How to get a Wegovy prescription: A step-by-step guide

Key takeaways

• Wegovy (semaglutide) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist approved by the FDA for adults and children older than 12 who have obesity, adults with overweight and a weight-related condition, or adults with noncirrhotic metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis.
• To get a Wegovy prescription, you’ll need to speak with a healthcare professional like a general practitioner, nurse practitioner, or endocrinologist who can evaluate your body mass index (BMI), weight-related conditions, and previous weight loss attempts.
• Insurance coverage for weight loss medications is expanding but may still be limited depending on your plan. Your doctor may need to submit prior authorization showing that Wegovy is medically necessary before your insurance will cover it.

Overview

Wegovy, a brand-name drug that contains the active ingredient semaglutide, is increasing in popularity due to its use as a weight-loss medication. It’s a drug called a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1s).

If you’re interested in starting Wegovy, you’ll need a prescription from a healthcare professional, and you’ll typically need to meet certain criteria to get this prescription.

Let’s take a look at all the steps to obtaining a Wegovy prescription, from your first research to picking up your medication.

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Step 1: Check if you qualify

Not everyone can get a Wegovy prescription. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it should only be prescribed to:

• adults and children older than 12 who have obesity
• adults with overweight and at least one other weight-related condition, such as cardiovascular disease or obstructive sleep apnea
• adults with noncirrhotic metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis

If any of these factors apply to you, you may consider reaching out to a doctor to discuss options.

Step 2: Speak with a healthcare professional

The next step to receiving a Wegovy prescription is making an appointment with a healthcare professional. This could be your primary care provider, but any licensed healthcare professional with prescribing authority can prescribe GLP-1s like Wegovy. This means you can get a prescription from:

• a general practitioner (GP)
• a nurse practitioner
• physician assistants
• endocrinologists

The healthcare professional will determine whether you have obesity or overweight by taking several factors into account, including your body mass index (BMI). If you have overweight, they may also need to diagnose a weight-related condition. If you have MASH, your doctor might evaluate the severity of your liver fibrosis.

The doctor might also review previous weight loss attempts and medications you take.

You may not need to make an in-person appointment to speak with a healthcare professional. Some online care services offer prescriptions for GLP-1s.

A note on safety

You always need a valid prescription for Wegovy to ensure it’s safe, regulated, and used correctly. Always avoid websites that offer to sell it without a prescription or with “prescribers” that have unclear credentials. These are likely to be illegal sites.

Step 3: Look into your insurance coverage

After you’ve been prescribed Wegovy, it may be a good idea to check whether your insurance will cover the medication. Insurance coverage for weight loss medications is expanding, but may still be limited depending on your plan and state.

In some cases, your doctor may need to submit proof that Wegovy is medically necessary for you before your insurance will cover it. This is known as prior authorization.

Here are some methods to find out whether your insurance plan covers Wegovy and whether you’ll need prior authorization. For instance, you can:

• Visit your insurance company’s website: This can help you locate the formulary of your specific plan, which is the list of drugs covered under your plan.
• Look at your plan’s summary of benefits and coverage: You can ask for this information from your insurer or view a copy online.
• Review any materials your plan provider emailed you: This should include information on what drugs are covered under your plan.
• Call your insurance company: You can use the general number for plan members. You can ask the agent whether your plan covers Wegovy.

Medical perspective

How can a pharmacist help determine if your insurance has coverage for GLP-1 medications?

“A pharmacist can help determine if your insurance covers GLP-1 medications by checking your insurance company’s formulary (covered drug list) or by contacting the insurance company directly to ask about covered drugs.”

— Kristina D. Carter, PharmD, MBA, MHA

Note: Quotes represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Step 4: Fill the prescription

Once you’ve been prescribed Wegovy, you can fill the prescription at a pharmacy. You can go to any in-person pharmacy, give your prescription to the pharmacist, and collect your medication after a certain amount of time.

Some online care providers might offer home delivery for your medications, shipping Wegovy straight to your door.

Learn more about how to refill prescriptions.

Online care for GLP-1s

If a doctor has prescribed a GLP-1, it’s important to take the medication as directed for as long as your doctor recommends. However, some people might face barriers to accessing GLP-1s, including high costs and access to healthcare appointments.

With Optum Perks Online Care, you can request a new weight loss prescription, get a refill, or get help with an existing prescription. There’s no monthly membership needed — all you’ll pay is $29 for the appointment plus the cost of the medication.

With this service, you can submit an online form answering a few questions about your condition, and a licensed healthcare professional will respond soon after, without the need to make an in-person appointment.

Next steps

If you’re interested in trying Wegovy, these are the next steps you can follow:

• Check whether you’re eligible
• Make an appointment with a healthcare professional
• Check your insurance coverage
• Fill your prescription

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