Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
The things people ask us most before they get started, and the details that are easiest to miss once they have.
- Getting Started
- Medication & Pharmacy
- Plans & Payments
Before Your First Consult
?Which States Do You Serve?
We serve patients in all 50 states, including Washington, DC.
What varies is the pharmacy side — some pharmacies can't ship certain medications into certain states. You can pick your state and see exactly what's available to you before you book.
?Do You Take Insurance?
We're a direct-pay practice, so insurance isn't required and there's nothing to file. You pay one flat fee per consult and the cost of your medication — no memberships, no subscriptions, no hidden fees.
We also don't complete prior authorizations. If commercial medication coverage matters to you, it's worth asking your insurance provider about it before your consultation.
?What's The Difference Between An E-Consult And A Phone Consult?
An e-consult is completed asynchronously through secure portal messages with a licensed healthcare provider. There's no phone call, and you answer on your own schedule.
A phone consult is a live phone or video call with a provider, so you can ask your questions in real time.
Both get you the same care — pick whichever fits your week. E-consults are available in eligible states only, so if yours isn't one of them you'll be directed to a phone consult instead.
?How Long Until I Hear Back From An E-Consult?
A provider reviews your e-consult within 3 business days of receiving payment. You'll get an email update and a message from your assigned provider in the patient portal once the review is complete.
?Is Compounded Medication FDA-Approved?
No. While we only send prescriptions to vetted and accredited compounding pharmacies, the medications they provide are not FDA approved or regulated.
Because of the regulations governing which compounded medications are available, we also can't guarantee that any particular medication will be available at any given time.
If you'd rather take a commercially available brand-name product, that's an option too — compare compounded and brand-name plans →
?Do You Require Bloodwork Before Starting Medication?
No. We don't require bloodwork before you start medication. It can still be worth having testing done — an A1C, thyroid levels, and a cholesterol panel — because it gives you another way to measure your results over time.
If you'd like testing without arranging it yourself, we offer in-home wellness labs as a convenience. They're optional, not a requirement.
?Do You Complete Prior Authorizations?
No, we don't complete prior authorizations at this time. If you already have one from another healthcare provider, it may be usable with a prescription we write — that's at your insurance provider's discretion.
We recommend contacting your insurance provider about coverage of commercial medications before your consultation with us, so you know where you stand.
?Are There Weight Or BMI Requirements For GLP-1 Medications?
There's no hard cut-off for BMI or weight to be eligible. That said, a GLP-1 medication isn't recommended if you're underweight for your height. Every prescription is at the discretion of the reviewing provider.
?If I'm Already On A GLP-1, Do I Have To Start Over On Dosing?
Not necessarily. If you're already taking a GLP-1 and you're getting started with us, you can continue at your current dose when your provider considers it appropriate.
Documentation of your prior prescription is required to order anything beyond a starting dose.
Where It Comes From And How To Use It
?What If I Have Side Effects?
Most side effects are expected, temporary, and manageable at home. Our side effects guide covers what's typical, what you can treat yourself, and the over-the-counter options that usually help.
For anything severe or frightening, don't wait on us. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room for chest pain, trouble breathing, throat swelling, signs of stroke, fainting, or intense abdominal pain. For symptoms that are urgent but not an emergency, get evaluated in person the same day at an urgent care center or your primary care provider.
Since we are a remote practice, we can't provide emergency or same-day in-person care, as your provider won't be available every day. Once you've been seen, send us a message so your provider knows what happened and can adjust your treatment plan.
?Do I Get To Choose Which Pharmacy I Order From?
Yes. You can choose from our list of pharmacy partners, as long as they're available in your state of residence. Some medications can be called in to your local pharmacy for pickup instead.
The new patient consultation form has the additional details and eligibility requirements, and you can see which pharmacies serve your state on our pharmacy coverage page.
?How Long Does Shipping Take For Home Delivery?
Delivery generally runs 2 to 10 business days from the date the order is placed, though it varies with pharmacy stock and your dosage. Invoices paid outside normal business hours, on weekends, or near a holiday can need an extra day or two to process.
Times vary by pharmacy, so check the pharmacy shipping times page for the range that applies to yours. Your tracking number is emailed to you once the order ships, and if something goes wrong along the way our order problems guide covers what to do.
Brand-name medication ships on its own timeline — approximately 7 to 10 business days. More on brand-name medication →
?How Do I Give Myself An Injection?
If your treatment plan includes an injectable medication, we provide a step-by-step injection guide so you can use it confidently — covering subcutaneous and intramuscular injections, and how to read and check your vials.
?Do You Offer Maintenance Dosing For GLP-1 Medications?
Yes. We have many patients on maintenance dosing, some short term and some long term.
Maintenance status is requested during a follow-up and is at your provider's discretion. More about maintenance →
What You Pay For And How
?What Do Treatments Cost?
It depends on the medication, the plan length you choose, and which pharmacy fills it. Rather than list figures here that could fall out of date, we keep every current price in one place.
?What Do Consults Cost?
One flat fee per consult, with no memberships or subscriptions. A new patient consult is $65 and a follow-up consult is $40. The fee covers your provider's time, your evaluation, and your treatment plan.
Medication is billed separately from the consult fee. See services pricing →
If you just need a refill, there's no consult fee and no provider fee. Between your required follow-ups you're only paying for the medication itself. When a follow-up is required →
?Can I Pause Or Stop Treatment?
There's nothing to cancel. We don't run subscriptions or recurring billing, so you're never charged on a schedule. You pay for a consult when you need one and for medication when you order it — if you don't need anything, nothing comes out of your account.
That means you can step away and come back whenever you're ready. If it's been more than six months since your last consult, you'll just need a follow-up before your next order.
?Do Treatment Plans Include The Medication?
For most patients, yes. Plans built around a specialty or compounding pharmacy — which is what the majority of our patients are on — include the cost of the medication and its delivery in the plan price.
Brand-Name (Standard) plans work differently. Those cover your care with us, and you purchase the medication itself separately at a pharmacy of your choice.
Current pricing for both is on our treatment plan pricing page.
?Can I Pre-Pay Toward A Future Order?
Yes. In the patient portal you can use Pre-Pay to submit $100 payments at any time toward your next order. You can make multiple pre-payments, and you don't need an open invoice to send one.
To redeem, request an adjustment to your next invoice after it's been issued — email support@lavenderskyhealth.com with your invoice number and we'll adjust it.
Pre-payments can be refunded by request within 180 days of purchase, minus a 5% card processing fee that isn't refundable. Once a pre-payment has been applied to an invoice it's no longer eligible for refund.
?Can I Be Invoiced For Services?
Yes, through the link in your invoice email. If you need an invoice split across more than one payment method, email our support team and we'll set that up.
All payments received are subject to our payment policies.
?Do You Accept FSA And HSA Cards?
Yes, FSA and HSA cards are accepted.
If your plan asks for documentation before covering treatment, your provider can write you a Letter of Medical Necessity.
?What Forms Of Payment Do You Accept?
We accept:
- Visa
- Mastercard
- American Express
- Discover
- FSA
- HSA
We don't accept payments from third-party platforms such as PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Affirm Direct, or any service not listed above.
All payments go through our secure payment gateway via direct invoicing. We will never ask you for payment over social media, a messaging app, or any third-party payment application. If someone does, it isn't us.
Still Have A Question?
If you're already a patient, our Patient Support hub covers side effects, refills, orders, and billing in detail. If you're not yet, a consultation is the fastest way to get answers specific to you.
Answers here are general information, not medical advice for your situation. Once you're a patient, questions about your medication, dosing, or symptoms should go to your provider in the patient portal.