Hey there, fellow and maybe future Ro customers. :)

I know this sub isn't too active but folks are really responsive, so for you lurkers out there I thought I'd write up my first two-plus weeks' experience with Ro. Just to say it ahead of time because the Internet is full of marketing: this is not a sponsored post, no one from Ro asked me to do it, and I'm not getting anything for it except maybe some Reddit karma. I'm just really happy with how this has gone down and how straightforward it's been to get started.

Onboarding

In a nutshell, Ro have been great. I did their insurance checker form the morning of the 25th of September and got results back an hour later. They confirmed what I thought I knew, that my insurance will cover Zepbound and Wegovy since I am obese (and, of course, not Ozempic or Mounjaro as I'm not diabetic...shockingly). The insurance checker had a promo for a $100 credit, so I signed up from that page the morning of the 25th. Filled out the extensive questionnaire, uploaded pictures and my insurance card (again), and so on.

About two hours later, I got a message back from a nurse practitioner who said I appeared to be a good candidate for GLP-1 medication for weight loss and to answer some more questions about what I wanted to achieve, my current health, and medication preference. Filled all that out and got a message back from a doctor saying all looks good, he agrees that Zepbound would be good for me, and sent off a prescription. I wasn't asked to do blood work or other labs, like I've seen mentioned as a possibility. Another message came saying "your request has been approved" and the prescription was sent, however...

Shortly after that message, Ro sent a message saying they're checking with my insurance (again). Early on the 26th, another message came in saying my insurance requires prior authorization (as expected). But three hours later, Ro said my PA is approved and that "we'll send your prescription". I messed up and had my prescription sent to a pharmacy that no longer takes my insurance which was a fun way to learn QFC (Kroger) is no longer in network. But transferring it over is a breeze, that didn't involve Ro at all, and on the 28th I picked up my first box of 2.5mg.

Ongoing

With that, the onboarding timeline is done! Very nice all around.

All of my other (rather uncomplicated) chats with Ro have been responsive and answered my questions. Courtesy /u/AliceFromRo, I got a message from a NP who gave me a lot of detail about how getting medication filled for travel works, which was very nice (and that person says they'll follow-up with me in December to make sure it's all handled). My follow-up consult at five days--four days after first shot--went smoothly and I already have the 5mg box for when I've completed 2.5mg.

Body Curriculum

I've been doing my own exercise (I don't drive so lots of steps in a day come naturally) and food adjustments. As a result, I didn't think I would avail much of the content Ro provides around this program. I was wrong; most of it has been interesting and insightful, plus I learned a few things I hadn't already encountered. For example, Ro has this really detailed article about muscle loss while on GLP-1s that filled in gaps in my knowledge and I've changed up how I approach what food I'm eating when. I appreciate the articles about mental health in relation to weight loss, too, since it goes along with what I've been working on in talk therapy.

In all honesty, based on what I've seen from programs started by a couple of people I know (neither of them are on Ro), I fully expected the written and video materials to just be a sop towards "well, we threw in something besides a prescription". This isn't that, at least for me. I've done nutritionist consulting and weight loss programs in the past and this is as good as or better than the programs my employer paid for.

Thoughts

Long story made longer: Knowing it's only a bit over two weeks in, I'm quite pleased with Ro. They've been responsive, helpful, and flexible. The funny part? Courtesy of that $100 credit from the insurance checker, I haven't paid them a penny and won't for another two weeks.

I know Ro is more expensive than other competitors, and I did shop around a little bit (but not extensively) before signing up. Based on these first two weeks, I'm content with paying the $145/month Ro asks.

I'll point out I'm a fairly uncomplicated case; I'm obviously obese and my other health conditions are moderate (high blood pressure and cholesterol), and have met with my PCP within the last few months. My insurance is (fortunately for me) very good and covers this drug, plus is apparently very responsive to Ro. Looking back, I am probably the smoothest case of a patient Ro could have and I want to make sure I acknowledge that.

Feedback

Some feedback for Ro / observations on what might be confusing:

• I signed up for Ro from the insurance coverage report. It would be convenient if insurance information ported over so I didn't need to re-enter it. Not a big deal, just one of those "nice and smooth" things.

• Speaking of insurance, it appears Ro did a second insurance check after I signed up. Perhaps this is needed for compliance, but if it isn't can it be integrated with the results from the coverage report?

• The messaging about being "approved" is a bit confusing. One message, before the insurance check, said my request was approved and a prescription would be sent. The web UI didn't mention insurance. Then a second message said my insurance would be checked (at which point the web UI showed that step) before sending the prescription. Since I chose "attempt coverage with insurance", perhaps these could be modified for that flow? (I imagine the current flow presupposes compounded medication.)

• Labs: It would be nice to know why a provider didn't order labs. I realize I could ask, and maybe people prefer to, but a note in the intake visit reply message or somewhere that says "labs not required because [blah]" might be helpful. I could be overthinking this, with the understanding that this program from Ro is focused on medicine-assisted weight loss.

• Ro has a binding arbitration clause, which I don't like for customer fairness reasons. To be transparent, I signed up with Ro over two other competitors partially because Ro's terms have an opt-out (that I exercised) for the arbitration clause.