Episode 239: Why did my GLP-1 get denied? episode artwork

EPISODE · May 4, 2026 · 10 MIN

Episode 239: Why did my GLP-1 get denied?

from Back on Track: Achieving Healthy Weight Loss · host About Dr. Alicia Shelly

Your weight loss medication was denied. That moment of hope is gone. But this is not a 'you' problem. It's a system problem. In this episode, I break down why insurance denials for weight loss medications happen so frequently, and more importantly, what you can actually do about it. From formulary exclusions to step therapy requirements to the documentation timing that can reset your entire approval clock the barriers are real, but they are navigable. A denial does not mean you failed. It means you hit a wall in a system built with gaps. Understanding how that system works is the first step to getting through it. Listen to this episode to stop feeling defeated and start building your case.   Episode Highlights: Why insurers deny weight loss medications even when you clearly qualify What "step therapy" is and why it forces patients to go backwards The documentation timing mistake that can reset your approval from scratch How to appeal a denial and why an appeal is advocating, not begging Self-pay options now available when insurance won't budge   Connect with Dr. Alicia Shelly: Website | drshellymd.com Facebook | www.facebook.com/drshellymd Instagram | @drshellymd Linked In | www.linkedin.com/in/drshellymd Twitter | @drshellymd About Dr. Alicia Shelly Dr. Alicia Shelly was raised in Atlanta, GA. She received her Doctorate of Medicine from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, OH.  Dr. Shelly has been practicing Primary Care and Obesity medicine since 2014.  In 2017, she became a Diplomat of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. She is the lead physician at the Wellstar Medical Center Douglasville. She started a weekly podcast & Youtube channel entitled Back on Track: Achieving Healthy Weight loss,  where she discusses how to get on track and stay on track with your weight loss journey. She has spoken for numerous local and national organizations, including the Obesity Medicine Association, and the Georgia Chapter of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons. She has been featured on CNN, Fox 5 News, Bruce St. James Radio show, Upscale magazine, and Shape.com. She was named an honoree of the 2021 Atlanta Business Chronicle's 40 under 40 award. She also is a collaborating author for the, "Made for More: Physician Entrepreneurs who Live Life and Practice Medicine on their own terms''.   Resources: FREE! Discover the 5 Reasons Your Weight-Loss Journey Has Gotten Derailed (And How To Get Back On Track!) 👉 Click  

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Episode 239: Why did my GLP-1 get denied?

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