How much does Ozempic cost without insurance?

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a prescription medication that is FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes in combination with diet and exercise. It’s also approved to lower the risk of cardiovascular problems in people with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. It may also be prescribed off-label for weight loss. Whether you’re already taking Ozempic or you’re doing research to see whether you can afford it, it’s only natural to wonder “How much does Ozempic cost?”. 

The answer depends on several factors. If you qualify for insurance coverage, Ozempic can cost as little as $25 for a monthly supply. Without insurance, Ozempic costs around $968.52 per month, on average. However, savings programs can help lower the cost of the medication if you qualify.

Figuring out the cost of Ozempic may feel daunting, but the good news is that once you figure out what your insurance coverage entails and whether you qualify for Ozempic discount programs, the price you will pay is pretty straightforward. Read on for a deep dive into the cost of Ozempic. 

You might wonder, “How much is Ozempic per month”? The answer is it’s not cheap. The cost of a one-month supply of Ozempic is around $968.52 without insurance. There are no generic forms of Ozempic available currently. However, according to a Bloomberg report, Novo Nordisk’s senior VP of finance & operations stated in September that the cost of Ozempic is “very likely” to be slashed in the coming months. 

Until then, you may be able to reduce the cost of Ozempic through savings programs and health insurance.

For example, Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic, offers an Ozempic savings card for up to a 90-day supply. To qualify, you must have private or commercial insurance and a one-, two-, or three-month prescription for Ozempic. Depending on your insurance coverage, the savings can be as high as $150 off a one-month prescription, $300 off a two-month prescription, or $450 off a three-month prescription.

To get a better idea of how the price of Ozempic may vary, here’s a list of prices from several pharmacies for a .5mg pen, according to SingleCare. Note: Prices may change and are accurate as of the time of publication. They may vary based on your zip code.  

How to save on the cost of Ozempic without insurance 

If you don’t have insurance coverage, you can still get Ozempics at a cheaper price. Some websites, such as GoodRx, source Ozempic coupons from various retailers — including Costco, CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart — which can help you save on the cost of Ozempic. With some pharmacies, ordering a 90-day supply of Ozempic may be cheaper per dose than ordering a one-month or two-month supply.

Ozempic can be a costly medication, especially if your insurance does not cover it. Novo Nordisk offers a savings card to help bring down the cost of Ozempic, but you must be enrolled in commercial insurance that covers part of the cost of Ozempic to qualify and have a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. If you do qualify, this savings card can allow you to save up to the following on Ozmepic:

• $150 per 1-month prescription 

• $300 per 2-month prescription 

• $450 per 3-month prescription

Yes, in some instances, you can get Ozempic for free. Novo Nordisk also offers a patient assistance program that provides Ozempic at no cost. To be eligible, you must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident with a total household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty line. You must also not have insurance, Medicare, or any other federal, state, or government program such as Medicaid or VA benefits. You must also have a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes to qualify. 

Here, you can check to see whether you qualify under the federal poverty guidelines. Once you apply for the program, you can expect to hear back from Novo Nordisk in about two weeks.

Often, when prescribed specifically for weight loss, Ozempic is not covered by insurance. However, it may be covered as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. On a case-by-case basis, a provider may appeal an insurance company’s decision and make the case that Ozempic is medically necessary and should be covered. It is also possible that if Ozempic is not covered by your health insurance plan, an alternative GLP-1 medication might be available. If your insurance covers Ozempic, you may pay as little as $25 for a month.

Does Medicaid cover Ozempic?

Some Medicaid plans cover medications like Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs. To see if Ozempic is covered by your Medicaid plan, visit the website for your state’s Medicaid program. You must meet certain eligibility requirements to be covered by Medicaid, such as having a low income. Some drugs may require prior authorization by the insurance provider to be covered under Medicaid.

Does Medicare cover Ozempic?

Most Medicare prescription drug plans cover Ozempic when prescribed for certain diagnoses, including Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans (MA-PD) and Medicare Part D. While many Medicare plans cover Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications, the Ozempic price you pay will depend on your copay and whether you have met your deductible. 

To check if your Medicare prescription drug plan covers Ozempic, take a look at your plan’s formulary. This lists all the drugs covered by your plan and their associated tier, which can give you an idea of whether it will be more or less expensive. The higher the tier, the more expensive the medication. 

If your plan covers Ozempic but other GLP-1 drugs are listed in a different tier at a lower cost, your healthcare provider may be able to request an exception to get you a lower copay for Ozempic. If not, prescribing one of the other GLP-1 medications may be an option, depending on whether your provider believes doing so would be appropriate for you. 

Hear from Ro patients

Ro members taking branded GLP-1 medications were paid for their testimonials.

Sonia

Ro member

James

Ro member

Chaleeta

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Ultimately, the cost of Ozempic and whether or not Ozempic is covered by your insurance will depend on your particular plan and the pharmacy you use. If you have met your deductible, you could pay as little as $25/mo, or your plan may cover Ozempic 100%, depending on your insurance. If you do not have private insurance, you can purchase insurance through your state’s marketplace at healthcare.com.

Ozempic is a prescription medication, so you’ll need a prescription to get It. One option is to make an appointment with your healthcare professional. They can help you assess whether Ozempic is the best option for your weight loss goals or if you should try another GLP-1 medication. 

Ro’s weight loss program pairs personal coaching along with GLP-1 medication to help people lose 15% of their body weight after completing the 12-month program. Though the cost of the medication is not included in the monthly fee, Ro’s insurance concierge will work with your insurance to help get the cost of your GLP-1 medication covered if prescribed. Plus, even if you aren’t a Ro customer, our team will check whether you qualify for insurance coverage for Ozempic or other similar medications for free through the Ro insurance checker. 

Among brand-name GLP-1 medications, Ozempic is one of the more affordable options. It is cheaper than Saxenda, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Trulicity, and Rybelsus. However, if you have commercial insurance, you may qualify for the Zepbound savings offer, which brings the cost of a one-month prescription of Zepbound––another injectable GLP-1 medication––down to $25 (with insurance coverage) or $650 (without insurance coverage) and may be a cheaper option if you’re looking for a medication to help with weight loss (and not type 2 diabetes). Victoza (liraglutide) and compounded semaglutide can be other less expensive alternatives to Ozempic if you do not have insurance coverage.

While these medications are similar, they have a few key differences, including how they work, how effective they are, and the side effects you may experience when using them. Talk to your health provider about the best option for you and your treatment goals. 

Compounded semaglutide is typically much more affordable than brand name alternatives to Ozempic. For example, Ro offers compounded semaglutide starting at $249 for the first month; from there, the medication costs $299 monthly.

Compounded medications are legal, but they do not undergo the same review process as their FDA-approved, brand-name counterparts. So, when purchasing compounded semaglutide, it’s important to ensure you are buying it from a licensed compounding pharmacy that complies with body federal and state laws. Ro works with state-licensed compounding pharmacies that are regulated by both the FDA and state boards of pharmacy.

All of the Ozempic alternatives listed above are injections, similar to Ozempic—except for two: Rybelsus and metformin. These are oral medications that treat type 2 diabetes. Rybelsus has the same list price as Ozempic. Metformin, on the other hand, is available in brand-name forms (Glumetza, Fortamet), as well as a generic medication, which tends to be more affordable. Above, we’ve listed the average price for 60 tablets of generic metformin 500 mg, according to SingleCare. Your monthly price may vary depending on your metformin dosage.

Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Ozempic and two other brand-name drugs, Wegovy and Rybelsus. All three medications are prescription drugs, but they differ in approved indications, formulation, and price. 

Ozempic

Ozempic is a once-weekly injectable medication. It is FDA-approved to control blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes, in combination with diet and exercise. It’s also FDA-approved to reduce the risk of experiencing a major cardiovascular event (e.g. stroke, heart attack) in people with both type 2 diabetes and heart disease. It is not FDA-approved for weight loss, but may be prescribed off-label for this purpose. 

The current list price of Ozempic is $968.52 for a 28-day supply.

Wegovy

Like Ozempic, Wegovy is also a once-weekly injectable medication. However, it contains higher dosage amounts of semaglutide and is FDA-approved for weight loss in people with obesity and overweight. Wegovy is also FDA-approved to reduce the risk of experiencing a major cardiovascular event (e.g. stroke, heart attack) in people with both obesity or overweight and heart disease. Like Ozempic, it should be used in combination with lifestyle changes like diet and exercise. 

Wegovy is more expensive than Ozempic, with a current list price of $1,349.02 for a 28-day supply.

Rybelsus

Unlike Ozempic and Wegovy, Rybelsus is an oral medication. It’s taken once a day in the morning, at least 30 minutes before you eat or drink anything else. It is FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes by improving blood sugar control, in combination with diet and exercise. 

Rybelsus costs about the same as Ozempic, with a current list price of $968.52 for a 30-day supply.

Ozempic’s side effects are typically digestive in nature, with the most common being:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Abdominal pain

• Constipation

These gastrointestinal side effects are usually most intense at the beginning and when increasing your dose. Other, less common side effects may include dizziness, fatigue, or injection site reactions (e.g., rash, discomfort). 

In rare cases, Ozempic can cause serious side effects, including:

• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)

• Diabetic retinopathy (vision loss or changes as a complication of type 2 diabetes)

• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)

• Kidney or gallbladder problems

• Severe allergic reaction

Read below for answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the cost of Ozempic.

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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 07, 2024

Written by

Amelia Willson

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.