Starting the Body Program
💲Estimating Costs
Your Ro Body membership:
To get started with Ro, the initial consultation costs $45. This helps determine if the Ro Body membership is a good fit for you.
Once your treatment is approved and your provider sends your prescription to be filled, your membership will begin! From there, monthly costs include:
The $145/mo membership fee.
Your medication cost, which varies depending on whether you have insurance coverage or are paying out-of-pocket.
Your Ro Body membership gets you access to your medication and prescription, and benefits like ongoing check-ins, one-on-one health and side effects coaching, and a personal health coach.
Understanding medication costs:
We know that figuring out the cost of medication can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re paying out of pocket, using insurance, or looking for savings, we want you to have all the information you need.
We’ve answered some of the most common questions below to help you estimate costs. But if you still have questions, your Care Team is here for you. Just send them a message in your Ro account chat.
Paying Cash for Medication
Can I pay cash for GLP-1 medications?
Paying cash is always an option if:
GLP-1 medication is not a covered benefit under your plan.
Prior authorization is denied, and there are no other options for coverage.
You're uninsured or do not want to go through insurance (and also do not have a government health plan).
You want to access in-stock FDA-approved medication, and are interested in Zepbound single-dose vials (which range between $349-$499 per month and are not covered by insurance).
You want to receive your medication quickly and are interested in compounded semaglutide (which is $254 per month and is not covered by insurance).
You’re willing to pay about $1,000–$1,300 a month for branded GLP-1s like Ozempic, Zepbound, Wegovy, and Saxenda.
Paying cash for the medication does not change your Body membership experience, including pharmacy support, ongoing care, and coaching through the Ro platform. The separate membership cost is $145/mo.
Please note that those with government insurance plans are ineligible for weight loss treatment through Ro. Regulatory restrictions around these plans prevent covered patients from accessing treatment through Ro even if they are willing to pay out of pocket for medication.
How much does it cost to pay cash for GLP-1 medication?
It depends on which medication is prescribed, as some medications are only available when paying cash:
Zepbound single-dose vials are FDA-approved and contain the exact same active ingredient (tirzepatide) as Zepbound pens, and are fulfilled through our integration with LillyDirect. The costs vary by dose:
2.5 mg dose – $349/month
5 mg dose – $499/month
Compounded semaglutide, offered through Ro, costs $254 per month of treatment.
You may also opt to pay cash for branded GLP-1s such as Ozempic, Zepbound, Wegovy, and Saxenda pens. Without insurance coverage, branded GLP-1s typically cost about $1,000–$1,300 per month of treatment. There are savings cards that branded GLP-1 drug manufacturers may provide to help reduce costs. The use of a manufacturer savings card may require having commercial insurance. Each pharmacy may apply these savings cards differently, so your final costs can vary depending on where the medication is ultimately filled.
These medication costs do not include the monthly Body membership fee of $145/mo.
Insurance Coverage for Branded GLP-1s & Out-of-Pocket Costs
How much will branded GLP-1s cost with insurance coverage?
Out-of-pocket costs from copays or cost sharing can range substantially. These costs depend on your insurance coverage and fulfilling pharmacy. Your insurance company may share out-of-pocket cost estimations with us (but this only sometimes happens). If they do, we'll share it with you.
An exception to this is Zepbound single-dose vials. While these contain the exact same active ingredient as Zepbound pen (tirzepatide), the vials are not covered by insurance. The costs range between $349-$499 per month of treatment.
If my medication is covered by insurance, will I get an out-of-pocket cost estimate?
Insurance companies don't always share estimates with us. But if we get an out-of-pocket estimate, we’ll share it with you. If not, you can reach out to your insurer directly.
Remember, any number we share with you is an estimate and may differ from the final cost you’ll receive at the pharmacy that fills your prescription.
How do out-of-pocket estimates work?
Your insurance company may share a dose’s estimated out-of-pocket cost with us. This estimate is based on your insurance plan and how much is left until you reach your deductible (the amount you pay before your insurance kicks in). When you reach your deductible, your medication's monthly cost will decrease to your fixed co-pay or cost sharing amount. Keep in mind that plans vary and some plans won’t have deductibles, copays, or coinsurance.
Will the out-of-pocket cost of my medication go down over time?
Any out-of-pocket estimates we’re able to share are only for a month’s worth of medication. They may be high if you haven't hit your deductible or out-of-pocket maximum responsibility. If you hit those, the monthly cost of your medication will go down.
Using your insurance information and plan details, you may be able to estimate the monthly cost for yourself. (But keep in mind that plans vary and some plans won’t have deductibles, copays or coinsurance. This calculation may not apply to your individual plan depending on your plan details.)
To do the calculation, you’ll need your:
Out-of-pocket estimate
Deductible (how much you pay until your insurance kicks in and starts to pay)
Amount you’ve already paid toward your deductible
Your fixed co-pay or coinsurance (may apply even if your deductible is hit)
Out-of-pocket maximum
You’ll likely pay the out-of-pocket estimate until your deductible is met. Then, you’ll start to pay the co-pay or coinsurance amount until you hit your out-of-pocket maximum.
Here’s an example using hypothetical numbers:
GLP-1 out-of-pocket estimate: $900
Deductible: $2,000
Amount paid toward deductible: $0
Co-pay: $50
Out-of-pocket maximum: $10,000
Given the information above, the monthly medication costs may look like this:
Month 1: $900
Month 2: $900
Month 3: $200 (deductible met)
Month 4: $50 (co-pay kicks in)
Month 5: $50
Month 6+: $50 (until you reach your out-of-pocket maximum)
What do I do if the pharmacy's cost is much more than the out-of-pocket estimate?
Cost information you receive from your fulfilling pharmacy can differ from your insurer’s estimate. We know this may be frustrating and confusing, so here are a couple of questions you can ask the pharmacy for clarity:
Does this cost include my insurance coverage?
Does this cost include any eligible savings card discount?
Offsetting Medication Costs
Can I use my Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Savings Account (FSA) for GLP-1 medication?
You may be able to use your HSA or FSA to pay for your branded GLP-1s like Ozempic, Zepbound, and Wegovy. Inquire with the pharmacy that’s filling your prescription to learn more.
You also may be able to use your HSA or FSA to pay for compounded GLP-1s through Ro. Reach out to your insurer for more information on limitations and requirements.
What are savings cards and how can I use them?
Some drug manufacturers offer savings cards that can help offset the price of the medication. Review the information in the link carefully to see if you're eligible for savings.
For Ozempic, you cannot use the savings card from Novo Nordisk when you pay out of pocket — only for insurance-approved prescriptions. Eligible patients can save up to $150/month on Ozempic when using the savings card.
For Zepbound, Eli Lilly is offering a savings card program that can help lower the cost for eligible patients with insurance through the end of 2024. The potential savings amount will depend on whether your plan covers Zepbound or not.
Note: this savings card program only applies to Zepbound pens, not Zepbound single-dose vials.
For Wegovy, Novo Nordisk is offering a savings card program that can lower the cost to $650 per month when you're paying with cash.
Savings cards are not guaranteed and may vary by pharmacy. When coordinating payment for your medication, let the pharmacist know that you'll be using a savings card. Pharmacists usually require that you provide certain information detailed on the card.
Savings cards only apply for branded GLP-1 pens when using commercial insurance. Because compounded GLP-1s through Ro are cash-pay only, savings cards are not applicable.