Cost of weight loss injections with and without insurance

On average, people taking injectable weight loss drugs lose 5%-23% of their body weight. These medications can be a game-changer for people with obesity who have historically struggled to lose weight. But the question on many people’s minds when it comes to drugs like Wegovy or Zepbound is: “Can I afford it?” (Well, maybe after, “How quickly can I get it?”)

The cost of brand-name injectable weight loss drugs ranges from $25 to $1,400 per month, depending on the medication, pharmacy used, and insurance coverage. Read on to learn more about how much weight loss injections cost without insurance and offer savings tips for each option.

While it depends on the drug, weight loss injections cost between $199 and $1,400 for a monthly supply.  

Here are the average prices for a one-month supply of popular GLP-1 medications used for weight loss. 

*Terms and restrictions may apply for certain doses

When it comes to the above weight loss injections and their costs, there are several points to keep in mind:

• Some of these medications (Ozempic, Mounjaro) are not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss. But they can be (and often are) prescribed off-label for that purpose, which is why they’re included in the table below. 

• The list price is the price at which the drug’s manufacturer sells the medication to wholesalers. 

• The in-store range reflects the average retail price at various pharmacies (including Costco, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, and others), according to SingleCare. It doesn’t account for any insurance coverage, pharmacy discounts, or other financial assistance. 

• These retail prices change daily, so they may be slightly different when you check your local pharmacy. 

Different factors can also affect the price of a drug, including your insurance coverage and the pharmacy you get it from. 

• The cheapest brand-name weight loss injection without insurance is typically Wegovy, which has a cash price of just $199 on Ro. (The Wegovy pill costs even less — starting at $149 on Ro — but this article is about injections, so we digress.)

• The most expensive weight loss injection without insurance is brand-name Saxenda, which can cost between $1,300 and $1,400 at the pharmacy, according to prescription discount service SingleCare. (Generic Saxenda costs much less, ~$150–$250 without insurance or just $20 with insurance for a generic made by Teva.)

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Insurance providers can differ in their coverage of weight loss drugs. For example, some insurance plans specifically exclude weight loss injections, including some employer-sponsored plans offered through Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Aetna. 

When insurance does cover weight loss medications like Wegovy and Zepbound, prior authorization is usually required. This means your healthcare provider will need to submit paperwork to your insurance company demonstrating that the medication is medically necessary for you. 

They may also need to show that you meet certain criteria, such as having a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or higher, or having a weight-related health condition, such as:

• High cholesterol

• High blood pressure

• Type 2 diabetes

Some drugs that are prescribed off-label for weight loss — such as Ozempic or Mounjaro — are FDA-approved for people with type 2 diabetes. So, if you have a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, your insurance plan may cover the medication. But if you don’t have type 2 diabetes, these drugs may not be covered. 

To find out if your insurance covers weight loss drugs, contact your insurance plan directly using the member services phone number on your insurance card or by visiting their website. You can also review your plan’s drug formulary, which includes a list of all the medications covered by your plan. 

Another option is to use Ro’s GLP-1 Insurance Coverage Checker

Does Medicare cover weight loss drugs?

Medicare typically does not cover weight loss drugs. Currently, Medicare is legally prohibited from covering drugs that are indicated for weight loss, including Wegovy and Zepbound. 

However, starting in July 2026, a new program called the BALANCE Model may give eligible Medicare Part D beneficiaries access to certain GLP-1 weight loss medications for a $50 copay. 

Medicare coverage for GLP-1 medications is currently very limited unless you have a diagnosis that’s not related to weight loss, says Dave Knapp, founder of On the Pen, a community education website about GLP-1s. 

So, if Wegovy or Zepbound are prescribed for a reason other than weight loss — such as reducing cardiovascular risk (Wegovy) or treating obstructive sleep apnea (Zepbound) — they can be covered. Drugs that are prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes may be covered under Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plans. 

“These ‘backdoor’ indications may gradually improve access for Medicare patients living with obesity and the above related comorbidities,” Knapp says.

Does Medicaid cover weight loss drugs?

Each state decides what will be covered in its Medicaid program. To find out if Medicaid covers weight loss treatments in your state, review the drug formulary for your plan or contact your state Medicaid agency at Medicaid.gov.

With insurance, weight loss drugs cost much less, sometimes as low as $0. The cost of weight loss drugs with insurance varies depending on your plan’s prescription drug coverage, including any copays or deductibles. 

If you have insurance through your work, you may be eligible for manufacturer savings cards — even if your plan does not specifically provide coverage for weight loss drugs. These savings cards can cut the cost of a medication roughly in half, or bring it down to as low as $0 to $25 for a one-month supply. 

Here’s a quick breakdown of the available savings cards: 

We review more details of these cards in the next section (see: “How to save on the cost of weight loss drugs”).

When it comes to prescription drugs, generics are generally less expensive than brand names. Currently, the FDA has only approved one generic weight loss injection: liraglutide. This generic version of Saxenda costs $160.20–$256.06 per month, according to SingleCare.

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Weight loss injections can be costly. But there are ways you can save on the cost of weight loss drugs, with or without insurance. 

Cash-pay options

Depending on the specific drug prescribed, you may be able to get it at a lower price if you opt for the cash-pay options. So what do these look like exactly? 

Certain doses of Zepbound, for example, are available in single-dose vials or multi-dose KwikPens, which can be a less expensive option compared to the autoinjector pens for those who are paying out of pocket. If appropriate, you can get a four-week supply of KwikPens on  Ro at the following cash prices:

• $299 per month for the 2.5 mg dose

• $399 per month for the 5 mg dose 

• $449 per month for the 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg doses (with manufacturer offer)

Wegovy pens can also be purchased for cash at discounted prices on Ro. Here’s a breakdown of the cash prices for Wegovy:

• $199 per month for the first two months of 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg doses (limited-time offer)

• $399 per month thereafter

Patient assistance programs

Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic, offers a patient assistance program (PAP) for people with type 2 diabetes who are uninsured or have Medicare. To be eligible for the program, you must be a US citizen or legal resident with a total household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. If approved, you can get Ozempic for free for up to 12 months. 

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sets the Poverty Guidelines annually. For 2026, a single-person household must have a total household income of $31,920 or less to be eligible for the Novo Nordisk PAP. 

To see if you might qualify, visit the HHS website. Under the Poverty Guidelines table for your state, find the line that corresponds with the number of people in your household, and multiply it by 2.

Wegovy and Saxenda, two weight loss drugs made by Novo Nordisk, are not included in their PAP. Eli Lilly, the maker of Zepbound and Mounjaro, also doesn’t include these medications in their PAP.

Manufacturer savings cards

Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly both offer Savings Card programs for their GLP-1s, including their weight loss injections. If you qualify for the Savings Card, you may pay as little as $25 if your insurance covers the medication. If your plan doesn’t cover it, you may still be eligible to save hundreds of dollars on your monthly refill. 

“Typically, these cards require the patient to have commercial insurance that is not government-sponsored (e.g. employer plans or marketplace exchange plans),” Knapp says. “Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and other government-funded programs are excluded by law.” 

Here’s a look at the cost of different weight loss drugs with an official savings card, along with a link to each website if you want to learn more.

• With the Ozempic Savings Card, you can pay as low as $25 per one- or three-month refill (for those with Ozempic coverage) or $199–$499 per month (for those without coverage).

• With the Wegovy Savings Card, you can pay as low as $25 per month (for those with coverage for Wegovy) or $199-$399 per month (for those without coverage). 

• With the Mounjaro Savings Card, you can pay as low as $25 per one- or three-month refill (for those with Mounjaro coverage) or $499 per month (for those without coverage). 

• With the Zepbound Savings Card, you can pay as low as $25 per one- or three-month refill (for those with coverage for Zepbound) or pay $299–$699 per month (for those without coverage). 

• There is no Saxenda Savings Card at this time. 

The terms of these savings programs can change at any time, and you may need to reapply for the program every 1-2 years to keep saving.

Pharmacy discount services

Finally, you can save on weight loss injection costs by using a pharmacy discount card or membership program. 

• Costco Member Prescription Program can help you save up to 80% on various medications if you fill your prescription through Costco or its partner pharmacies. You must be a Costco member to join the program. 

• Optum Perks is a free membership program that offers up to 80% off the cost of various prescription drugs. Their network includes over 64,000 pharmacies nationwide.

• ScriptSave WellRx is another free membership program that offers savings as high as 80% off the cost of brand and generic prescription drugs. The average savings is around 65%. Their network includes over 65,000 pharmacies nationwide.

• GoodRx is a free service that aggregates coupons for 70,000 pharmacies, so you can compare the cost of weight loss drugs at different pharmacies in your area. Savings can be as high as 80%.

• SingleCare is a free service that offers coupons for over 10,000 prescription medications at over 35,000 pharmacies. Savings can be as high as 80%.

Pharmacy discount cards typically cannot be stacked with manufacturer savings offers. However, comparing prices between discount cards, insurance coverage, and/or manufacturer programs may help you maximize savings.

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• The average injectable GLP-1 cost without insurance can range from $199-$1,400, depending on the drug.

• Among weight loss injections, brand-name Saxenda costs the most, with a retail price of $1,300 to $1,400. The least expensive options are typically generic liraglutide or Wegovy, which starts at $199 for the pen on Ro. 

• Weight loss drugs may or may not be covered by insurance. Those covered by insurance tend to be more affordable, costing between $0–$699 with a manufacturer savings card. 

• You can save on the cost of weight loss drugs by paying in cash or taking advantage of patient assistance programs, manufacturer savings cards, and pharmacy discounts, if you qualify.