There would rightly, be an almighty uproar if every anaemic patient were told that they needed exactly the same amount of iron only 4 times per year, and all diabetic patients were told they need the same dose of insulin quarterly
Counts under 50,000/L are moderate, under 20,000/L are severe, and under 10,000/L are very severe
Chronic Pain BPC-157 can help manage chronic pain conditions by reducing inflammation and promoting tissue repair
Medical doctors look at whether your measurements fall outside of the accepted medical ranges but functional medicine doctors will look to optimize function within tighter ranges associated with healthy individuals, not just average measurements
Insurance Coverage: Coverage Likelihood: Most Likely to Be Covered: Ozempic for type 2 diabetes (diabetes indication) Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes (diabetes indication) Sometimes Covered: Wegovy for weight loss (if plan covers obesity treatment) Zepbound for weight loss (newer, fewer plans cover) Rarely Covered: Weight loss medications on most plans Medicare/Medicaid dont cover for weight loss (federal law) Typical Copays (If Covered): Tier 2 (preferred): $25-$75/month Tier 3 (non-preferred): $100-$200/month Specialty tier: $200-$300/month or 25-33% coinsurance Prior Authorization Requirements: Insurance Typically Requires: Documentation of: BMI 30 or BMI 27 with comorbidities (documented) Failed weight loss attempts (6-12 months documented diet/exercise) Medical necessity letter from provider No contraindications May Also Require: Nutrition counseling documentation Exercise program participation Weight loss journal Commitment to lifestyle modifications Regular follow-up appointments Timeline: Prior authorization: 1-4 weeks processing Appeals if denied: Additional 2-8 weeks No guarantee of approval Manufacturer Savings Programs: Eli Lilly (Mounjaro/Zepbound): Savings Card: May reduce cost to $25/month Requirements: Commercial insurance (not Medicare/Medicaid) Not available for: Uninsured cash-pay patients Income limits: May apply Novo Nordisk (Wegovy/Ozempic): Savings Card: May reduce cost to $25/month Requirements: Commercial insurance (not Medicare/Medicaid) Not available for: Uninsured cash-pay patients If you qualify for savings cards, brand-name medications become very affordable ($25-$50/month)
