Health Insurance
Treatment or Programmes for Weight Reduction
The three major health insurance companies – VHI, Laya and Aviva – exclude treatment or programmes for weight reduction or eating disorders other than anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa and certain bariatric surgery procedures.
Visits to a Deitician
Dietetic services are available free of charge through the public health service. However, availability may vary in different areas of the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Dietetic fees are partially covered by the main private health insurance companies in Ireland. Reimbursement from health insurance companies ranges from €13 to €40 per visit (on average €25).
The cost of a one (1) hour consultation with a dietician ranges from €90 to €150 per visit.
Obesity Drug Treatments – Patient Pays
Obesity drug treatments can be prescribed for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition (such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol), for use in addition to a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity.
In the USA, a four-week course of Wegovy has a list price of $1,349 a month. Mounjaro has a list price of $974 for four weekly doses. In the UK, pharmacies will charge patients with private insurance or those paying out of their own pockets between £199 and £299 ($251-$377) for a month’s supply of Novo Nordisk’s weight-loss drug Wegovy.
The cost of administering these drugs is not currently covered by (a) any national health service nor (b) any private medical insurance – so the cost must be borne by the patient.