• Physician Supervised · FDA Approved GLP-1s
Obesity is a medical condition. We treat it like one.
Side Health provides physician supervised obesity care using FDA approved GLP-1 medications, backed by lab work, ongoing monitoring, and a team that fights your insurance company for coverage so you do not have to.
FDA approved medications only
Prior authorization handled for you
Do you meet clinical criteria?
Five seconds. We do not save it unless you ask us to.
— The reframe
It was never about willpower.
Your biology pushes back
When you lose weight, your body responds by increasing hunger signals and slowing energy use. It is defending a set point. That is physiology, not weakness.
The medications changed what is possible
GLP-1 receptor agonists work on the hormonal signals that control appetite and fullness. For the first time, medical treatment can produce results that used to require surgery.
Medication alone is not the whole answer
These drugs work best inside real medical care. Baseline labs, dose titration, side effect management, nutrition support, and monitoring for the conditions that travel with obesity.
— Medications we prescribe
FDA approved medications, prescribed by a physician.
We prescribe FDA approved GLP-1 medications, including semaglutide and tirzepatide, when they are clinically appropriate for you. We do not sell compounded knockoffs. Compounded versions are not FDA approved, are not tested for safety and consistency the same way, and the regulatory ground under them is shifting. You deserve the actual medication with the actual evidence behind it.
Which medication is right for you depends on your history, your other conditions, your insurance formulary, and how you respond. Your clinician decides that with you, not a website.
— The coverage promise
Most people give up at the insurance company. That is where we start.
Nearly every insurer requires prior authorization before covering a GLP‑1 for weight management. Most require documentation you may not know you need: a documented BMI, a comorbidity, a history of lifestyle intervention, and specific clinical language in the chart. Get any of it wrong and the claim comes back denied.
Side Health handles that submission for you. We document your case the way payers require it, we submit the prior authorization, and if it is denied we appeal. Denials get overturned more often than most patients realize, and an appeal is not a long shot.
If your plan will not cover the medication under any circumstances, we tell you that up front, and we show you what manufacturer savings programs and cash pricing actually look like before you commit to anything.
What that means for you
Prior authorization submitted for you
Denials appealed on your behalf
Costs explained before you start
Side Health will submit prior authorizations and appeals, and point you to cash pay options if a service or medication is not covered.
— This is not just a prescription
What comes with the prescription.
The medication is one line in a plan. Here is the rest of it.
Baseline labs including A1C, kidney function, thyroid, and lipids
A titration schedule built around how you tolerate the medication, not a fixed calendar
Nutrition guidance focused on protein and muscle preservation
A plan for what happens when you reach your goal
Screening for the conditions that travel with obesity, including diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, and fatty liver
Side effect management, so nausea does not end your treatment in week three
Remote monitoring with connected devices where appropriate, linking into Side Health's existing RPM program
Already a Side Health remote monitoring patient? Your weight, blood pressure, and glucose data feed straight into this program.
— How it Works
Five steps from this page to your first dose.
1
Check your BMI
Five seconds, on this page.
2
Complete your intake
Medical history, medications, previous weight loss attempts, and goals.
3
Meet your clinician
Virtual visit to review your history, order labs, and determine whether medication is appropriate.
4
We handle the insurance
Prior authorization submitted, tracked, and appealed if needed.
5
Start and stay supported
Medication shipped or filled locally, with monitoring visits and messaging access throughout.
— Who qualifies
The criteria, in plain language.
Generally, GLP-1 medications for weight management are appropriate for adults who meet one of the following.
Generally appropriate for adults with
A BMI of 30 or higher, or
A BMI of 27 or higher with at least one weight related condition such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, or heart disease
Some people should not take these
A personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2
A history of pancreatitis
Your clinician screens for all of it before anything is prescribed.
Insurance criteria are often stricter than clinical criteria. We will tell you where you stand on both.
— Results and expectations
What to actually expect.
In clinical trials, patients taking GLP-1 medications alongside lifestyle changes lost substantially more weight than those on lifestyle changes alone.
Individual results vary widely. Some people respond strongly. Some respond modestly. Some cannot tolerate the medication and need a different approach. Weight loss is also gradual by design, because losing it too fast costs you muscle.
One thing we will be direct about: for most people, obesity is a chronic condition, and stopping the medication often means regaining the weight. We plan for the long term from day one rather than pretending this is a short program.
What we will not tell you
A number you will hit by a date.
That it works the same for everyone.
That you will be done in twelve weeks.
That side effects are rare or trivial.
That coverage is guaranteed.
— Straight answers
Frequently asked questions
Do you prescribe compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide?
No. We prescribe FDA approved medications only.
What if my insurance denies coverage?
We appeal. If the denial stands, we walk you through manufacturer savings programs, cash pricing, and alternative medications so you can decide with real numbers in front of you.
Will I have to be on this forever?
Possibly, and that is worth knowing going in. Obesity behaves like a chronic condition, and most people regain weight after stopping. Your clinician will discuss long term options with you.
What are the side effects?
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation are the most common, and they are usually worst when a dose increases. Managing them is a large part of what your care team does.
Do I need to do a diet?
There is no mandatory meal plan. There is guidance, particularly around getting enough protein so you keep muscle while you lose fat./span>
Can I do this if I have type 2 diabetes?
Yes, and coverage is often easier in that case. Your clinician will coordinate with your diabetes care.
Is this covered by Medicare or Medicaid?
We accept Medicare and some Medi-Cal (Medicaid) plans in California.