Private health insurance

[AuntiePushpa]

I'm lucky to have the option of private health insurance via work. It just occurred to me that this might be a better way to get mounjaro than directly ordering via an online pharmacy. I haven't seen anyone chatting about getting the medication this way on here - has anyone tried it? Is the support better? Anything else to consider? Tia

As far as I know it’s not currently covered on any of the medical insurance policies.

They don’t even cover long term chronic conditions.

Vitality announced recently that they have a programme which can be accessed if you meet their qualifying criteria, and I think Bupa do a similar scheme. But it looks a lot more expensive than the online pharmacies. Their qualifying criteria looks like you need a higher BMI eg 35 and a weight related health condition.

What support did you want to have extra to what an online pharmacy might provide? There are some online providers who do additional support and coaching, if that's something you want.

I looked into this last year August before I started. I also have a private health insurance through my work and they said they don’t cover this. Infact it was on their website then. They do however offer coaching sessions to help with weight loss, etc.
I paid for mine, only needed 4 pens and I’m now at goal weight so it was worth it, I’m maintaining now with exercising and diets and all the changes I’ve made. I would take up any coaching, etc sessions offered by my private health insurance when next they come to the office to continue to help as I’m maintaining.

Ah right, makes sense that everyone is doing directly in which case.

I guess the support I was thinking of was being able to discuss with a GP periodically, use their advice on when to move up doses, discuss side effects as they arise and avoiding them. Online pharmacy somehow doesn't feel the same.

On the other hand I'm pretty happy with how it is going. I thought it might be cheaper / free potentially to get via private health insurance mainly!

Many pharmacies have doctors which you can contact via messaging to ask questions about dosage or side effects. And they provide lots of info on their websites about that sort of thing as well.

I think if the private health insurers offered it for free they would make huge losses!

I guess the support I was thinking of was being able to discuss with a GP periodically, use their advice on when to move up doses, discuss side effects as they arise and avoiding them. Online pharmacy somehow doesn't feel the same

This is exactly what pharmacies do on a daily basis - what you are wanting is completely within the remit of online pharmacies. They do employ GPs too.

Plus I doubt that your private health insurance GP would necessarily be any more experienced with doses and side effects. In fact I’d wager that those online pharmacists might be more experienced with Mounjaro for weight loss, considering it has only been used in the UK for weight loss since 2023. In that time, Mounjaro has been predominantly accessible through online pharmacies as opposed to private health insurance GPs. So unless your insurer’s GP is a weight loss specialist, chances are their knowledge of Mounjaro is only cursory.

I have basically finished my time on Mounjaro and was able to call and email any questions I had and was always happy with the level of service. The pharmacy was completely engaged.

Vitality have just introduced weight loss injections alongside their weight loss management program - www.myhealthprotected.co.uk/vitality-becomes-first-uk-health-insurer-to-offer-discounted-weight-loss-jabs/

My cardiologist (private through BUPA) recommended it and said he’d write me a private prescription but I’d just use that to order elsewhere and another consult would cost £250 each time I needed a new prescription check plus medicine cost , so I just went direct to a online pharmacy to request and order