Britney Lynn: When the Drug That Works is Just Out of Reach

Britney Lynn, a 33-year-old living in Alachua, FL, was diagnosed with diabetes in 2020. Soon after, she faced a challenge many people with chronic conditions know all too well: affording the medications that worked best for her. The financial strain took a serious toll on her health, and eventually her livelihood.

When Britney first received her diagnosis, she began a trial-and-error process to find a medication that worked for her body. She first tried Metformin but said, “It was making me super sick.” Her doctor then switched her to Victoza, and for a while, things improved. “I was losing weight, and my sugars were controlled,” she recalled.

That progress did not last. Hurricanes in Florida disrupted her access to medication. “They knocked out the power,” she explained, “and I ran out of medication because they went bad.” When she tried to refill her prescription, she was met with a steep and unexpected price increase: “They told me it was going to be $100 per month instead of the $10 I had been paying.”

Unable to afford the higher cost, Britney returned to Metformin, even though it made her sick, leaving her without an effective treatment. “I could not afford the $100,” she said. Even trying an extended-release version of Metformin caused significant side effects: “My stomach was getting filled with acid.” When she attempted Victoza again, it no longer worked, causing her to have an upset stomach. “Even on the lowest dosage this time around, I couldn’t take it very long.”

Eventually, Britney was prescribed Mounjaro, which she described as effective. “That one has been perfect for me,” she said. She now pays $25 a month, a price she considers manageable. “I was terrified that it was going to be something I couldn’t afford,” she shared.

Accessing effective medication was not simple. Britney’s doctor initially wanted to prescribe Ozempic, but “insurance would not cover it at all.” Even through a sliding-scale clinic, it “was going to cost me $350 a month.” She also encountered step therapy requirements, meaning she had to try medications that had already made her sick before gaining access to other options. “They wanted me to be on the maximum dose, and I couldn’t even handle the lowest dose,” she said.

The consequences were serious. Without access to effective medication, Britney’s blood sugar levels rose dangerously: “My sugars were still going over 200” and sometimes “would go over 300.” Reflecting on that time, she said, “I felt really defeated because I needed something better, but I had a hard time getting access to it.”

Her health challenges soon affected other parts of her life. At the time, Britney worked as a delivery driver. Managing her blood sugar during work hours became increasingly difficult without effective medication. “It made me lose my job because I had to keep stopping just to be able to get my sugars to go down,” she explained. She also experienced frequent dizziness, “I was dizzy all the time,” she said. Her employer ultimately determined her condition posed a liability: “It affected my work to the point where they had to let me go.”

Yet the relief provided by access to Mounjaro may be temporary. Britney recently learned that her insurance will not cover Mounjaro until she meets a $6,000 deductible. “As of next month, I will no longer be on a GLP-1,” she said. “It’s so frustrating, to say the least.” Once again, the medication that works best for her may soon be out of reach because of cost.

Britney’s story illustrates how high prescription drug prices and insurance barriers can ripple far beyond the pharmacy counter. When patients cannot afford the medications that work best for them, the consequences can include worsening health, financial strain, and even job loss. “I’ve felt really defeated,” Britney said, an experience that far too many people share.

Her story underscores the urgent need for policies that make prescription drugs more affordable and accessible, so that people like Britney can get the care they need without risking their health, stability, or livelihood.