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> I wonder if there is a point at which it is cheaper for health insurance companies to offer subsidized or even free GLP-1s to patients than pay out for other

> I wonder if there is a point at which it is cheaper for health insurance companies to offer subsidized or even free GLP-1s to patients than pay out for other specialized medications. That the NHS is getting to a place where it’ll provide it, I’d say yes.

Aurornis 1y ago
Everyone likes to bash the US healthcare system, but at the same time it’s remarkable how much subsidized GLP-1 access Americans are getting compared to much of the world. The paradox of discussing healthcare online.
- petesergeant 1y ago
  > it’s remarkable how much subsidized GLP-1 access Americans are getting Mounjaro is between 25-50% of the US price in other countries
  - Aurornis 1y ago
    I was referring to insurance coverage. Most people aren’t paying that inflated price. Whenever you see a very large number for a medication or service in the United States, the patient doesn’t actually pay that number. Companies generally have separate coverage programs for people paying out of pocket that drastically reduces the patient pay amount. Those giant numbers attached to medications are virtually never paid by the patient.
    - petesergeant 1y ago
      It’s hard to find hard data on this but this[0] seems to think 20-30% of plans will cover for obesity. The Lily and Novo Nordisk coupons seem to have quite short availability windows, according to several years of reading the various related subreddits. The cost difference here is real. 0: https://www.goodrx.com/insurance/health-insurance/weight-loss-drugs-covered-by-insurance https://www.goodrx.com/insurance/health-insurance/weight-los...
- pjc50 1y ago
  Subsidized by whom?
- jandrese 1y ago
  Not to put too fine a point on it but Americans are one of the primary markets for these drugs because the obesity problem is especially acute.
- refurb 1y ago
  It’s not just GLP-1s. Look at CAR-T therapies (your cells are reprogrammed to fight your cancer). Insured patients got access in the US long before, and to a broader degree, than national healthcare systems. Today, CAR-T utilization in cancers like lymphoma are double those of Europe in many cases. Interestingly the UK is one of the highest in Europe (despite the controversy over cancer drug spending). While true that the US has uninsured and not all insurance is equal, suffice to say you stand a better chance to get access to new technologies in the US than most countries.

Aurornis 1y ago

Everyone likes to bash the US healthcare system, but at the same time it’s remarkable how much subsidized GLP-1 access Americans are getting compared to much of the world. The paradox of discussing healthcare online.

petesergeant 1y ago
> it’s remarkable how much subsidized GLP-1 access Americans are getting Mounjaro is between 25-50% of the US price in other countries
- Aurornis 1y ago
  I was referring to insurance coverage. Most people aren’t paying that inflated price. Whenever you see a very large number for a medication or service in the United States, the patient doesn’t actually pay that number. Companies generally have separate coverage programs for people paying out of pocket that drastically reduces the patient pay amount. Those giant numbers attached to medications are virtually never paid by the patient.
  - petesergeant 1y ago
    It’s hard to find hard data on this but this[0] seems to think 20-30% of plans will cover for obesity. The Lily and Novo Nordisk coupons seem to have quite short availability windows, according to several years of reading the various related subreddits. The cost difference here is real. 0: https://www.goodrx.com/insurance/health-insurance/weight-loss-drugs-covered-by-insurance https://www.goodrx.com/insurance/health-insurance/weight-los...
pjc50 1y ago
Subsidized by whom?
jandrese 1y ago
Not to put too fine a point on it but Americans are one of the primary markets for these drugs because the obesity problem is especially acute.
refurb 1y ago
It’s not just GLP-1s. Look at CAR-T therapies (your cells are reprogrammed to fight your cancer). Insured patients got access in the US long before, and to a broader degree, than national healthcare systems. Today, CAR-T utilization in cancers like lymphoma are double those of Europe in many cases. Interestingly the UK is one of the highest in Europe (despite the controversy over cancer drug spending). While true that the US has uninsured and not all insurance is equal, suffice to say you stand a better chance to get access to new technologies in the US than most countries.