How to get Wegovy covered by insurance

Insurance coverage for Wegovy (semaglutide) varies by plan. When insurance does cover Wegovy for weight loss, prior authorization is usually required. Read on as we explain how to get Wegovy covered by insurance, and share savings options you can use if it’s not. 

Wegovy insurance coverage varies depending on your specific health plan. Many commercial and private insurers cover weight loss medications, such as Wegovy, at least partially. 

If you're trying to get Wegovy or another GLP-1 medication covered by your health insurance, there are three important steps you can take: 

1. Talk to your healthcare provider: Before checking insurance coverage for Wegovy, you need to make sure the medication is suitable for you. Talk to your healthcare provider about whether Wegovy is the right choice, based on your medical history and weight management needs.

2. Contact your insurance provider: Call the number on your insurance card to find out whether your plan covers the Wegovy pill or pen. Ask about your out-of-pocket costs, and if you need prior authorization for Wegovy. You can also view a list of covered medications (also known as a drug formulary) on your plan's website.

3. Don’t give up right away: If your insurance plan does not provide coverage for Wegovy, you may be able to request it with the help of your healthcare provider. Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Wegovy, offers a sample letter template your provider can use to request coverage for you. 

Alternatively, an online weight loss program such as Ro Body membership has a dedicated insurance concierge partner who will work to find you coverage for the Wegovy pen, if the medication is right for you. They will take care of communicating with your insurance company and even handle the prior authorization paperwork. (The Wegovy pill isn't currently eligible for insurance coverage through Ro, but it's available at a lower cash-pay price.)

See if you qualify

Every insurance provider has different coverage for medications, including Wegovy — which can, in some cases, cost over $1,300 a month without coverage. Novo Nordisk, Wegovy's manufacturer, has a handy tool on their website to check if your insurance covers Wegovy, andRo offers a free GLP-1 insurance checker for the Wegovy pen as well (coverage for the pill can't currently be checked this way). You can also call your insurance company to find out directly.

If your insurance does cover Wegovy, you’re much more likely to get approved for coverage if your prescription is for an FDA-approved indication. These vary slightly between the Wegovy pen and pill, but your insurance may cover you if you take Wegovy for one of these conditions:

• Weight loss and management: The Wegovy pen is approved to treat adults and children ages 12 and up with obesity, and adults with overweight and a weight-related health condition, such as high cholesterol. The Wegovy pill is approved for adults with obesity or with overweight and a weight-related health condition.

• Cardiovascular risk reduction: Both the Wegovy pen and pill are approved to lower the risk of heart attack, death, and stroke in adults with heart disease and obesity or overweight.

• Fatty liver disease: Only the Wegovy pen is approved to treat fatty liver disease in adults.

Since every insurance carrier has its own requirements and coverage criteria, there isn't a master list of insurance companies that cover Wegovy. With employer-sponsored plans, companies can often decide whether they want to cover weight loss medications such as Wegovy.

If Wegovy is covered, most insurance providers require prior authorization first. This is the case for Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and UnitedHealthcare. Some insurance plans, such as Kaiser Permanente, also require step therapy, where you have to try a less expensive medication first before they'll cover Wegovy.

If your plan doesn’t currently cover Wegovy, it’s possible it might in the future, as insurance providers change their coverage often. (Of course, the reverse is also true.)

Medicare covers Wegovy for weight loss under the temporary GLP-1 Bridge program for a $50 monthly copay, which lasts through December 31, 2027. Medicare also covers Wegovy for heart disease and fatty liver disease. As for Medicaid, each state determines which prescription medications it includes as part of its Medicaid program, so coverage for Wegovy depends on where you live.

Contact your state Medicaid agency to determine whether your state's Medicaid program covers Wegovy. Currently, these states' Medicaid programs cover GLP-1s like Wegovy in most circumstances, according to a 2026 report by KFF:

• Delaware 

• Kansas

• Massachusetts 

• Michigan

• Minnesota

• Mississippi

• Missouri

• North Carolina

• Rhode Island

• Tennessee

• Utah

• Virginia 

• Wisconsin

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) does cover weight loss treatments as part of its MOVE! Weight Management Program. However, Wegovy is not covered for weight loss. When prescribed for fatty liver disease or cardiovascular risk reduction (but not weight loss), it is covered under CHAMPVA. Contact your VA healthcare provider to find out more about your options.

Without insurance, the list price of Wegovy is $1,349 per month, which breaks down to about $16,188 per year. However, many people can get Wegovy online for a lower price via self-pay. Thanks to Ro's partnership with Novo Nordisk, you can get Wegovy for the following cash-pay prices:

• The Wegovy pen costs $199–$349 per month, depending on the dose.*

• The Wegovy pill costs $149–$299 per month, depending on the dose.*

*Prices may reflect a limited-time offer and are subject to change; see more here.

If you have insurance coverage, your out-of-pocket cost for Wegovy depends on your specific plan. It's important to look at your prescription copay and deductible when determining how much your supply of Wegovy will cost after insurance covers its portion.

If you have a private insurance plan, you may be eligible to get Wegovy for $25 per month with the manufacturer savings program. These savings apply to both the Wegovy pill and the pen. People with Medicare, Medicaid, or other government-funded insurance plans are not eligible for this savings offer.

Regardless of your insurance plan, your insurance provider may require prior authorization to receive coverage benefits. You may also need to try a less expensive weight loss medication before receiving approval for Wegovy. 

Even without health insurance, there are ways to save on Wegovy and bring down your medication costs. 

Pay with cash 

Ro offers Wegovy at a discounted price for those who pay in cash, thanks to an integration with NovoCare, Novo Nordisk's pharmacy. On Ro, you can get the Wegovy pen for $199–$349 per month and the Wegovy pill for $149–$299 per month, depending on the dose.

*Prices may reflect a limited-time offer and are subject to change; see more here.

Wegovy Savings Card 

With a Wegovy Savings Card from Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Wegovy, you can receive a month's supply of your prescription medication for as little as $25 if you have private or commercial insurance that includes coverage for Wegovy. However, certain eligibility requirements and restrictions apply.

Prescription discount cards

Websites such as GoodRx and SingleCare aggregate free Wegovy coupons that can be used at a variety of pharmacies — including Walgreens, CVS, and Walmart — that offer significant savings off the cash price. You can also talk to your pharmacist about prescription discount cards they may offer at the pharmacy.

Compare pharmacy prices

Prescription medication prices can vary from pharmacy to pharmacy. To find the lowest price, call several local pharmacies and ask what their cash price is for Wegovy. If you plan to use your insurance, you may need to show the pharmacy your prescription and insurance card before they can provide a price.

Check for free

Ultimately, finding out whether your insurance plan covers Wegovy and how much it’ll cost starts with reaching out to your insurance provider directly. You can do this by calling the number on the back of your insurance card. Here are a few more tips to remember about how to get Wegovy covered by insurance:

• Insurance plans vary widely in their coverage of Wegovy, but prior authorization, and sometimes step therapy, is usually required.

• Currently, only a portion of state Medicaid programs cover Wegovy for weight loss, while Medicare covers it under a temporary GLP-1 Bridge program.

• If your insurance plan does cover Wegovy, you’ll need to meet strict coverage criteria, such as having obesity or overweight, weight-related health conditions, heart disease, or fatty liver disease.

• Without insurance, Wegovy can cost upwards of $1,300 at the pharmacy, but it’s available for lower cash-pay prices on Ro.

• Other ways to save on Wegovy include using pharmacy discount cards and the official manufacturer savings program.