[Canada] Canada - coverage and access thread

Canadian members, let's pool what we know about access and pricing up here. Where are you finding the most reliable route?

US member here lurking since I'm on Mounjaro, but the coverage patchwork you all describe sounds rough. From watching this space, it seems like the provincial plans vary so much that what works in one province is useless next door. Hope some of the Canadian folks chime in with specifics.

Down 84 lbs myself and still paying out of pocket, so watching this thread closely. My experience has been that compounding pharmacy pricing varied a lot by province when I compared last year. Curious if anyone here has luck getting it covered through private plans.

In Ontario I've had decent luck calling smaller independent pharmacies instead of the big chains, they seem to get stock in more often even when the majors are dry. Down 49 lbs since starting so clearly the supply hiccups haven't derailed me much. Curious if anyone's compared costs across provinces, I hear Quebec pricing runs different.

Nice progress with the 13 lbs. In Ontario I've had decent luck with a compounding pharmacy in Ottawa, though pricing jumped this spring. Curious what folks out west are paying lately.

Cheering you on from here. Welcome aboard, so glad you found us. How long did the food noise take to quiet down?

Down 21 lbs myself, mostly since switching to the compound route after my plan wouldn't touch the brand name. In Ontario I've had better luck asking the pharmacist directly about stock than calling around blind. Curious if anyone's had success with a tax paperwork route for reimbursement.

Ontario here, my plan covered it through a private insurer once my doctor submitted the paperwork, but I know a few people paying out of pocket and the pharmacy prices vary a lot between chains. Worth calling around before committing to one spot.

In Ontario I've had decent luck with a couple of independent pharmacies that keep tirzepatide in stock more consistently than the big chains, though the cash price still stings. Curious what BC folks are paying out of pocket these days.

US-based here so no coverage intel for Canada, but I'm following this since my insurer keeps moving the goalposts too. Watching to see what compounding or pharmacy routes folks up north end up relying on.

Down 62 lbs myself and the cost question still stings every refill. I'm in Ontario and my private plan ended up covering it after a prior authorization letter from my doctor, so it might be worth checking if your workplace benefits have that route before paying full price. Curious what others here are seeing outside the big chains for availability.

Watching from the US side so no help on Canadian coverage, but the prior auth trick from reply 3 matches what friends down here deal with too. On Saxenda myself, down about 5 lbs, and paying through the nose even with insurance, so I feel the refill sting in reply 3.

Ontario here found pharmacy pricing varies wildly by location, worth calling around since I saw a $100+ spread for the same vial count between two shops in my area. If any Americans read this, my US insurance covered mine after prior authorization so it may be worth a shot up there too. Following this thread for updates.

Down 38 lbs myself and the coverage side is the part nobody warns you about. My work plan covers it but only through their specific pharmacy partner, so worth checking if your employer has a preferred supplier before paying cash. Following this thread for the BC folks' input.

Ontario here too, down 24 lbs on the pay-full-price train since my plan wouldn't budge even with paperwork from my GP. Worth asking your employer's benefits provider directly rather than the pharmacy billing desk, mine initially told me no until I escalated to the actual insurer. Curious what Quebec and BC folks are finding for availability.

Ontario here, found a private plan covered part of mine after prior auth but it took weeks, so plan for the gap. Down 13 lbs and hoping the coverage threads keep updating since prices swing so much by province. Watching what works for others without employer benefits.

On Rybelsus here in Ohio and down 38 lbs, so I can't speak to Canadian pharmacies, but the prior auth route is what finally got my employer plan to budge too. Might be worth asking whether the same drug class has any coverage at all up there since oral versions sometimes get treated differently than injectables.

BC here, no private plan so I've been paying out of pocket the whole way to 46 lbs down. The gap between provinces is real - a friend in Alberta pays noticeably less than I do at the same chain. Worth checking if a pharmacist can bill to a provincial program for any part of it, mine found a partial coverage option I didn't know existed.

US-based here so take it for what it's worth, but watching this thread since I pay cash for Wegovy and the Canadian pricing folks mention is often less than what I see even with discount cards down here. The provincial program tip in the last reply sounds like the kind of thing worth asking about before paying full price.

Quebec here, and the pharmacy-to-pharmacy spread is wild too even within one city, so it pays to call around before committing. Ask your pharmacist directly about any partial billing options like the BC poster mentioned, mine never offered until I asked. Congrats on the 12 lbs, that's solid progress while navigating the coverage mess.