[Updated May 31, 2024] How to get prior authorization for Mounjaro and appeal prior authorization denials for Mounjaro
ⓘ Denied prior authorization for Mounjaro? Know your appeal options in 3 minutes with our free appeal assessment.
Prior authorization (PA) is almost always required for insurance to cover Mounjaro (tirzepatide). Understanding those requirements in advance is a key step to getting your prior authorization for Mounjaro approved. The easiest way to do this is to call your insurance, share your Member ID and ask whether Mounjaro is on your plan’s drug formulary and what the specific prior authorization criteria are. If you take this step, it is worth asking for their Ozempic prior authorization criteria as well.
While the exact prior authorization requirements are different depending on your insurance and pharmacy benefits manager (PBM), such as OptumRx, United HealthCare, CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, Cigna, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), prior authorization requests for Mounjaro always require similar categories of information.
Prior authorization decisions can take anywhere from at little as a few minutes or as much as 30 days. You may be able to check the status of your prior authorization by logging into your insurance’s online patient portal - if not, you can call your insurance.
An effective appeal can help get your Mounjaro denial overturned. A study from the US Government Accountability Office found that 39-59% of internal insurance appeals were successful.
All Mounjaro prior authorization requests include a section for ‘Clinical Criteria’, which might also be referred to as Diagnosis or Medical Information. The goal of this information is to prove that you meet the clinical (medical) necessity requirements for Mounjaro.
This is referred to as the ‘Diagnosis Code’ within a prior authorization request and indicates the specific condition or diagnosis for which Mounjaro is being prescribed to treat. The ICD-10 code that best describes your condition.
Mounjaro is indicated as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes (T2D). If you are being prescribed Mounjaro for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, the ICD-10 code that best describes your diabetes diagnosis should be included. Below are the most common ICD-10 codes for T2D:
Though Mounjaro is indicated for the treatment of Mounjaro, it is very commonly prescribed ‘off-label’ for weight loss. Unfortunately, listing obesity as the primary condition can lead to an automatic and immediate Mounjaro prior authorization request denial. Common reported ICD-10 codes for obesity:
In this section, any comorbid diagnoses that have been caused by or are related to diabetes or obesity should be included. Below are some common comorbid diagnoses (and the corresponding ICD-10):
Including supporting evidence on your medical history can help get your Mounjaro prior authorization approved. For example, your recent A1c level(s) and any additional lab results or notes from past doctor’s appointments. If you recently started seeing your doctor, it is possible they don’t already have this information.
In this section, any diabetes medications you have tried prior should be reported, such as Metformin, Ozempic, Rybelsus, Victoza, Sulfonylureas, Thiazolidinediones (TZDs), DPP-4 inhibitors or SGLT-2 inhibitors. Insurance may deny prior authorization for Mounjaro if you haven’t tried cheaper medications options first, which is a policy commonly referred to as ‘step therapy’.
Including details on your duration and dates of treatment, and any adverse events or intolerance you experienced while taking other diabetes medications, can help get your Mounjaro prior authorization approved.
Mounjaro is indicated an an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for the treatment of diabetes, which means thats prior authorization for Mounjaro frequently asks for confirmation that you are currently on a calorie-restricted diet and are physically active.
All Mounjaro prior authorization requests include a ‘Drug Information’ section asking for details on your Mounjaro prescription. Here is what you can expect to be included and example responses for an initial prescription.
Below are a full list of Mounjaro dosages:
Need help with appeals? Honest Care can write your appeal letter.
If your prior authorization for Mounjaro is denied, it’s critical to understand why. If you didn’t receive a written explanation or letter from your insurance explaining the denial, you can call your insurance and ask. Prior authorization for Mounjaro can be denied for many reasons. If you are denied coverage for Mounjaro, you have the right to appeal.
Mounjaro isn’t covered on formulary: This means that Mounjaro is not on the list of the medications covered by your insurance. Your plan may have “preferred” GLP-1s that they request you take instead of Mounjaro, such as Ozempic, Rybelsus or Victoza. If Mounjaro is not on your plan’s medication list, you can specifically ask for a “formulary exception” within your appeal.
Since Mounjaro is FDA approved for the treatment of diabetes, this is a very common denial reason. Likely the denial was due to either not having Type 2 diabetes, or not providing proper proof if you do have a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis. This can be resolved by detailing why your medical history makes Mounjaro necessary within your appeal. If are seeking treatment for weight loss, you can ask your doctor to submit a Zepbound prior authorization request or Wegovy prior authorization request.
Your formulary, and your insurance provider’s preference for coverage of medications, is likely organized into a tier system. Their most preferred drugs will usually be at the lowest tier, and their most preferred at the highest tier. If you were denied for a tier exception, this probably means your insurance has a list of medications they would prefer you to try first. Common step therapy medications for Mounjaro include metformin, Victoza, Rybelsus, and Ozempic. Read our guide on Step Therapy Denials.
This could mean the prescribed dosage or number of fills for Mounjaro was listed incorrectly in the initial request for coverage. Alternatively, it could mean your plan has strict limits on the quantity of Mounjaro they’ll cover in a predetermined timeframe. It may be a good idea to call your insurance and ask for clarification.
ⓘ Denied prior authorization for Mounjaro? Learn how to appeal a Mounjaro coverage denial.
We believe every insurance denial should be appealed and every patient should fight for access to the best treatments, because access to great healthcare is a human right.
Insurance companies purposely make this process convoluted and difficult to understand in order to deter decision challenges and protect their bottom line. That’s where we come in. We’re bridging the gap between insured individuals and their access to needed medications by creating a free customized insurance appeal letter. We’ll do all the hard work for you - you just need to include a few small edits, then you can send your appeal letter to your insurance provider through their outlined appeal process.
We believe every insurance denial should be appealed and every patient should fight for access to the best treatments we’ve made generating a strong appeal letter free.
We also offer paid services to access our team of GLP-1 experts. If you are not satisfied with our team's services, email our support team at support@findhonestcare.com and we will be happy to remedy any issues. You can also request a refund within 60 days of purchase of our services so long as your appeal hasn't been submitted to your insurance. Once our appeal packet has been submitted to your insurance, we will no longer issue refunds. Refunds are processed to the original payment method within 5 to 10 business days.
We help patients fight insurance coverage denials so they can get access to the medications and treatments they deserve. We currently specialize in insurance coverage denials for Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy and Zepbound.
If you are denied coverage for Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy or Zepbound, Honest Care can help fight your denial by submitting an ‘appeal’ to your insurance. An appeal is a formal request to your health insurance company to overturn their denial and grant coverage on your behalf. An appeal generally consists of a formal letter, addressed to your insurance, explaining why a medication should be covered on your behalf and why your insurance’s initial denial should be overturned.
You have the right to appeal to your insurance’s coverage denial. Honest Care simplifies the appeals process by writing an appeal letter and supporting documents on your behalf making your best arguments for medication coverage, following your completion of our proprietary GLP-1 denial assessment.
If your insurance denied coverage for Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy or Zepbound, you have the legal right to ask your insurance to reconsider the coverage denial by sending an ‘appeal’. Unfortunately coverage denials too often go unchallenged. A study from September 2023 found that 69% of people who were denied coverage by their insurance didn’t know they could appeal, and 85% of people never tried to appeal.
We believe it always makes sense to appeal. Here is why:
Appeals work: According to a study analyzing data from several U.S. states, patients who appealed directly to their insurance provider (an internal appeal) experienced a success rate between 39-59%.
Denials are often issued by mistake: A computer almost always makes the initial decision to deny medication coverage. This results in denials that don’t actually consider your personal health situation or denials made by mistake. In the case of Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy and Zepbound, incorrectly entered information about your BMI, labs including A1c, your health conditions and diagnoses, your medication history and current medication use can all lead to an automatic denial. When you appeal, your information is reviewed by a real person.
Doctors review appeals, not computers: Having a doctor consider your unique circumstances makes submitting an appeal a powerful process for overturning denials getting covered.
You deserve the best care: You have the legal right to fight the treatment you need. As a part of the Affordable Care Act, all health insurance plans are required to allow their members to appeal their coverage decisions. This spans all insurance coverage - whether you are insured through your employer, purchased an insurance plan through your state marketplace, or are insured through a government program like Medicare or Medicaid.
We currently offer appeal services for Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy and Zepbound. After purchasing Honest Care and completing your online denial assessment, you can expect to receive your appeal letter within 2 business days.
1. Online denial assessment: Complete the online assessment at your convenience that gather all the necessary appeal evidence for your insurance. The assessment reviews your medication history, including any GLP-1s, weight loss or diabetes medications you have taken, your health conditions and diagnoses, your past weight loss, diet and exercise attempts, and details on your insurance coverage and denial.
2. Case evaluation & appeal strategy: One of our dedicated appeal specialist will review your assessment and insurance denial and identify your best appeal arguments for coverage. This will include an evaluation of your medication history, medical diagnoses, weight loss attempts and clinical research studies that strength your appeal case.
3. Appeal letter & supporting documents: Your assigned appeal writer will compose a professional appeal letter addressing your denial reason and detailing your case for coverage. We’ll create a supporting evidence report that further justifies your appeal letter, to send your insurance along with your appeal.
4. Specialist Consultation & Support: After you receive and review your appeal letter & evidence, your dedicated appeal specialist will be available to answer your questions. They will be available to make updates to your appeal, if required. You will also have the option to schedule a phone or video call at a time of your convenience to you speak to your dedicated appeal specialist.
5. Send your appeal: You can submit your appeal yourself or have your doctor submit your appeal on your behalf. Most insurance companies accept appeals by mail or fax. Instructions on how to submitted appeal will be included within the written explanation on why you initially denied medication coverage, sent at the time at you were denied.
An insurance appeal is a formal request you make to your insurance company, asking them to reconsider a decision about your claim. This could be when they've denied your claim, not paid enough, or made a decision you disagree with. The appeal is your chance to argue your case, showing them why their decision should be different. It involves submitting a well-structured letter, along with any supporting evidence like medical records or repair estimates, to make your case stronger.
An insurance appeal letter is your way of asking the insurance company to reevaluate a decision, such as a denied claim. It's essentially your argument in writing, explaining why you believe their decision should be different. This is a common document patients can use to advocate for themselves with their insurance to cover their medical costs even prior to being denied for a treatment.
This letter will include your policy details, specific decision you disagree with, and provide solid reasons and evidence (like weight loss efforts, past and present medications, labs, receipts etc) for your appeal. The letter should be clear, concise, and respectful, ending with a specific request for what you want your insurance to do.
You can submit an appeal letter directly to your insurance or through your health care provider as part of your insurance appeal process.
Insurance supporting evidence is the documentation or information you provide to back up your claim or appeal with your insurance company. It's the proof that supports your case, like medical history, diet and exercise efforts, medication history, or relevant medical studies. This evidence is crucial because it shows the insurance company why they should approve your claim or reconsider a decision they've made.
We provide 3 types of supporting insurance evidence.
(1) Appeal Evidence - is the information you provide when you disagree with your insurer's decision about a claim or coverage. This could include detailed medical records, letters from your doctor explaining the necessity of a treatment, or information about how a treatment is standard for your condition. This evidence is crucial for challenging a denial or underpayment of a claim. Our role is to help you gather and present this evidence effectively, ensuring it clearly supports your need for the treatment or service claimed.
(2) Prior Authorization Evidence - is required when your health plan needs you to get approval before it covers certain medications or procedures. This evidence typically includes medical records, lab results, and a detailed rationale about why this specific medication or procedure is necessary for your condition. Our service involves assisting you in compiling comprehensive and relevant documentation to justify the medical necessity, aiming to secure approval from your insurance company for the required treatment.
(3) Step Therapy Exclusion Evidence - is used when you need to bypass the 'step therapy' protocol of your insurance plan. This protocol usually requires trying less expensive treatments before more costly ones are approved. Exclusion evidence might consist of medical records showing previous treatment attempts and failures, clinical data indicating why standard treatments are unsuitable or harmful for you, and detailed explanations about the necessity of the specific, often more expensive, treatment. We help you collect and organize this evidence to make a compelling case to your insurer that the standard step therapy process is not appropriate for your situation, thereby aiming for an exemption.
Working with your regular doctor can increase your chance of insurance coverage in several ways, including:
Yes - your Honest Care Report can be submitted to any doctor, including doctors working with online, telehealth-based GLP-1 clinics. Taking the Honest Care Assessment before engaging with a telehealth services presents several advantages, including helping you save money.
By using Honest Care before engaging with a telehealth company, you’ll find out how likely you are to get a GLP-1 prescription and will receive guidance on any recommended steps to take before your GLP-1 appointment. This can save you money by avoiding paying subscription fees until you’re fully prepared for your telehealth appointment.
There are nearly 10 GLP-1 medications available in the United States. Currently three of those medications, Zepbound®, Wegovy® and Saxenda®, are FDA-indicated for weight-loss assistance. The FDA indicates that people with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 OR people with a BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2 who have been diagnosed with at least 1 weight-related condition are eligible for GLP-1s.
All other GLP-1 medications, including Ozempic® and Mounjaro®, are currently FDA-indicated for people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
While FDA-guidelines are critical for understanding GLP-1 eligibility, there are a number of other factors to consider for determining GLP-1 eligibility.
Additional eligibility criteria that Honest Care takes into account include:
Prior Authorization (PA) is a process run by insurance plans to determine how necessary a medication is. Most insurance plans require Prior Authorization (PA) before approving coverage for GLP-1s.
After your GLP-1 prescription is written, your insurance plan will notify your doctor if a PA is required and ask your doctor for additional documentation on why your medication is necessary.
If a PA is required, your insurance plan will ask your doctor to submit detailed information on your diet and exercise history, your past weight loss attempts, weight loss medications you previously tried, and any unique challenges that you face that make a GLP-1 medically necessary.
The Honest Care Report includes evidence requested by most insurance plans and can be submitted to your insurance during the PA process. During your appointment, your doctor can attach your Honest Care Report to your health record so it is submitted as supporting evidence to your insurance if Prior Authorization is required.
