Hers, a prominent platform within the Hims & Hers Health network, initially gained recognition for its hair loss solutions and has since expanded its offerings to include sexual health, mental health support, and now, weight loss programs. Capitalizing on the growth of the telehealth industry, Hers provides access to prescription medications, including its own compounded semaglutide GLP-1 medication, aiming to provide a convenient and accessible weight loss solution. This article explores Hers' current weight loss services, the medications offered, and what users can expect when engaging with the platform.
Hers' Weight Loss Program: An Overview
Hers' weight loss treatment plan is presented as a comprehensive and customizable clinical approach tailored to individual weight loss goals. The plan includes personalized care from a licensed healthcare provider and unlimited online check-ins for convenience.
The program offers various treatment options, including oral medication kits and compounded GLP-1 injections, personalized to suit individual body types, health histories, and weight loss objectives.
How to Get Started
The process begins with a medical assessment where users provide their weight loss goals and health history. Subsequently, they are connected with a healthcare provider licensed in their state to initiate diagnosis and explore potential treatments.
- Create Your Profile: The initial step involves setting up a profile on the Hers platform. Hers employs an encrypted data platform to ensure the privacy of user information. Users are required to enter basic personal information and answer questions regarding their lifestyle, health, medical history, and current symptoms. Additionally, a government-issued ID and credit card are necessary for verification and payment purposes.
- Complete a Medical Questionnaire: After setting up the profile, users complete a detailed medical questionnaire focusing on their specific medical concerns and symptoms. For weight loss services, this involves outlining weight management goals, dietary habits, and exercise routines.
- Consultation with a Healthcare Professional: Within 24 hours, a licensed healthcare professional reviews the user's information and communicates with them through the online platform to evaluate their needs.
- Receive a Treatment Plan: Once the healthcare professional assesses the profile, they provide a personalized treatment plan.
Medications Offered for Weight Loss
Hers provides access to various medications as part of its weight loss program, including both FDA-approved options and compounded alternatives.
Read also: Does Hers Weight Loss Work?
FDA-Approved GLP-1 Injections
Hers lists the following prices for FDA-approved GLP-1 injections:
- Ozempic: $1,799 per month
- Wegovy: $1,350 per month
- Mounjaro: $1,899 per month
- Zepbound: $1,899 per month
- Generic liraglutide: from $299 per month
Hers notes that actual medication prices may vary based on the chosen subscription plan. Opting for a 6- or 12-month subscription may result in lower prices, while monthly billing could incur higher costs.
Compounded GLP-1 Medications
In addition to FDA-approved medications, Hers offers compounded GLP-1 drugs at a lower cost. These compounded medications contain the same active ingredient as brand-name GLP-1s, but they are not approved by the FDA. The FDA has issued warnings against the use of compounded semaglutide due to safety concerns regarding their effectiveness and quality.
Other Potential Prescriptions
Based on individual healthcare needs, prescriptions from Hers may include:
- Weight loss: GLP-1s or metformin
Mental Health Services
Hers provides mental health services, offering psychiatry services through its app for discussing mental health concerns and potentially receiving prescription medications. However, it no longer includes ongoing talk therapy with licensed counselors, and face-to-face consultations are not available.
Read also: Weight Loss with Hers
Medications Prescribed
Hers clinicians may prescribe prescription-only medications for anxiety or depression, including:
- Escitalopram (Lexapro)
- Sertraline (Zoloft)
- Fluoxetine (Prozac)
- Citalopram (Celexa)
- Venlafaxine (Effexor)
- Buspirone (BuSpar)
The platform also offers compounded anxiety and depression medications combined with herbal supplements, which are not FDA-approved.
Support and Resources
Hers provides ongoing support and monitoring through its platform and app, allowing users to message a healthcare professional to discuss progress and adjust treatment plans as needed. The program also offers educational resources on nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes.
Cost and Insurance Coverage
Hers does not accept medical insurance or HSA/FSA payments, requiring all products and services to be paid out-of-pocket. However, if a Hers doctor sends a prescription to a local pharmacy, insurance may cover the cost of the medication.
Pricing Structure
Hers' product prices range from approximately $15 to over $100, with free shipping. The cost of a monthly subscription varies depending on the selected products or package.
Read also: Comprehensive Review of Hers for Weight Loss
For anxiety or depression medications, monthly prescriptions start at $85, but a 3-month supply purchased upfront reduces the cost to $49 per month. GLP-1 injections start at $299 per month with a 12-month upfront plan.
Reported Weight Loss Results
Recent data released by Hims & Hers indicates that their personalized, digital-first approach to weight loss yields meaningful and sustainable results. Customers using compounded GLP-1s reported an average weight loss of 20.9 pounds, or 10.3% of their initial body weight, within six months. Additionally, 75% of customers remained on their treatment plans during the same period.
Among customers who completed a 6-month check-in, 97% of those on plans with compounded GLP-1s reported an improvement in their overall health.
Key Findings
- Holistic Model: The holistic model helps people stick with their treatment. While dropout rates for commercially available GLP-1s can hover around 80% at six months, only 25% of Hims & Hers customers discontinued treatment in that timeframe.
- Personalized Treatment Plans: Personalized treatment plans drive significant weight loss, with low rates of side effects and high safety. Customers lost an average of 20.9 pounds, or 10.3% of their initial body weight in six months. Among these same customers, only 10.3% reported side effects, and an even smaller 4.5% reported intolerable side effects.
- Always-On Support: The platform combines 24/7 care team access with curated education across nutrition, mental health, and physical wellness. Customers exchanged over 6.7 million messages with their care teams, with 75% receiving responses in 5 hours or less.
Hers Weight Loss Reviews: Mixed Feedback
Online reviews of Hers’ weight loss service are mixed. Some users praise the service for its convenience, personalization, and support. However, more negative reviews cite issues with customer service and report a lack of significant weight loss results.
Pros and Cons of Using Hers
Pros:
- Convenience: Hers offers a streamlined process for accessing health services from home.
- Accessibility: The platform provides a user-friendly app and direct-to-door delivery of medications and products.
- Potential Affordability: Hers claims its medications are 50% to 80% off retail prices, providing a more accessible option for some consumers.
- Comprehensive Support: The program offers educational resources on nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes, along with ongoing support and monitoring through the platform and app.
Cons:
- No Insurance Coverage: Hers does not accept medical insurance or HSA/FSA payments.
- Limited Scope of Services: The absence of face-to-face interactions with clinicians limits the scope of services.
- Reliance on Messaging: Communication with healthcare professionals is exclusively through messaging, without real-time conversations.
- Compounded Medications: The use of compounded GLP-1s raises safety concerns due to the lack of FDA approval.
- Mixed Reviews: Online reviews indicate varying levels of satisfaction with customer service and weight loss results.
Alternatives to Hers
While Hers can be a valuable tool for managing certain health needs, it's essential to consider other options and consult with healthcare professionals for comprehensive evaluations, especially for complex medical conditions.
For individuals seeking GLP-1 prescriptions, other online platforms and traditional healthcare providers can offer FDA-approved alternatives like Ozempic and Wegovy.
When to Consult a Doctor
Telehealth services like Hers can be useful for refilling or prescribing medications for previously diagnosed conditions. However, a visit to the doctor may be necessary in several instances:
- When a physical exam, blood test, or imaging test is required for diagnosis.
- For complex medical conditions that require more intensive treatment.
- If symptoms do not improve or worsen after using medications or supplements from Hers.