Waukeshahealthinsurance.com-
–
About 1 in 8 adults in the United States have used a GLP-1 drug like Ozempic or Mounjaro at some point in their lives, and half of them — 6% of adults, or more than 15 million people — are currently using a prescription. , according to the new Survey data From KFF.
The US Food and Drug Administration last year reported shortages of the GLP-1 drugs Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro in varying amounts, as drugmakers scramble to meet rising demand. Last week, Novo Nordisk said at least 25,000 people in the U.S. were starting the drug Wegovi every week — five times More than you can start the medication every week in December.
According to the new survey, most adults who used these drugs did so to manage chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. More than 40% of respondents with diabetes and a quarter of heart patients reported using GLP-1 drugs.
But about 2 in 5 adults use GLP-1 drugs only for weight loss, the KFF poll found.
Ozempic or Mounjaro are not particularly recommended for weight loss. The FDA gave them the green light to treat type 2 diabetes in 2017 and 2022. But doctors use it off-label for weight loss. In the year Wegovi, which was approved for obesity in 2021, uses the same key ingredient as Ozempic, called semaglutide, while Munjaro uses a slightly different drug called tirzepatide.
In general, adults ages 50 to 64 are more likely to use GLP-1 drugs, but younger adults are more likely to use them solely for weight loss, according to the KFF study.
Medicare prohibits coverage of prescription weight-loss drugs, and only 1% of seniors used a GLP-1 drug for weight loss alone, according to the KFF study. But the majority of adults – more than 60% – say Medicare Policy should be changed to include coverage for these medications when prescribed for weight loss.
Still, regardless of insurance coverage, most adults who used GLP-1 drugs said it was difficult to afford them, the KFF poll found.
A one-month supply of GLP-1 drugs costs about $1,000, and last month Sen. Bernie Sanders Examination In the “extremely high prices” that manufacturers charge.
Between high costs and limited supply, some adults may seek alternatives to much-needed medications. Last year, the FDA warned Combined versions of semaglutide Combines, mixes or alters ingredients in uncontrolled or unapproved ways.
“Patients should obtain semaglutide-containing medications only on the order of a licensed health care provider and should obtain the medications only from state-licensed pharmacies or outside facilities registered with the FDA,” the agency said, citing reports of adverse events in people using compounded semaglutide. .
According to the KFF study, the majority of adults who used GLP-1 drugs – about 80% – ordered the drugs or a prescription from a general practitioner or specialist. But 11% said they got them from an online vendor or website, and 10% said they got them from a medical spa or beauty treatment center.
The KFF survey findings are based on responses collected from a nationally representative sample of nearly 1,500 adults during the last week of April.
's Meg Tirrell and Tami Luhby contributed to this report.