company and getting confusing information. We have an online prescribing portal that allows us to check benefits quickly and many times get your exact copay amount.
What if my insurance doesn’t cover GLP-1 medications?
If we check your insurance benefits and your insurance does not cover GLP-1 medications, you still have options. Both Wegovy and Zepbound have cash pay options which are as low as $199 for a month supply (4 weekly injections). The other option is compounded Semaglutide or Tirzepatide which is as low as $150 for a 2 month supply (8 injections).
If that is not in your budget, we are always able to prescribe other FDA approved weight loss medications such as Phentermine which only costs around $15 per month.