I am a woman living with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), a condition often diagnosed alongside insulin resistance. Like many others, I feel let down by insurance companies, particularly Florida Blue/ BCBS, which currently does not cover the cost of Tirzepatide (Mounjaro (FDA Approved for Type 2 Diabetes effective in treating Insulin Resistance, FDA Approved Zepbound effective in treating Weight Loss) - This is a crucial medication for managing our condition.

PCOS affects approximately 1 in 10 women of childbearing age and is often associated with insulin resistance. This makes it harder for us to control our blood sugar levels and increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Tirzepatide has been shown to significantly improve blood sugar control and reduce body weight. Thus managing the weight gain from PCOS. However, without coverage from insurance companies like Florida Blue/BCBS , this life-changing treatment remains out of reach for many.

Florida Blue/BCBS states in their Bariatric Weight loss Surgery requirements that "Does not have a medically treatable cause for obesity (e.g., thyroid or other endocrine disorder)" This means that even if you have Morbid obesity and need a weight loss surgery they will not treat it because they believe that PCOS is medically treatable. Medically Treatable : capable of being treated : yielding or responsive to treatment. a treatable disease. treatability. 

Per the CDC for PCOS 

"Treatment
See your health care provider if you have irregular monthly periods, are having trouble getting pregnant, or have excess acne or hair growth. If you’re told you have PCOS, ask about getting tested for type 2 diabetes and how to manage the condition if you have it. Making healthy changes such as losing weight if you’re overweight and increasing physical activity can lower your risk for type 2 diabetes, help you better manage diabetes, and prevent or delay other health problems.

There are also medicines that can help you ovulate, as well as reduce acne and hair growth. Make sure to talk with your health care provider about all your treatment options."  

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/pcos.html 

EXCEPT: Pcos is not just defined as Weight gain, Hair growth, Irregular Period, Sub infertility. It is also defined with High Androgen levels. It is a heterogeneous disease of the endocrine system making it vastly different! 

Please see: 

The National Library of Medicine take on Association of Insulin Resistance and Elevated Androgen Levels with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): A Review of Literature

"PCOS is a heterogeneous disease of endocrine system which is followed by various clinical and physiological abnormalities. It exerts harmful and pervasive effects on physiological as well as metabolic system, and these characteristics categorise PCOS as a disorder associated with metabolism. Various dysfunctions like insulin resistance, hyperinsulinaemia, obesity, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, elevating risk of developing T2DM, endometrial hyperplasia, and coronary artery diseases. Here, we discussed the impact of the PCOS on various physiological functions of the body."

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is considered as a major health issue. Women with PCOS face insulin resistance and overexposure of androgen, leading to a number of metabolic and reproductive abnormalities. These are considered the major causes of PCOS and other PCOS related manifestations.

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8959968/

PCOS needs to be recognized as an Autoimmune Disorder. We need more concern. 

We urge Florida Blue/BCBS to reconsider its policy on Tirzepatide coverage. By doing so, they can provide thousands of women suffering from PCOS-related insulin resistance access to an effective treatment option that could greatly improve their quality of life.
Please sign this petition if you believe in equal healthcare opportunities and stand against the discrimination faced by women living with PCOS due to lackluster insurance policies.