Story from OAC Member Angela Young

The first sign that Wegovy was working wasn’t the 30 pounds I lost. The first sign was, for the first time in my life, the food noise was gone. And I mean gone.

If you’ve lived with obesity, you may know what I mean. Food can take up so much space in your mind that you don’t realize how exhausting it is until the noise finally becomes quiet. When I started Wegovy in 2023, I felt like I had finally found something that helped.

My weight was going down, and my health numbers were improving. At the time, I was one of many West Virginia state employees participating in a pilot program through the state’s Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) that provided coverage for obesity medications. The program gave people like me access to treatment that had previously been out of reach, and the results were life-changing for many participants.

Then the program ended. Coverage was discontinued because of the cost, and like so many others, I suddenly lost access to the medication that had been improving my health. I couldn’t afford to pay more than $500 a month out of pocket, so I had to stop.

The food noise came rushing back with a vengeance, and I regained the 30 pounds I had lost.

I work for the Board of Education, and through my insurance, I was able to join the West Virginia University (WVU) Medicine Weight Management program. That turned out to be one of the most important parts of my journey because the people there were kind, helpful and understanding. They listened to me, and when one treatment didn’t work, they didn’t act like I had failed or that there was nothing else to try.

They kept working with me and, in March 2024, the team found a way for me to begin Ozempic. At first, I started losing weight again, but the side effects became difficult. I also began experiencing depression, and after about three months, I had to stop taking it.

Needless to say, I was disappointed. I had tried every pill and every diet known to man. At that point, I honestly wondered whether I had anywhere else to turn. The team at WVU Weight Management understood that, too.

After a lot of work on their part, I was approved for Zepbound when I turned 65 and moved onto Medicare. I have now lost 14 pounds in about two months. My side effects have been minimal, my appetite is about half of what it was and the food noise has been cut in half.

That may not sound dramatic to everyone, but to me, it has made a real difference.

My experience has shown me that obesity treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all, and neither is the path to finding the right treatment.

Wegovy helped me, but I lost coverage when the pilot program ended. Ozempic was available, but the side effects became too difficult. Zepbound has been a better fit so far. Finding the right treatment took time, patience and a healthcare team that was willing to keep looking with me.

When I learned about the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program, I hoped it might lower what I pay for Zepbound. I recently found out that I do not qualify, although I am still trying to understand why.

For now, I will continue paying about $100 each month. That isn’t easy on a fixed income, although I know many people are paying much more for the medications they need. I’m grateful I can continue treatment, but I also know access shouldn’t depend on how much someone can afford or whether they happen to meet the requirements of one particular program.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is not to assume that one setback means there are no options left. 

Losing access to the pilot program felt devastating, but it wasn’t the end of my journey. Neither was stopping medication because of side effects. The support of a healthcare team that listened, adapted my treatment and never stopped looking for another option made all the difference. 

I hope others living with obesity know that if one treatment doesn’t work, or if circumstances change, it’s worth continuing the conversation with a healthcare provider. There may be another path forward.

Find out if you qualify and explore OAC’s Medicare Bridge Resource Hub to learn more about the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program, access free resources and find the latest information.