Medical weight loss programs available online

The best method for weight management incorporates lifestyle modifications that are sustainable long term. Medication can help manage weight effectively, but only when combined with a healthy diet and exercise. Medical weight loss programs combine these factors with supervision under a board certified physician, to ensure your weight management plan is achievable and sustainable.

The concept of weight management refers to maintaining your goal weight long term. After losing weight, you will need to continue many of the diet and lifestyle modifications you initially made to lose the weight, to keep the weight off. Our doctors make weight management easy, continuing to monitor your treatment progress after you reach your goal weight, to ensure sustainability.

You can lose weight online through a platform providing a comprehensive treatment plan, including guidance from a board-certified doctor and health coach. This can be done on our platform, which includes visits with a physician to establish treatment goals, prescription medication as medically necessary, and in app health coaching.

You can expect to lose about 5-10% of your weight over a 6 month time period. You can expect to lose weight at a rate of up to 1-2 pounds per week. This means that if you weighed 200 pounds, you could expect to lose 10-20 pounds, by incorporating doctor-suggested lifestyle changes in addition to medication.

Our board-certified doctors can prescribe weight loss medications, after conducting an initial consultation online and ordering any necessary evaluations to the lab nearest you. After completing any necessary testing, your doctor will discuss the best medication options for you. It is important to note that medication is only effective in combination with healthy lifestyle changes.

Most branded weight loss medications require a prior authorization in order for insurance to cover the cost. Your PlushCare physician and care team will reach out to your insurer on your behalf, and this process can take several business days. If you are denied the prior authorization or do not have health insurance, you may still purchase the medication at the full cash price.

Medical weight loss programs take a scientific approach to weight management. Our board certified doctors customize treatment plans based on each individual's lifestyle and health conditions. They combine prescription medication, health coaching, and ongoing treatment monitoring to ensure long term success and avoid the possibility of relapse.

Medical weight loss programs are effective because they incorporate dietary and lifestyle changes in addition to effective medication, under supervision of a board-certified doctor. Medication for weight management is an effective component in losing and keeping off weight, but only when complemented by appropriate dietary choices and exercise.

Yes, we are in network with most major insurance providers. You'll have the option to search for and select your insurance provider when you book an online appointment in order to determine if your insurance is in network.

It is important to know that not every insurance plan will cover the cost of medications.  Prior to seeing your medical provider, we recommend checking your plan’s benefits to see if weight loss medicine is covered, and if so, for what particular diagnoses. Most branded weight loss medications require prior authorization in order for insurance to cover the cost. Your doctor and care team can reach out to your insurer on your behalf, which can take several business days. If you are denied the prior authorization, you can still purchase the medication at the full cash price.

No, we do not provide evaluations for bariatric surgery. However, PlushCare doctors can assist with pre-surgical weight loss if recommended by your bariatric surgeon, and we can help monitor vitamin levels and routine blood testing after surgery.

Our weight loss program can help you get to a healthy weight. If you have type 2 diabetes, a BMI of 30, or a BMI of 27 with one weight-related medical condition, you may be a candidate for some the newer weight loss medications such as Wegovy or Saxenda or diabetes medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro. If your BMI is less than 27, we can help with diet, exercise, health coaching, and weight loss medications such as Topiramate, Wellbutrin, Contrave, or Plenity.

BMI is calculated by dividing an individual's weight in kilograms (kg), by the square of their height in meters (m2).

We do not treat patients with symptoms of an active eating disorder with weight loss medication, including bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, or binge eating disorder. But don't worry - even if you aren't enrolled in the weight loss program, you can still join PlushCare and speak with a doctor about any of your health concerns.

Weight loss should begin with healthy lifestyle modifications, including incorporating a healthy diet and regular exercise plan. To learn more about weight loss treatment plans and find the best approach for you, talk to one of our doctors today about your options.

There is scientific evidence that losing 5-10% of your body weight can improve many obesity-related conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, and more.

Weight loss medication is not necessarily for everyone. Book a visit with one of our board-certified doctors to determine the optimal weight management plan for your specific needs. This plan may or may not include medication. However, if you are not eligible for medication, our doctors can still help with diet, exercise, and health coaching as part of a customized weight management plan.

Yes, we are in network with most major insurance providers.

However, most branded weight loss medications require prior authorization in order for insurance to cover the cost. Your PlushCare physician and care team will reach out to your insurer on your behalf, and this process can take several business days. If you are denied the prior authorization or do not have health insurance, you may still purchase the medication at the full cash price.

Prices vary depending on the medication type, and whether or not you use insurance to pay for it. Most branded weight loss medications require prior authorization in order for insurance to cover the cost. The good news is that even if you are uninsured, our members save an average of 58% on prescriptions through our member discount card.

No, we do not treat new patients with normal BMI with weight loss pharmacotherapy, unless the patient shares outside records documenting previous obesity.

Yes, weight loss medications are most effective when part of a holistic treatment plan, including long term lifestyle changes. A board-certified doctor will work with you to determine a diet and exercise plan that works for you.

When weight loss medications are stopped, many people gain the weight back. Drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic lower a person's appetite to help with weight loss, but experts suggest that once people stop taking these drugs, they can experience weight gain. The rates of weight gain after stopping Wegovy vary depending on the individual, and available data suggests that with some individuals, weight gain will come back earlier, and with others, it may come later.

You will need to know the name, dosage, and how often you take your prescribed medication. It is important to know your insurance RX number, BIN number, PCN number, Insurance identification number and your address listed with your insurance provider. Our information will need to match with your insurance provider, if information does not match their records this can lead to further complications and delay receiving your medication.

This information is often listed on your insurance card. If you have any trouble finding this information or need to confirm information on file with your insurance, please contact your insurance before filling out our PA form.

If applicable, please list the other medications you previously tried for your specific condition. You will want to list the dates you took these medications and why these medications did not work for you. If you have specific lab results that support your need for the medication, you can also send that to our prior authorization department when filling out your prior authorization Form.  If you are applying for weight loss medication, please provide documentation / receipts from any earlier diet/exercise programs.

To process a prior authorization (PA), you must be prescribed medication from your PlushCare doctor.

If your insurance requires a prior authorization, your pharmacist will tell you, you need a PA. If you are told that you need a prior authorization for the medication, please fill out our google form: https://forms.gle/KHry5fdh3z2X5bd86.

Once you complete this form, you will receive an email confirmation. Our prior authorization department can take 1-3 business days to collect the necessary information to send a PA to your insurance. An email confirmation will be sent to you when your prior authorization has been submitted to your insurance company.

Prior authorization decisions and wait time are solely based on the insurance provider. On average, prior authorizations can take 7-14 business days before determination. We check for updates from your insurance company every 7 days. You will receive an email when there is an update with your prior authorization.  You may also get an email that more information is needed if your insurance information has changed, address has changed, or other information is needed to process your PA.

If you are applying for weight loss medications, you should schedule a chat with a Health Coach (free with membership). Our PlushCare Health Coaches work as a team with your doctor to ensure you meet your health goals. Sustained lifestyle changes are the main drivers of weight loss even when using medications. If you are applying for weight loss medications, some insurance companies require that you are enrolled in a comprehensive diet and exercise program with documentation of your monthly visits while on the medications. Our health coaches and doctors work together to provide you with this comprehensive diet and exercise program.

In between your doctor's visits, your coach is here to help you achieve the diet and exercise goals needed to sustain weight loss and become healthier long term!

Speak with a Health Coach today using this link: https://calendly.com/plushcare-health-coaching