Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications have been in the news because of their effectiveness in weight loss. These medications are expensive and equally important studies that have followed patients after they discontinue GLP-1 drugs have found that most regain weight.

Most employer insurance plans don’t cover popular GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Zepbound — or any other medications for weight loss, for that matter. Medicare also doesn’t pay for weight loss medications.

According to a survey conducted in October 2023 by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and another by the employee research firm Savanta, only about 1 in 4 employers covered GLP-1 drugs for weight loss in 2023, although both indicate that more employers — as many as 43% — are planning to offer them as part of their health plans this year.

The International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans survey shows that roughly 30% of employers who currently cover the medication for weight loss say they’re considering restricting that coverage to control costs.

The main ways they’re doing this are through what insurance companies call utilization management, which means looking at each person’s eligibility on a case-by-case basis or by requiring that they try other therapies such as lifestyle management or older weight loss medications before they qualify for GLP-1 drugs.

Check the contents of your dailey vitamin bottle to see if it contains vitamins and minerals to support healthy eyes. Some do, but many do not. Grab that bottle and see if it contains Lutein, if not you may want to consider a change or adding an additional supplement.

Lutein is a carotenoid with anti-inflammatory properties that is part of the carotenoid family of antioxidants. It is found in many types of plants and is responsible for the vibrant colors seen in many fruits and vegetables. Lutein and zeaxanthin are the only dietary carotenoids found in your retina, and they are concentrated mostly in the macula region, located at the back of your eye, which is essential for your vision.

Studies suggest that lutein and zeaxanthin may help suppress inflammation, defend against free radicals and oxidative stress, enhance the sharpness of your vision, improve your visual contrast sensitivity, reduce glare impairment, protect eye tissue from sunlight damage, reduce cell loss and death related to eye disease, protect your eyes from harmful blue light, convert light signals into electrical signals in your retina and aid in the transmission of those signals to the visual cortex in your brain, protect against nearsightedness (myopia), and protect pre-term infants against the effects of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Lutein may also act as a filter for harmful blue light and help prevent damage from the sun.

Foods that are a good source of lutein include kale, spinach, collard greens, turnip greens, corn, and broccoli. The recommended daily allowance for lutein is 10 mg/day, and the safe upper limit has not been set.

Please note that the information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Ditch expensive air filters and chemicals—instead, reap the natural benefits of adding a little green to your home.

Much of our stability and strength comes from our skeletal systems, but as we age, our bones can become brittle. One of the causes of this is osteoporosis, a condition that slowly weakens bones as the condition progresses. Around 54 million Americans live with osteoporosis or at an increased risk of developing it. If you’re one of these Americans, Medicare may be able to assist you by covering some of your diagnostic and treatment options.

Medicare and Osteoporosis Screenings

The first step to figuring out whether or not you have osteoporosis is to test for it. If you’re at a heightened risk of developing osteoporosis or showing symptoms, your doctor may take steps to monitor for signs of weakening bones. Your doctor may order x-rays to check the density of your bones if they suspect that you could be developing osteoporosis. If it’s ordered by a doctor and medically necessary, the x-ray will be covered under Medicare Part B. Once you’ve met your annual deductible, you’ll owe 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount and a separate copay if you received your x-ray in a hospital outpatient setting.

If your doctor accepts Medicare assignment, you’ll owe nothing for these tests.

If these x-rays show signs of possible osteoporosis, other issues with your bones, or you’re a woman at elevated risk of osteoporosis, you should have a bone mass measurement test covered once every 24 months. It may be covered more often if your doctor orders them as medically necessary. You may also have this test covered if you already have osteoporosis and your doctor wants to monitor the effectiveness of a treatment. If your doctor accepts Medicare assignment, you’ll owe nothing for these tests. The test uses x-rays to measure the calcium and minerals within the bones and can diagnose osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis Treatment Options

The most common form of treatment for osteoporosis is through a prescription medication regimen that take a two-pronged approach. One set of drugs aim to stimulate the production of new bone tissue while the other slows down the absorption of older tissue. If your osteoporosis is related to menopause, you may also be prescribed estrogen.

In most cases, you’ll have your prescription drugs covered by a Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage. In these cases, you’ll need to meet your deductible and then owe the prescription drug copay that’s designated by your plan. Each plan has different costs and cost tiers for different prescription drugs, so if you need a certain prescription, it may be worth exploring your Medicare insurance plan options with that in mind.

If you meet these criteria, you’ll owe between zero percent and 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount of the drug after meeting your Part B deductible.

In specific cases, Medicare can cover your osteoporosis drugs under Medicare Part A and Part B. You must be female, eligible for Part B and home health services, have a bone fracture from postmenopausal osteoporosis, and get certified by your doctor that you and your caregivers are unable and unwilling to give yourself the injections. If you meet these criteria, you’ll owe between zero percent and 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount of the drug after meeting your Part B deductible. The copay can change depending on the drug’s price. You also owe nothing for the home health nurse who is visiting to administer the drug.

Lifestyle Changes and Supplementation

While it may not cure or treat osteoporosis, you should take steps to make sure that you don’t injure yourself. Under the guidance of your doctor, you could try vitamin supplementation, though it’s important to remember that the effectiveness of supplements are a mixed bag. In terms of this article, it’s also unlikely that they’ll be covered by Medicare except in the rare circumstances that your doctor prescribes a supplement and your Medicare drug plan exception request or appeal is successful.

Chief among these lifestyle changes are quitting smoking and eating a bone-healthy diet rich in calcium.

You can also make certain healthy changes that can either improve bone health or slow the degeneration down. Chief among these lifestyle changes are quitting smoking and eating a bone-healthy diet rich in calcium. Exercise and moderating your alcohol consumption can also help. As an added bonus, Medicare can help you cover services that’ll aid you in quitting smoking and moderate your alcohol consumption, while some Medicare Advantage plans may offer memberships to gyms and fitness programs.

As 2024 begins, employers are facing some challenges. Costs are still rising — with no end in sight: Employer medical costs are projected to increase by 7% in 2024,  and there are 2 times the number of claims with $3M or more since 2016.

If your health plan has a quarterly OTC (over the counter benefit) do not forget to utilize this valuable plan feature. Whether it is to order OTC medications, replenish first aid kit, or other qualified health related items do not forget to submit your order. With most plans if you do not use the allowance by the end of the quarter it disappears.