Cost of Reta

[BNLFL]

People go to the doctor anyway (in person or telehealth). And EL direct is mail order.

I live in a retirement area, and going to the doctor is right up there with going to Costco, haha.

And any appointment with a provider is another opportunity to ask for more bloodwork 🙂

No lie, and I tell them I just had blood work 3 months ago. Welcome to Florida's retirement madhouse.

 

[CNCCurrency]

I’ve thought about seeing if my insurance would cover extensive lab work on my annual wellness check. I have a script for Tirz and Test, it’s just part of a checkup, right?😂

Mine orders bloodwork every 6 months.

 

[woundcarping]

Mine orders bloodwork every 6 months.

I planned on ordering my own labs every few months, but if insurance will pick up the tab this time, I'm happy to oblige.

 

[BNLFL]

Mine orders bloodwork every 6 months.

My GP does once a year, but a Urologist may want his own tests.

I planned on ordering my own labs every few months, but if insurance will pick up the tab this time, I'm happy to oblige.

Medicare has always covered mine so far.

 

[woundcarping]

Medicare has always covered mine so far.

I'm still 2-3 decades from Medicare picking up my tab.

 

[neo6488]

It is expensive, yes. But from this particular place, you usually get a decent overfill, lots and lots of testing, and shipping is included. Just personal preference. I have been happy with everything I have purchased from them and have participated in some of the testing.

Thats been my experience as well. Is it more expensive than others, yes. However for like $600 you could be done for the entire year. Considering I was paying $200 a month before for compounded that starts to look more attractive. Of course you have to add in needles, water, etc.

 

[BNLFL]

I'm still 2-3 decades from Medicare picking up my tab.

I'm a year and half in, and when the doctors know, more tests now that they wanted to do when I wasn't on it. It sure as heck isn't free, especially if you get a supplement, but that's a different subject.

 

[Summer48]

I got a girlfriend who's paying the lily direct prices because she doesn't trust compound. I make sure to keep a very neutral expression when that comes up, because everybody gets to make their own decisions and she doesn't need to grapple with my disbelief on top of anything else in her life. But I think she's starting to rethink, because she's been watching me not die and definitely still be on Tirzepatide from the look of me for months.

Haha had to laugh at this my grandson is the same watching me use the gray stuff while he’s using the expensive Mounjaro pen then because I’m still alive and kicking he’s decided he wants me to get him some of the gray and other things which he can only get when he visits the USA for work!

 

[randompersonrandom]

Haha had to laugh at this my grandson is the same watching me use the gray stuff while he’s using the expensive Mounjaro pen then because I’m still alive and kicking he’s decided he wants me to get him some of the gray and other things which he can only get when he visits the USA for work!

You're such an inspiration to me, no joke. I want to be as hip and with it and able to explore sketchy stuff as you are when I get to your stage of life. Your grandson must brag about you. "I dunno about crypto, lemme ask my grandma."

 

[MsGizmo]

A surprising number of people in grey already pay $500+ a month for various peptides, so they can afford direct, if they sacrificed their non-GLP peptides.

Eventually, more grey users will go direct to EL for tirz ($299 to $449) or for reta by 2027. They may get tired of the non GLPs and will have a low maintenance dose, or Medicare may get their shit together.

Orforglipron (also from EL) will be another option for maintenance by April or so ($149 to $399, depending on dose).

I started out paying $500 a month for Wegovy and I was angry about it considering how much I was already paying just to have insurance. With a BMI of 57 it should be covered. I will not accept any arguments that it shouldn't be. Yes, even if a person is on Medicaid, Medicare, VA or whatever other type of insurance is out there. It should be covered for severe obesity. (end rant)

When I discovered the grey market in July of 2025 I spent a day or two reading and then took the plunge. I bought a kit of 10mg sema from Nexa for $190 and then spent another $60ish buying all the supplies from all things peptide. So for half of the price of 1 month of Wegovy I got a 1.5 year supply of grey market sema and enough supplies for at least 6 months or so. Since discovering grey I have spent a grand total of about $2500 .. a 5 month supply of my original prescription.

This is what I got instead of that 5 month supply:

* 100mg of sema (about a year and a half supply)
I have 5 untouched vials and the one in the pen is about 80% full
* 120mg of reta (about 6 month supply with an ending dose of 8mg)
Gone, last vial in the pen
* 240mg of reta (about a 7 month supply with a 8mg dose)
Untouched
* 600mg of tirz (this is for my diabetic husband, unknown what his dose will end up being)
1 vial loaded into the pen only 2 weeks into it, at the starting dose

* 5000mg of NAD+
1 vial gone, pen is 75% full
* 2 vials of SS-31
1 gone, one loaded
* 2 vials of MOTS-c
Untouched
* 2 vials of epitalon
Untouched
* Kit of Ipamorlin
Untouched

There is no way I will voluntarily go back to retail. I bought more than a years worth of GLP1 for both me and my husband instead of 4 months of wegovy for just me. (deduct a month for all the extra stuff)

Side note - The co-pay for my husband's prescription for ozempic went up to $100 a month this year while the price of the insurance plan itself went up to more than $3000 a month. So I am just a little bit pissed off about it.

 

[Calm Logic]

There are people married to 1 mg of reta for weight loss. So I can't imagine what their maintenance dose would be. They could even do fine on 1 mg of orfo a day for $149 a month.

Starting March 21st, sema will be available in India as a generic. So another option possibly/eventually (for illicit import into the US). I have used generic lira pens from India, and it seems similar to the name brand.

Side note - The co-pay for my husband's prescription for ozempic went up to $100 a month this year while the price of the insurance plan itself went up to more than $3000 a month. So I am just a little bit pissed off about it.

$3,000 a month for insurance is insane:

When health insurance costs more than the mortgage

As health care costs skyrocket and federal lawmakers pull back help on ACA insurance premiums, more middle-income families are facing tough choices on health care.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[BNLFL]

Side note - The co-pay for my husband's prescription for ozempic went up to $100 a month this year while the price of the insurance plan itself went up to more than $3000 a month. So I am just a little bit pissed off about it.

I'm curious who the heck that's through, and is that for both of you? I know before we hit Medicare, it was like $2,200 for the both of us with absolutely stupid deductibles.

 

[MsGizmo]

$3,000 a month for insurance is insane:

Yeah.

I'm curious who the heck that's through, and is that for both of you? I know before we hit Medicare, it was like $2,200 for the both of us with absolutely stupid deductibles.

Molina Healthcare. It is for 4 people, and is technically 2 plans. The first plan costs $2500+ and covers my husband (60s), me (50s) and my youngest child (24) My oldest child (29) is forced onto a separate plan even though they live with and are completely dependent on us. That plan costs over $400+ .. together the insurance for all of us costs a smidge over $3000.

My husband only has 3 more years before Medicare kicks in. After that I might downgrade the insurance to something with higher deductibles. I will fully admit the plan I chose has low deductibles because my husband has had medical issues in the past. Yes, I know this makes me partially to blame here. Doesn't mean I don't still have a right to be angry about it.

 

[FilterOrDeath]

The co-pay for my husband's prescription for ozempic went up to $100 a month this year while the price of the insurance plan itself went up to more than $3000 a month. So I am just a little bit pissed off about it.

This really is an insane price for just insurance every month. I has no idea it could get that expensive, I would be pissed off too! Glad you found grey though

 

[CNCCurrency]

Yeah.

Molina Healthcare. It is for 4 people, and is technically 2 plans. The first plan costs $2500+ and covers my husband (60s), me (50s) and my youngest child (24) My oldest child (29) is forced onto a separate plan even though they live with and are completely dependent on us. That plan costs over $400+ .. together the insurance for all of us costs a smidge over $3000.

My husband only has 3 more years before Medicare kicks in. After that I might downgrade the insurance to something with higher deductibles. I will fully admit the plan I chose has low deductibles because my husband has had medical issues in the past. Yes, I know this makes me partially to blame here. Doesn't mean I don't still have a right to be angry about it.

Yikes, I had no idea health insurance is that expensive. I guess I should be grateful having Tricare which is 360.00 a year.

 

[BNLFL]

Yikes, I had no idea health insurance is that expensive. I guess I should be grateful having Tricare which is 360.00 a year.

My medicare is more that a month, It's actually double what's normal, and so is my wives, but there's a reason for that and should go back to normal next month. A good supplement to medicare isn't cheap either, but totally needed in my opinion. YMMV.

 

[chopz]

Nexa is definitely not cheap, especially for Reta. Now that many other vendors have US logistics and no customs for us to deal with, Nexa has lost some of the shine. I was always willing to pay a bit more since it was already stateside, and because Cain would take credit cards.

Now I've learned about crypto and done my first transaction. It was super easy. I'll always hold Nexa dear as my first foray to grey, and Cain has always had top-notch customer service, but the prices are just too high now from him. $1.22/mg is high -- double what Barn and others have right now.

i know nothing about crypto and looking to purchase. Can you walk me through it like I'm 5..lol
i opened coinbase account and verified.

 

[Jerrydee]

I love the topic shift from reta pricing to relationship advice , anyway the best way is this

1: check the multipal vendors who deliver to you
2: do your research and check for promotions , everyone mostly runs them and reta is more or less included everytime
3: know your dosing , calculate your vial if you gonna pin 4 mg and you buying R40 or R60 it’s no use , know your dose and order
4: choose preference , A VENDOR WITH LATEST COA , batch no , service or No COA no batch no
5: research is the only weapon here my friend , sometimes your favourite vendor will give you for .50/mg and sometime it’s .75 or whatever

For me personally if I find a vendor and its product is good service is good , it’s working for me , I would not mind paying an extra premium then going and trying a vendor who might sell for cheap

This forum , vendor reviews section , Gemini , telegram groups are your friends my mate

Good luck and happy pinning

 

[Jerrey]

Nexa is definitely not cheap, especially for Reta. Now that many other vendors have US logistics and no customs for us to deal with, Nexa has lost some of the shine. I was always willing to pay a bit more since it was already stateside, and because Cain would take credit cards.

Now I've learned about crypto and done my first transaction. It was super easy. I'll always hold Nexa dear as my first foray to grey, and Cain has always had top-notch customer service, but the prices are just too high now from him. $1.22/mg is high -- double what Barn and others have right now.

I had much the same experience but with triz. If you could wait till he was taking pre-orders he was almost competitive but still on the higher side. Once you get comfortable with crypto purchasing there is no comparison.