Does United Healthcare Cover Skyrizi?

Does United Healthcare cover Skyrizi? That was the first thing I typed into Google when my friend Mark told me his dermatologist recommended it. He’d just been diagnosed with Crohn’s, and the flare-ups were brutal. His doctor said Skyrizi could help — if his insurance would pay.

I’ve been down that road before. If you’ve ever had to figure out whether your UnitedHealthcare plan covers a specific medication, especially one like Skyrizi, you know it’s never a straight answer.

Let’s clear it up.

Key Takeaways

United Healthcare does cover Skyrizi—but only with prior authorization, clinical proof, and sometimes appeals. It’s not automatic. Expect to go through step therapy and paperwork, especially under Medicare or marketplace plans. Coverage is possible, but it takes effort.

What Is Skyrizi and Why It Matters

Skyrizi isn’t a typical prescription

Skyrizi is a biologic treatment prescribed for people with plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, or Crohn’s disease. It’s designed to target a specific protein in the immune system that causes chronic inflammation. For people who’ve tried everything else, Skyrizi is often the next step.

But it comes at a price. And that’s why many ask: does United Healthcare cover Skyrizi?

Skyrizi is for real, serious conditions

My friend Mark struggled with flare-ups that wrecked his skin and gut. His doctor said Skyrizi could help him get long-term relief. But like most specialty medications, it doesn’t come cheap. One dose without coverage? Easily over $10,000.

So again, the question came up — does United Healthcare cover Skyrizi, or would Mark be stuck paying out of pocket?

This is where the real insurance journey begins.

United Healthcare’s Skyrizi Policy in 2025

Coverage isn’t automatic

The truth is, Skyrizi is covered by United Healthcare—but only under certain conditions. Most plans don’t list it as a default benefit. Instead, it falls under the specialty medication tier, which means more rules, more steps, and more time.

When Mark asked, “does UHC cover Skyrizi?”, the rep said, “Yes, but your doctor needs to submit prior authorization.”

What that actually means

To get Skyrizi approved, your provider must prove:

• You’ve already tried other treatments
• Your condition is severe enough
• You meet the plan’s clinical guidelines

That’s called step therapy—and it’s common with specialty meds. Some patients need to show that they failed on Humira or Stelara before UnitedHealthcare allows Skyrizi.

So while the answer to “does United Healthcare cover Skyrizi” is technically yes, it’s not a green light. It’s more like a yellow one with paperwork.

Plan type changes everything

Coverage varies based on your plan:

• Employer plans often approve Skyrizi faster
• Marketplace plans depend on your state
• Medicare Advantage plans usually require more documentation

In 2025, UnitedHealthcare still requires prior authorization for Skyrizi across most of its plans. Mark needed two appeals, a letter from his GI, and a lot of waiting. But eventually, he got it.

So does United Healthcare cover Skyrizi? Yes—but only if you’re ready to follow their rules step by step.

Related Medication Coverage by UnitedHealthcare

When you’re asking does United Healthcare cover Skyrizi, you’re likely wondering about other high-cost medications too. Coverage can vary medication by medication, even within the same plan. Here’s what we know in 2025.

Does United Healthcare Cover Wegovy

Wegovy, used for chronic weight management, is not guaranteed under all UnitedHealthcare plans. Like Skyrizi, it often requires prior authorization. In some plans, Wegovy is only approved for patients with BMI-related comorbidities, like type 2 diabetes.

Get the full picture on Wegovy coverage under UHC.

United Healthcare Ozempic Cost

Ozempic is another medication people ask about when wondering does United Healthcare cover Skyrizi and other specialty medications. The cost of Ozempic with UHC varies. Copays can range from $25 to over $100 per month, depending on your tier and deductible status.

Does United Healthcare Cover Ozempic for Weight Loss

Here’s the twist: Ozempic is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes, not weight loss. UnitedHealthcare may deny coverage if Ozempic is prescribed purely for weight reduction. This mirrors how strict they are when approving Skyrizi for psoriasis or Crohn’s.

Learn when UnitedHealthcare approves Ozempic — and when it doesn’t.

Does United Healthcare Cover Mounjaro for Weight Loss

Mounjaro is new and popular. UnitedHealthcare’s policies in 2025 still limit coverage unless it’s prescribed for diabetes. Just like with Skyrizi, members need documentation, diagnosis codes, and sometimes appeals to get approval.

Compare how UHC handles coverage for Mounjaro in 2025.

Does United Healthcare Cover Zepbound for Weight Loss

Zepbound is another injectable medication used off-label for weight loss. UHC may reject it unless there’s a supporting diagnosis that matches their criteria. So again, just like people ask does UHC cover Skyrizi, they’re often forced into the appeals process here too.

See how Zepbound coverage compares across UnitedHealthcare plans.

Does United Healthcare Cover Vyvanse

Vyvanse is approved for ADHD and binge eating disorder. Most UHC plans cover it, but it’s not automatic. Again, just like Skyrizi, it may fall into a tier that requires step therapy or documentation.

When you ask does United Healthcare cover Skyrizi, what you’re really asking is: does UHC cover advanced, expensive medications without a fight? And the answer—across conditions—is almost always: only if you follow their steps.

Understand how UHC approves ADHD medications like Vyvanse.

List of Weight Loss Medications Covered by UnitedHealthcare 2025

Just like when you ask does United Healthcare cover Skyrizi, the answer for weight loss medications depends on plan type, diagnosis, and medical necessity. Here’s what UnitedHealthcare typically covers in 2025:

Medication	Coverage Status	Notes
Qsymia	Covered with restrictions	Often requires prior authorization
Contrave	Covered in select plans	May need BMI + comorbidity criteria
Saxenda	Covered with prior authorization	Requires documentation from provider
Wegovy	Limited coverage	Only approved under strict conditions
Zepbound	Not routinely covered	Denied without clinical exception
Mounjaro	Diabetes use may be covered	Weight loss use often denied
Ozempic	Covered for type 2 diabetes	Off-label use for weight may be denied

Just like Skyrizi, these medications face strict criteria and frequent denials. So when members ask does United Healthcare cover Skyrizi, the process echoes across medication types: approvals depend on clinical pathways, not just prescriptions.

This is just one piece of the puzzle — see everything UnitedHealthcare may cover.

FAQs

Conclusion

When Mark first asked me, “does United Healthcare cover Skyrizi?”, I figured it would be a yes or no answer. It wasn’t.

Instead, it was hours of calls, emails from the pharmacy, letters from his doctor, and weeks of waiting. But he got approved. And the medication helped — a lot. The skin flare-ups backed off, and for the first time in a year, he could sleep without pain.

Here’s what I wish we knew on day one:

• Yes, United Healthcare does cover Skyrizi, but only if you follow their process.
• You’ll need prior authorization.
• You might need to prove other treatments didn’t work.
• You may have to appeal a denial — and that’s normal.

If you’re facing a decision like this, you’re not alone. These aren’t just insurance questions — they’re health decisions. And they deserve straight answers.

So next time someone asks you does United Healthcare cover Skyrizi, you’ll be ready to say: “Yes — but expect a fight. And it’s worth it.”

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