How much does semaglutide cost?

Semaglutide is a hot topic thanks to the drug’s positive impact on type 2 diabetes and weight loss, among other conditions. And while it’s only gotten more popular each year, a lot of us probably see the ads and the news stories and assume the semaglutide is just too expensive. But the truth is there are many forms of semaglutide and many different ways to save on the price of semaglutide. 

Depending on the specific drug prescribed (e.g. Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus) as well as other factors (e.g. health insurance), the cost of semaglutide can range from $968.52 to 1,349.02 per month. And while compounded semaglutide tends to be less expensive, it too can set you back a few hundred dollars. 

The good news? There are ways to save on the brand-name medications, even without health insurance. Keep reading to learn more about how much semaglutide costs with and without insurance—plus, tips for lowering the price of your prescription. 

Without insurance, the cost of semaglutide can range from $968.52 to $1,349.02 per month.

Before digging deeper, however, a quick refresher: Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist and the active ingredient in several brand-name, prescription medications, including Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus. While all three have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and should be used alongside diet and exercise, they have different indications (i.e. FDA-approved uses). They also vary in terms of dosage, strengths, and, you guessed it, cost. Regardless of brand name, semaglutide is thought to work the same way: by mimicking GLP-1, a hormone naturally found in your body that plays a key role in controlling blood sugar levels and regulating appetite.

Here’s a quick look at the cost of a one-month supply of semaglutide, by drug. For more detail on the pricing for each drug, keep reading.

Now, let’s take a closer look at how much semaglutide costs without insurance for each formulation of the drug.

Ozempic 

At $968.52 per month as a list price, Ozempic is not cheap. That means that without insurance or discounts, it can cost about $242.13 weekly or up to $11,622.24 annually. 

But these estimates are based on the list price. As with any medication, the cost of semaglutide can vary depending on several factors, including health insurance (if any), location, and pharmacy. Discount codes and savings programs can also impact the price you pay. For example, Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus, offers a patient assistance program for uninsured Americans or those on Medicare who meet certain eligibility criteria that are prescribed Ozempic for type 2 diabetes. 

With that in mind, here’s how much an 8 mg/3 mL pen (2 mg dose) of Ozempic costs at different pharmacies, according to SingleCare.  

*While prices were valid at the time of publication, they may vary based on date and location. For the most accurate estimates, refresh the SingleCare searches and enter your zip code.

Wegovy 

The list price of a 28-day supply of Wegovy is  $1,349.02. That’s about $337.25 per week or $16,188.24 per year. 

Unfortunately, Wegovy isn't part of Novo Nordisk’s  patient assistance program. So, if you’re uninsured, coupons are likely your best bet for lowering the price of your prescription. But more on that later. 

While, again, cost varies based on various factors, here's an idea of how much four 0.75 mL pens (each containing a 2.4 mg dose) cost, according to SingleCare. 

*While prices were valid at the time of publication, they may vary based on date and location. For the most accurate estimates, refresh the SingleCare searches and enter your zip code.

Rybelsus 

Without insurance, a 30-count of 14 mg tablets of Rybelsus can set you back $968.52. Broken down, that’s about $242.13 per week, $32.28 per day (unlike Wegovy and Ozempic, you take Rybelsus daily), or up to $11,622.24 per year. Similar to Ozempic, Novo Nordisk offers patient assistance to those who are uninsured or on Medicare. If program criteria are met, you can receive Rybelsus for up to 12 months at no cost.

Depending on location, pharmacy, and other factors, here’s the final price for a 30-count of 14 mg tablets, according to SingleCare.

*While prices were valid at the time of publication, they may vary based on date and location. For the most accurate estimates, refresh the SingleCare searches and enter your zip code.

Compounded semaglutide 

Compounded medications are custom-made pharmaceutical products by licensed pharmacists to meet a patient’s unique needs when a commercially available drug cannot. They are permitted to be prescribed under federal law. But they are not FDA-approved and do not undergo the same safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing review. That being said, a healthcare provider might prescribe a compounded drug when there’s a shortage or the patient is facing an insurance denial. 

Enter, compounded semaglutide: a tailor-made medication that features the same active ingredient as the above brand-name semaglutide drugs of Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus. Compounded semaglutide (as with all compounded meds) isn’t covered by insurance. That said, it tends to be more affordable than paying out of pocket for a brand-name medication. 

If you qualify, Ro offers compounded semaglutide starting at $249 for the first month; from there, the medication costs $299 monthly. 

When it comes to insurance, we have good and bad news. The good news? Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy may be covered, depending on your healthcare plan. The not-so-good news? All three are less likely to be covered by insurance companies when prescribed for weight loss. 

To find out whether semaglutide is included in your insurance coverage, review your plan’s drug formulary, which lists all of the drugs covered by your plan. Novo Nordisk also offers tools to check insurance coverage for Wegovy, Rybelsus, and Ozempic.

If semaglutide is not listed, you or your healthcare provider can request prior-authorization from the insurance company, seeking approval for the medication based on medical necessity. If the prior-authorization is declined, you or your provider can then submit an appeal, writing a letter on your behalf requesting an exception. 

Compounded semaglutide is not likely to be covered by insurance. 

Each state determines what drugs Medicaid covers. To find out if any semaglutide drugs are covered in your area, refer to your plans’ formulary or contact your state Medicaid agency. To be covered by Medicaid, you must meet the income requirements set by your state. 

Medicare Part D drug plans and Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans (MA-PD) are not required to cover specific drugs, such as Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus, However, they can cover these prescriptions, depending on the insurance provider and plan as well as the medical necessity as determined by the prescriber. Price depends on your plan’s copay and if you’ve met your deductible. 

Currently, any Medicare plan, whether original or Medicare Advantage, is legally prohibited from covering  medication prescribed for weight loss. There is a bill in the US Congress that may change this, and there are organizations advocating for its passage. 

There’s no denying that the cost of semaglutide without insurance can be expensive. Novo Nordisk, however, offers a patient assistance program for Americans who are uninsured or on Medicare. If you qualify, you may be able to receive Ozempic or Rybelsus for type 2 diabetes at no cost. 

Along with the patient assistance program, you can also take advantage of different pharmacy savings cards and coupons. All of the below options offer online databases, which you can use to determine whether your prescribed medication is eligible for discounts, how much you may be able to save, and where these savings are accepted.   

• Costco Membership Prescription Program: Membership program for Costco members that are uninsured or underinsured through which you can save up to 80% on drug costs depending on the medication, pharmacy, and your location. Program pricing only applies to in-person or mail-order prescriptions filled at Costco and at participating neighborhood pharmacies.

• Optum Perks: Membership program that’s free and available to anyone no matter insurance coverage, if any, through which you can save up to 80% on most prescription drugs, depending on the medication, pharmacy, and your location. Optum Perks offers coupons—which are single-use and specific to individual drugs—as well as a pharmacy discount card—which is a general savings card that can be applied to a range of meds. Both of these can be used at over 64,000 pharmacies in the US. 

• WellRx: Membership program that’s free and available to anyone through which you can save up to 80% on drug prices, depending on the medication, pharmacy, and your location. Like Optum Perks, WellRx can be used with or without insurance. It also offers coupons for specific medications and a general discount card for various drugs—both of which can be used at 65,000 pharmacies nationwide.

• GoodRx: Free service that offers coupons on various medications.

• SingleCare: Free service that offers coupons on various medications.

Novo Nordisk also offers savings programs that might help lighten the financial load, though they’re typically reserved for patients with private or commercial insurance. 

• Ozempic: With the Ozempic savings card, you can pay as little as $25 for a 1-, 2- or 3-month supply if you have insurance. 

• Wegovy: With the WeGoTogether program, you can pay as little as $0 for a 28-day supply of Wegovy. If your insurance does not cover Wegovy, you can save up to $500 for a 28-day supply. With this manufacturer’s coupon, at the time of publication, most people with insurance, those paying cash, and those without insurance—should not pay more than $650 for a month’s supply of Wegovy. 

• Rybelsus: With the Rybelsus savings card, you can pay as little as $10 for a 1-, 2-, or 3-month supply if you have insurance.

Semaglutide is a prescription drug, meaning you will need an Rx from a healthcare provider. You can schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider, who can assess if semaglutide is right for you.

Another option to get semaglutide is through Ro, which offers a comprehensive program that includes a prescription for branded or compounded semaglutide (depending on which is right for you) as well as health coaching and insurance concierge support to help you get insurance coverage if you qualify. 

Remember, the three brand-name semaglutide medications are FDA-approved for different uses. That said, all are typically prescribed in combination with diet and exercise, each one has a different FDA-approval. 

Ozempic, for example, is FDA-approved for:

• Controlling blood sugar in adults over 18 years old with type 2 diabetes mellitus

• Reducing the risk of major cardiovascular health problems, such as heart attack, stroke, and death in adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease

Wegovy is FDA-approved for:

• Chronic weight management in 

  • Adults and children 12 years and older with obesity (which is commonly considered a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater)

  • Adults with overweight (typically defined as a BMI of 25 kg/m2 or greater) with at least one weight-related medical condition, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension), or high cholesterol

• Reducing the risk of major cardiovascular health problems, such as heart attack, stroke, and death in adults with obesity or overweight and heart disease

Rybelsus is FDA-approved for:

• Controlling blood sugar in adults over 18 years old with type 2 diabetes mellitus

There are no two ways around it: semaglutide can be expensive. But, if you are struggling with the cost, there may be more affordable alternatives available. If your insurance won’t cover semaglutide or you’re paying cash for your prescription, consider asking your healthcare provider about these alternatives to Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus.

Tirzepatide

Tirzepatide is the active ingredient in the brand name drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound. Both medications are once-weekly injections, and both come in the same dosage strengths. The key difference between them is what they’re approved to treat. 

Like Wegovy, Zepbound is  FDA-approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity (BMI of 30 or higher) or adults with overweight (BMI of 27 or higher) and a weight-related health condition, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or heart disease. Mounjaro, on the other hand, is FDA-approved for controlling blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes, similar to Ozempic and Rybelsus. 

The list price of Mounjaro is $1,069.08 for a 28-day supply, which translates to $267.27 per week, or $12,828.96 per year. Zepbound costs a bit less, at $1,059.87 for a 28-day supply. That translates to $264.97 per week or $12,718.44 per year.

While price can vary by pharmacy and location, here’s an idea of how much four 0.5 mL pens (each containing a 5 mg dose) of tirzepatide costs, according to SingleCare.

*While prices were valid at the time of publication, they may vary based on date and location. For the most accurate estimates, refresh the SingleCare searches and enter your zip code.

Eli Lilly, the maker of both Mounjaro and Zepbound, offers Savings Cards for both drugs. People with commercial drug insurance—with or without coverage for the medication—are eligible (other restrictions apply). 

• Mounjaro Savings Card: For people with coverage for Mounjaro, the Savings Card brings the cost down to $25 for a 28-day supply. For those without coverage, the Savings Card offers a maximum savings of up to $473 for a 28-day supply. 

• Zepbound Savings Card: For people with coverage for Zepbound, the Savings Card brings the cost down to $25 for a 28-day supply. For those without coverage, the Savings Card brings the cost down to $650 for a 28-day supply. 

Neither Mounjaro or Zepbound are part of Eli Lilly’s patient assistance program at this time.

Metformin

Metformin (brand names Glumetza, Fortamet) is an oral medication that treats type 2 diabetes by controlling blood sugar levels. 

For example, here’s a quick look at the price of a 30-day supply of 500 mg extended-release tablets of generic metformin, according to SingleCare.

*While prices were valid at the time of publication, they may vary based on date and location. For the most accurate estimates, refresh the SingleCare searches and enter your zip code.

Weight loss pills

For those taking semaglutide for weight loss, oral appetite suppressants can be an affordable alternative. The FDA has approved the following prescription weight loss pills for chronic weight management:

• Phentermine/topiramate (brand name Qsymia), taken once daily

• Naltrexone/bupropion (brand name Contrave), taken twice daily

• Orlistat (brand name Xenical), taken three times daily

While price can vary by pharmacy and location, here’s an idea of how much a 30-day supply of each medication costs, according to SingleCare.

*While prices were valid at the time of publication, they may vary based on date and location. For the most accurate estimates, refresh the SingleCare searches and enter your zip code.

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How we reviewed this article

Every article on Health Guide goes through rigorous fact-checking by our team of medical reviewers. Our reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the writer.

Editorial Guidelines | Medical Review Process

Current version

November 01, 2024

Written by

Angela Myers

Fact checked by

Beverly Tchang, MD and Patricia Weiser, PharmD

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About the medical reviewers

Beverly Tchang, MD

Beverly Tchang, MD, is an Obesity Medicine Advisor for Ro. She is also an assistant professor of Clinical Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York and triple board-certified in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, and Obesity Medicine.

Patricia Weiser, PharmD

Patricia Weiser, PharmD, is a licensed pharmacist, health content writer, and medical reviewer with more than a decade of clinical experience in community and hospital pharmacy.