Prices of obesity treatments Wegovy and Zepbound have fallen, but access remains a challenge due to high costs.
The medications still cost around $500 per month for those without insurance, making them out of reach for many patients. Even with insurance, coverage varies, leaving doctors to find alternative treatment options.
Despite the demand for these drugs, which soared in popularity due to their effectiveness as GLP-1 receptor agonists, coverage remains inconsistent. Insurance companies are cautious about covering medications that may be used indefinitely by a large number of people.
As a result, some employers have dropped coverage of these drugs, and pharmacy benefit managers are switching between brands. This has forced doctors like Dr. Beverly Tchang to adjust treatment plans for patients who relied on Zepbound.
However, cheaper compounded versions of the medications are still being sold, although this is a contentious issue with both drugmakers and compounding pharmacies disagreeing on safety standards.
Prices have dropped, but the cost remains high, with some patients facing monthly expenses that exceed 14% of their average annual income. Experts say competition from pill versions, which may be introduced in the next year, could drive down prices further.
With efforts to increase coverage and lower costs, doctors like Dr. Courtney Younglove remain hopeful that access to these life-changing medications will become more accessible in the future.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/wegovy-zepbound-obesity-drugs-coverage-access-142e234c16df4443e8f66c27d01f44e2