The process for getting medical approval for GLP-1 injections is fairly simple and either proceeds in one of two ways – near instant analysis of an intake questionnaire by a telehealth clinician or a combination of a questionnaire and medical intake interview.
Companies like Hers & Hims, for example, largely rely on intake questionnaires. Let’s walk briefly through the Hers intake.
First, you are asked a couple questions about your weight loss history and eating habits. Once you’ve answered these lifestyle questions, it then moves on to your medical history.
Here, you’ll be asked about your mental health, pre-existing conditions, family medical conditions and your history of surgeries as well as your current medications. Please, please, please be careful to list all medications and conditions so that the medical provider can make sure it is safe for you to take these medications. I personally fibbed about my weight by a few pounds to qualify and I understand why others would do that. But don’t misrepresent your medical or medication history to get approved – that’s not a risk worth taking.
If there are no issues with current medications or pre-existing conditions, getting approved basically comes down to your weight. If you have a BMI over 30 and no pre-existing conditions, then you will get approved.
It is still possible to get approved with a BMI of 27 as long as you have type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea or high cholesterol. However, if you fall into this category, you may likely have a decent chance of getting insurance to cover the medication for you, so your best option might be to go direct to your own doctor (or use a service like Sesame to get your authorization only and then fill it at your local pharmacy).
The slightly longer approval process used by companies like Henry or Sesame simply inserts a telehealth visit with a licensed medical practitioner into the mix after the initial intake screener. These companies require patients to complete a brief, typically 5 minute or less virtual clinician visit to review your medical history and resolve any issues that may exist.
Ultimately, this clinician visit is not going to provide you with the type of service or attention you would get from a face to face visit with a doctor, so if you are expecting that you will be disappointed and perhaps it may be best to visit a doctor IRL to discuss your health and treatment.
And that is basically it unless you have a unique situation or a condition that makes it medically unsafe to pursue semaglutide or other GLP-1 treatments.
Regardless of whether you choose the quick, questionnaire only route or the slightly less quick route with a telehealth visit, the most important thing is sticking with a trusted, established brand and not some random company on Instagram advertising a version of the shot for $20 less per month that may not be legitimate or safe.
Check out our less than top 10 list of the only companies that passed our rigorous review process here.
