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 may also be prescribed off-label for weight loss. Each Ozempic pen comes pre-filled with multiple doses of the drug. After you select your dose, you use the pen to inject the medication into your upper arm, thigh, or stomach once a week. Ozempic prevents blood sugar spikes and slows down digestion, so you feel full sooner and for longer, typically leading to reduced appetite and weight loss. If you qualify for insurance coverage, Ozempic can cost as little as $25 for a monthly supply. Without insurance, Ozempic costs around $935.77 per month, on average. However, savings programs can sometimes help lower the cost of the medication if you qualify. 

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 $935.77 without insurance. There are no generic forms of Ozempic available currently. However, 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 of Ozempic. 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.

Health insurance may or may not cover Ozempic, depending on the condition it’s prescribed for (e.g. type 2 diabetes versus weight loss), the pharmacy you use, and the coverage offered by your particular plan. If you do not have adequate coverage, you can also ask your healthcare provider about other GLP-1 medications. These drugs offer similar weight loss effects to Ozempic, but they may be available for a lower cost.

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.

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.

If you are not eligible for that program and you don’t have insurance, you can still get Ozempic for cheaper. 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.

Often, Ozempic is not covered by insurance when prescribed specifically for weight loss alone. However, it may be covered as a treatment for type 2 diabetes and, in some cases, for pre-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 being 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. 

Ozempic is a prescription medication, so you’ll need to get a prescription in order to get Ozempic. 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. 

The Ro Body 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.

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

How much is a 30-day supply of Ozempic?

Each box of Ozempic contains 4 weekly doses of Ozempic, which is roughly a monthly supply. The cost of a 30-day supply of Ozempic is $935.77 without insurance. However, the amount you pay will depend on your insurance coverage, the pharmacy you use, and any Ozempic coupons you may be eligible for.

How do I get 3 months of Ozempic for $25?

If you’re eligible for the Ozempic Savings Offer, you can pay as little as $25 for up to 3 months of Ozempic. In order to redeem this Ozempic coupon, you must have a valid prescription for Ozempic and be enrolled in a commercial insurance plan that includes coverage for Ozempic. Those with prescription drug coverage through Medicaid, Medicare, Medigap, VA, DOD, TRICARE, and other state and federal health care programs are not eligible.

Is Ozempic usually covered by insurance?

It depends. When prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes and related cardiovascular risk, Ozempic is usually covered by insurance. But when Ozempic is prescribed specifically for weight loss, it is typically not covered by insurance. Your health provider can request that your insurance company make an exception, but these exceptions are not guaranteed.

What is a cheaper alternative to Ozempic?

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 $550 (without insurance coverage). Compounded semaglutide is another less expensive alternative to Ozempic.

How do I get my insurance to approve Ozempic?

If Ozempic is not covered by your insurance plan, you may be able to work with your healthcare provider to get your insurance to approve Ozempic. They can submit an appeal on your behalf directly to your insurance company. Sometimes insurance companies approve these exceptions, sometimes, they request more information before they approve, and sometimes they still decide to deny coverage.

How many Ozempic pens do you need per month?

You need one or two pens of Ozempic per month, depending on the dosage you’re taking. When starting treatment at the lowest dose, each box of Ozempic contains one pen, which contains eight weekly doses of 0.25 mg (or four weekly doses of 0.5 mg). Once you reach the maintenance dosage of 1 mg of Ozempic per month, you can get a box with two pens, which each contain two weekly doses of Ozempic. Or, you can get a box with one pen, which contains four weekly doses of Ozempic.

How much does Ozempic cost at Walmart?

A monthly supply of Ozempic costs $1,014—$1,135 at Walmart, according to GoodRx.

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Weight loss claims apply to branded medications. Limited supply. See Important Safety Information, including boxed warning.

Ozempic is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. This class of drugs may be prescribed for conditions such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, and overweight with weight-related health conditions. Like Ozempic, other GLP-1 medications improve glycemic control and slow down digestion, leading to reduced appetite and weight loss. 

Some of these Ozempic alternatives may be cheaper than Ozempic, including Trulicity (dulaglutide), Bydureon (exenatide), and Victoza (liraglutide). 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. 

Some alternative GLP-1 medications include: 

• Bydureon or Byetta (exenatide)

• Victoza or Saxenda (liraglutide)

• Tanzeum or Eperzan (albiglutide)

• Trulicity (dulaglutide)

• Mounjaro (tirzepatide)

With many GLP-1 medications, including Ozempic, side effects are more common and intense in the first few weeks of treatment, but they tend to subside thereafter. Talk to your healthcare provider about which option is best for you.

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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.

Current version

March 13, 2024

Written by

Amelia Willson

Fact checked by

Yael Cooperman, MD

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About the medical reviewer

Yael Cooperman, MD, Ro

Yael Cooperman is a physician and works as a Senior Manager, Medical Content & Education at Ro.