This article was reviewed by Darragh O’Carroll, MD.
How Much Does Wegovy® Cost With and Without Insurance?
Key takeaways:
- Wegovy® can cost $500 to $2,000 a month, depending on where you get it.
- Currently, most insurance providers don’t cover Wegovy®, so you may need to pay out of pocket.
- You can reduce Wegovy® costs with coupons, rebates, and payment programs, or use HSA or FSA funds.
Wegovy® (semaglutide) is a once-a-week injection. It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss in people with obesity or overweight with a weight-related health condition. But how much does Wegovy® cost?
The price of Wegovy® depends on where you get it and whether your insurance plan covers any of the cost. In general, Wegovy® costs $500 to $2,000 a month.
Read on for more on the cost of Wegovy® and more affordable alternatives to consider if you’re exploring GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) medication or weight loss drugs in general.
How Much Does Wegovy® Cost Without Insurance?
Without insurance, Wegovy® costs vary depending on where you get the medication. In general, Wegovy® can cost $500 to $2,000 a month.
If you take Wegovy® for weight loss and long-term weight management, costs can add up. Since Wegovy® is a prescription drug, you may also need to pay for an initial consultation, lab tests, or follow-up appointments.
How Much Does Wegovy® Cost With Insurance?
With insurance, Wegovy® costs vary depending on your policy. Your plan may cover all your costs, or you may need to pay a copay or meet a deductible before getting insurance coverage.
That said, many American health insurance companies don’t cover Wegovy® — or any other weight loss drugs, for that matter.
If your insurance provider covers Wegovy®, you still need to meet eligibility criteria, like having a certain body mass index (BMI) or a weight-related health condition.
Check your insurance policy for details.
How to Get Wegovy® Without Insurance
To get Wegovy® without insurance, you’ll need to meet with a healthcare provider who can determine if the medication is right for you and, if so, write you a prescription. You can then fill your prescription at a local or online pharmacy and pay out of pocket for your meds.
More Affordable Wegovy® Alternatives
More affordable Wegovy® alternatives include compounded semaglutide, Ozempic®, Mounjaro®, Zepbound®, and oral weight loss medications like metformin.
Here’s how they compare to the price of Wegovy®.
Compounded Semaglutide*
Compounded semaglutide contains the active ingredient semaglutide. It’s a once-a-week injection that can help people reach and maintain a healthy body weight. Healthcare providers prescribe it when people have unique needs, like personalized dosing.
*Compounded drug products are not approved or evaluated for safety, effectiveness, or quality by the FDA. Prescription required.
Ozempic®
Ozempic® is a once-weekly injection with the active ingredient semaglutide. It’s FDA-approved to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels.
Healthcare providers sometimes prescribe it off-label for weight loss — this is when a provider prescribes a drug for a condition it isn’t FDA-approved to treat.
Ozempic® can cost from $500 to $1,800 per month.
Mounjaro® and Zepbound®
Mounjaro® and Zepbound® are both weekly injections that contain the active ingredient tirzepatide. Mounjaro® is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes, but it’s sometimes used for weight loss. Zepbound® is FDA-approved for weight loss.
Mounjaro® costs between $1,000 and $1,900 a month.
Zepbound® costs $1,000 to $1,900 a month.
Oral Weight Loss Medications
The cost of oral weight loss medications varies depending on which medication you get. But many are more affordable than weight loss injections.
Kits can contain the following medications**:
- Bupropion
- Metformin
- Topiramate
- Naltrexone
**Compounded drug products aren’t approved or evaluated for safety, effectiveness, or quality by the FDA.
How Much Does Wegovy® Cost? The Final Sum
Many health insurance plans don’t cover Wegovy®, so you may need to cover the cost of the medication yourself.
Here’s what to know about Wegovy® costs one more time:
- Without insurance, Wegovy® can cost $500 to $2,000 per month.
- With insurance, you may need to pay a copay or meet a deductible, so costs depend on your health policy.
FAQs
See answers to frequently asked questions about what Wegovy® costs.
Is there a generic form of Wegovy®?
No, there isn’t a generic form of Wegovy®. Currently, there’s only brand-name Wegovy®.
Which is cheaper, Ozempic® or Wegovy®?
The cost of Ozempic® and Wegovy® varies depending on where you get them. Ozempic® costs range from $500 to $1,800 per month, and Wegovy® costs range from $500 to $2,000 a month. So Ozempic® can be cheaper in some cases.
Is Wegovy® covered by insurance?
Wegovy® isn’t usually covered by insurance. If it is, you’ll need to meet eligibility criteria, like having a certain BMI. Check your plan for details.
Does Medicaid cover Wegovy®?
Medicaid covers Wegovy® in some states. So, depending on where you live, Medicaid or Medicare may cover some or all of your Wegovy® costs. You might also need prior authorization first. Check your state’s Medicaid website to learn more.
List prices are correct at the time of publishing.
Ozempic® and Wegovy® are registered trademarks of Novo Nordisk A/S. Hims, Inc. is not affiliated with or endorsed by Novo Nordisk A/S.
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This article originally appeared on Hims.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org
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