All articles tagged with #medication cost
High costs and limited insurance coverage are causing weight-loss patients to discontinue expensive medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, prompting companies to offer post-treatment support services such as telehealth checkups, lifestyle coaching, and community support groups for a monthly fee of up to $300 in an effort to help patients maintain their weight loss.
Many Americans struggling with obesity are unable to access new weight loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy due to high costs and insurance barriers, leading to disparities in who can afford these potentially life-changing drugs. Despite the potential to revolutionize obesity treatment, only 1% of the U.S. population with government or private insurance had a prescription filled for semaglutide, the most popular of the weight-loss medications. The high cost of these drugs makes them almost unattainable for many who need them the most, with insurance companies often refusing to reimburse the around $1,000 monthly cost of the injections or putting up high barriers to authorizing payments.
Paxlovid, an antiviral treatment for COVID-19, is proven to reduce the risk of severe illness and hospitalization, but it is underused due to high cost, doctors' hesitation to prescribe, and concerns about drug interactions. The drug was initially free but now has a list price of $1,390, making it inaccessible for many. Additionally, reimbursement rates and insurance coverage issues are hindering its availability. A study found that Paxlovid was disproportionately given to lower-risk patients, potentially preventing thousands of COVID-19 deaths if properly utilized.