Cost of GLP-1s without insurance: 2026 pricing guide

The cost of GLP-1s without insurance depends on the medication, the dose, and where you fill your prescription. Cash-pay prices for GLP-1 pills and injections start at $149 per month on Ro, while list and retail prices can top $1,600 per month. If your insurance stopped covering your GLP-1 or you are uninsured, several options may help lower that cost.

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Without insurance, GLP-1s forweight loss cost between $122 and $1,639 for a monthly supply. The cost can vary depending on the medication, the dose, and how you fill your prescription.

Here are the list, retail, and cash prices for a one-month supply of injections and pills approved for weight loss:

*Terms and restrictions may apply for certain doses. Prices may reflect limited-time offers and are subject to change; see more here.

The list price is the wholesale price set by the manufacturer. Retail pharmacies set their own prices, so the retail price can be higher or lower than the list price depending on the pharmacy and location. When available, cash-pay prices from manufacturers and telehealth partners such as Ro are among the lowest-cost options for GLP-1 weight loss medications.

Without insurance, GLP-1s for diabetes cost between $149 and $1,476 for a monthly supply. The cost can vary depending on the medication, the dose, and how you fill your prescription.

Here are the prices for a one-month supply of injectable and oral medications approved for type 2 diabetes:

*Terms and restrictions may apply for certain doses. Prices may reflect limited-time offers and are subject to change; see more here.

Even without insurance, you may be able to lower the cost of GLP-1s with cash-pay prices, patient assistance programs, prescription discount cards, and other options.

Cash-pay (self-pay)

Cash-pay is often one of the lowest-cost options for getting GLP-1s without insurance. It allows you to pay cash for your prescription when you fill it directly with the manufacturer or with one of its authorized partners, such as Ro. On Ro, you can get the following GLP-1s without insurance at cash-pay prices:

• Foundayo (orforglipron): On Ro, Foundayo costs $149 for the 0.8 mg and 2.5 mg doses, $199 for the 5.5 mg dose, and $299 for the 9 mg, 14.5 mg, and 17.2 mg doses.* These prices are up to $500 less than the list price.

• Wegovy pill (semaglutide): On Ro, the Wegovy pill costs $149 for the 1.5 mg dose, $199 for the 4 mg dose, and $299 for the 9 mg and 25 mg doses. These prices are more than $1,000 less than the list price.

• Wegovy pen (semaglutide): On Ro, the Wegovy pen costs $199 for the 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg doses, $349 for the 1 mg and 2.4 mg doses, and $399 for the 7.2 mg HD dose. These prices are $950–$1,150 cheaper than the list price.

• Zepbound (tirzepatide): On Ro, the Zepbound KwikPen costs $299 for the 2.5 mg dose, $399 for the 5 mg dose, and $449 for the 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg doses.* These prices are $200–$640 cheaper than the list price for Zepbound.

*Terms and restrictions may apply for certain doses. Prices may reflect limited-time offers and are subject to change; see more here. Medication costs are in addition to the Ro Body membership, which is $39 for the first month and as little as $74 per month with a prepaid annual plan.

Patient assistance programs 

Manufacturers may offer patient assistance programs, or PAPs, to help people with lower incomes access the medications they need. These programs typically provide the medication at no cost to people who qualify. Qualifications vary by program, but typically require household income below certain limits and either no insurance or, for some medications, Medicare.

Among its GLP-1s, Novo Nordisk includes only the Ozempic (semaglutide) pen in its PAP, and only for people without insurance. Eli Lilly only includes an older GLP-1 called Trulicity (dulaglutide) in its PAP.

Prescription discount cards

Prescription discount cards, such as those from SingleCare and GoodRx, are typically free to use and may lower the retail price of a medication at participating pharmacies. Discounts vary by pharmacy, and discount cards typically cannot be combined with other offers. Manufacturer savings cards, which can lower the cost of some GLP-1s to as little as $25 per month, are for eligible people with commercial insurance.

Compounded medications

Compounded GLP-1s often contain semaglutide or tirzepatide, but they are not FDA-approved, meaning the FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness, or quality before they are marketed. Compounding may be appropriate in certain instances, such as when a patient’s medical need cannot be met by an FDA-approved medication.

Compounded GLP-1s may cost less than FDA-approved GLP-1s, but they are not the same. If your healthcare provider recommends compounded semaglutide or another compounded GLP-1, fill the prescription at a state-licensed compounding pharmacy that complies with federal and state laws.

Alternative coverage options  

If you have insurance but it does not cover your GLP-1 for weight loss, a healthcare provider can help determine whether a GLP-1 approved for another condition is appropriate for you. Many insurance plans cover GLP-1s prescribed for type 2 diabetes, such as Ozempic, Mounjaro (tirzepatide), or Victoza (liraglutide). In a national study of US adults with type 2 diabetes, insurance paid more than 95% of GLP-1 costs in 2021–2022.

Some weight loss injections are FDA-approved for additional conditions that may be covered by insurance. For example, Zepbound is FDA-approved for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults with obesity, and the Wegovy pen is FDA-approved for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a type of fatty liver disease, in adults with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis. Insurance may cover these medications when prescribed for those uses.

See if you qualify

The cost of weight loss injections and diabetes medications can be high without insurance, but several options may help lower it:

• List and retail prices for GLP-1s can be high without insurance. For weight loss, the Foundayo and Wegovy pills are among the lowest-cost options when paying cash.

• For type 2 diabetes, the Ozempic pill is among the lowest-cost options when paying cash. Generic liraglutide injection has an average retail price below that of brand-name Ozempic and Mounjaro.

• Self-pay discounts are often one of the lowest-cost options, but it is not offered for every GLP-1. On Ro, you can get Foundayo, Wegovy, and the Zepbound KwikPen at cash-pay prices.

• Other options may help lower the cost. Prescription discount cards and patient assistance programs (PAPs) may help, while compounded medications may cost less but are not FDA-approved.