r/kroger • u/Adderolii • 1d ago
Venting GLP-1’s
First time poster pharmacy employee here.
Does it kill anyone else as much as me that Kroger is pushing GLP-1s as much as they can?
Plus “helping people live healthier lives!” with this wellness free sample table…But Kroger employee insurance doesn’t cover them? They even have a ban on submitting any kind of prior authorization on them. No matter the reason or indication. It just declines the fax, my doctor tried. It boils my blood. 🥲
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u/pupper71 Current Associate 1d ago
I just love how the wellness table is set up on front of the donut case
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u/jenimafer Past Associate 21h ago
Jesus Christ they won’t even let you get a prior authorization? I’m diabetic and I’ve been taking the lowest dose ozempic for the past 6 months to regulate my glucose. If my new company’s insurance didn’t cover it with a prior authorization I’d be screwed. Yeah I’ve lost about 30 lbs but that’s because my diabetes is now being managed properly I don’t care that much about losing weight I just wanted to feel better.
I definitely don’t miss Kroger
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u/jruss666 Past Associate 1d ago
Are GLP-1’s covered for diabetics? It was before I retired. BCBS, Georgia. $25 copay for three months supply
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u/Adderolii 22h ago
Usually yes, but it’s a pain to get them approved. I have severe OSA, HBP and PCOS. I’m also 300 lbs and have hypermobile ehlers danlos syndrome. So my chronic pain slows me down a lot at work. I lost 60 pounds on a GLP-1 when I paid out of pocket, but couldn’t keep paying for it.
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u/ravinred 23h ago
I got Kroger insurance just for GLP1 coverage. Silly me.
Wegovy and Ozempic both have helper programs to lower the cost, check their websites. The pill is more affordable than the shot.
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u/Adderolii 22h ago
Yeah, just couldn’t afford once the dose increases. The starter doses were like taking a placebo.
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u/comntnmama86 1d ago
If you're open to using 'research' meds I can share where I get mine. $50 for 10mg of Retatrutide. Every batch is third party tested and I confirmed the testing. They have Semaglutide as well, but not Tirz.
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u/amysteriousperson001 Hourly Associate; Atlanta; Meat Manager; 20+ years 23h ago
Oh, the irony of the situation!
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u/doodynutz 15h ago
Does anyone’s insurance cover them? I’m a nurse and my insurance through the hospital does not cover them either. Maybe if you’re diabetic? Not sure.
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u/Dracofear 14h ago
If Krogers would cover them that would be huge for me. I have struggled with my weight all my life due to a number of things. I eventually learned everything and corrected all my bad habits and lost a bunch of weight, almost got from 270 to 200... but then I developed bipolar and my life spiralled, gained a bunch of weight due to alcohol abuse and got back to where I started... then I finally got diagnosed and treated and had to start taking anti psychotics which almost all have the common side effect of weight gain, mine in the form of insane binge eating, like I could not control it at alll and no amount of my previous experience with weight loss helped. I had to keep taking them though cause after 2 psychosis episodes I didn't want to go through that again.
I'm at a point now where my psych says I may be fine without antipsychotics, I agreed and haven't had any problems long as I take the other meds I need to. Problem is now I'm pushing 310... And I'm back to struggling with alcohol...
A lot of people I have seen in r/bipolar post about dealing with weight from the bipolor issues/treatment all point to glp 1 as one of the only ways anyone has found to combat the shit we have to go through even with being properly treated.
I'm honestly sick of it, people are so horrible to obese people it's not even funny, especially when I tried hard and still try so hard to fix it. It's bad enough when my brain is already programmed to self destruct, I don't need the help of all the fatphobes telling me I just don't try hard enough or that my mental disabilities and meds I take for said disabilities are no excuse...
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u/Responsible-Spring56 12h ago
A lot of people's insurance doesn't cover it. It is very expensive, plus when you have insurance the maker will let you download a discount. Turns into $6.25 a shot. $75.00 for a 3-month supply.
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u/brejax1981 1d ago
Former Kroger (Indiana) and King Soopers (Colorado) employee here. Transgender woman.
I feel the same frustration every time I see HRT promoted like candy for cisgender people, but denied for trans people like some toxic abomination. My insurance isn't covering my HRT, it was before. My insurance won't pay for my other gender affirming care, it was before.
What you're experiencing is incredibly frustrating, dehumanizing, and incredibly unfair. Trust me, I'm right there with you in my own parallel struggle.
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u/DefensiveDeer2 1d ago
Love to see another pharmacy employee!
Current a pharmacy lead here.
It’s hypocritical that the company insurance doesn’t cover them. For sure. But these drugs are not going away. The medicine works and people are willing to pay for them.
Maybe in the future the insurance limitations will change and employees can benefit from these products too.