How Much Does Semaglutide Cost With and Without Insurance?

You’ve probably heard of the semaglutide brand names Ozempic®, Wegovy®, and Rybelsus®. You may have even heard about affordable options like compounded semaglutide. If you’re looking to lose weight, you’re probably wondering how much semaglutide typically costs per month without insurance. So, just how much is semaglutide?

Semaglutide costs vary widely depending on which type of semaglutide you go for, whether your insurance will cover it (hint: it probably won’t), and the pharmacy or telehealth company you buy it from. 

Brass tacks — semaglutide costs anywhere from $200 to $2,000 per month.  

Below, we’ll dive deeper into the cost of different semaglutide options, how to find the best price, and cheaper alternatives to consider.

Unless you have type 2 diabetes, you’ll be hard-pressed to find an insurance provider that covers semaglutide. Without insurance, the cost of semaglutide varies depending on the type of semaglutide you’re getting and where you’re getting it from. 

Let’s dig into the numbers. 

The following are prices listed by Novo Nordisk — the manufacturer of Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus — and GoodRX at the time of publishing. (Note that pharmacy prices can vary by location.)

We’ll also cover the costs you might see from certain pharmacies and telehealth companies. 

FYI, semaglutide is a prescription medication, so you may also need to pay for doctor visits or virtual consultations with healthcare providers to get a prescription. 

Semaglutide isn’t usually covered by insurance when it’s used as a weight loss drug. (If you have type 2 diabetes, you have a much higher chance of getting your insurance provider to foot the bill). 

Even when semaglutide is covered by insurance, you typically have to jump through a few hoops, like getting a doctor to submit a prior authorization form on your behalf. And you’ll have to meet specific criteria, like having a weight-related health condition or a body mass index (BMI — a calculation of body weight and height) above a certain number.

Why Doesn’t Insurance Cover Semaglutide for Weight Loss?

Ozempic is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to: 

• Help people with type 2 diabetes manage blood sugar levels

• Reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in those with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease

Ozempic is sometimes prescribed off-label for weight loss. (Off-label means a drug is prescribed for something it isn’t FDA-approved for.) But insurance providers rarely cover off-label drug use. 

So, if you don’t have type 2 diabetes and you’re taking Ozempic for weight loss alone, it’s unlikely your insurance company will cover the cost. 

Wegovy, on the other hand, is FDA-approved for weight loss. But there’s a big caveat here. Most insurance providers classify anti-obesity medications as “cosmetic drugs.” 

Ridiculous — we know. Especially since obesity is one of the most common and high-risk chronic conditions affecting Americans today. 

With insurance, semaglutide can cost anywhere from $0 to several hundred dollars a month. It all depends on your insurance plan and provider. 

If your private or commercial insurance plan covers semaglutide, you might get your medication costs completely covered, or you may have to pay a copay or deductible. 

You might also be able to apply for manufacturer savings programs — more on those soon.

If you have Medicaid, Wegovy is covered in a few select states. You could pay $0 or a small fee of $3 or less if you’re approved. Check Wegovy’s website or your state’s Medicaid website.

Medicare doesn’t usually cover semaglutide drugs for weight loss. 

Let’s not beat around the bush — semaglutide injections like Ozempic and Wegovy are expensive. But they can provide many health benefits if they’re suitable for you. 

Luckily, there are ways you can reduce the cost of semaglutide. 

You can: 

• Look for coupons and discount cards 

• Get 90-day prescriptions (they can be cheaper than buying a 30-day supply)

• Consider compounded semaglutide 

• Apply for manufacturer savings programs

One thing you can’t do? Get a generic. There are currently no generic versions of Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus.

Compounded Semaglutide

One way to reduce the cost of semaglutide for weight loss is to consider compounded semaglutide.

Compounded semaglutide has the same active ingredient as Ozempic and Wegovy, but it’s not an FDA-approved medication. 

If you’re considering compounded semaglutide, make sure you get it through a reputable company (like Hers) with a demonstrated commitment to safety and transparency. 

Compounded semaglutide available through Hers is produced in FDA-regulated facilities based in the United States using ingredients sourced exclusively from FDA-regulated manufacturers. 

Learn more about the steps Hers takes to ensure the compounded GLP-1s available on our platform are safe and effective. 

Novo Nordisk’s Savings Programs

Novo Nordisk offers saving programs to some qualifying individuals, but these programs are typically reserved for people who already qualify for insurance coverage.

If your insurance provider covers Ozempic, you may be eligible for additional cost savings. You may able to save a maximum of:

• $150 per one-month prescription

• $300 per two-month prescription 

• $450 per three-month prescription

This means, if eligible and depending on your insurance policy, you could pay as little as $25 per prescription.

If your insurance provider covers Wegovy, you might be able to save up to $225 a month, so your out-of-pocket cost could be reduced to zero.

For Rybelsus, if you’re eligible and your commercial insurance covers it, you could save up to:

• $300 per one-month prescription

• $600 per two-month prescription 

• $900 per three-month prescription 

This could reduce your cost to as little as $10 a month.

One thing to keep in mind about these savings cards is that they won’t last forever. 

Novo Nordisk also offers a patient assistance program (PAP). If eligible, you could get Ozempic or Rybelsis for no cost. There are a few requirements, though, like you need to have type 2 diabetes, have a low income, and be uninsured or enrolled in Medicare.

If the cost of semaglutide is enough to make your eyes water, we’ve got some good news. You don’t need to give up on finding a weight loss treatment just yet. 

There are more affordable weight loss medications out there that can help you on your weight loss journey.

Here are some of your options.

Tirzepatide 

Tirzepatide is another injectable weight loss drug. It’s sold under the brand names Mounjaro® and Zepbound®. 

Brand-name tirzepatide drugs are quite pricey, but they may work out slightly cheaper than semaglutide drugs, depending on where you get them from.

Mounjaro is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes and prescribed off-label for weight loss.

• The list price for Mounjaro is $1,069.08 per month.

• In pharmacies and online, it can cost around $1,000 to $1,300 a month.

Zepbound is FDA-approved for weight loss.

• The list price for Zepbound is $1059.87.

• In pharmacies and online, it can cost roughly $1,000 to $1,300 a month.

You can also get compounded tirzepatide, which is often more affordable than FDA-approved versions of the medication.  

Other Weight Loss Medications 

Other medications that may support weight loss  include: 

• Metformin

• Bupropion 

• Topiramate 

• Naltrexone 

You’ll find these medications typically come with a much lower price tag than semaglutide and other weight loss injections like tirzepatide. 

Hers offers personalized oral weight loss medication kits starting from $79 a month. 

Alongside weight loss medication, you’ll get nutrition plans, behavioral change tools, and unlimited online access to healthcare experts for ongoing support.

There are many health insurance providers, plans, and even different types of semaglutide. So “How much is semaglutide?” isn’t a straightforward question. 

Here’s the TL;DR on semaglutide weight loss prices: 

• Without insurance, your semaglutide cost per month can add up. Ozempic can cost about $900 a month, Wegovy can be around $1,300 a month, and Rybelsus can cost roughly $950.

• With insurance, you may pay less. It all depends on your insurance plan and provider and whether you’re eligible for additional savings. You might have to pay a copay or meet your deductible first. Semaglutide drugs are rarely covered by insurance for weight loss purposes, though.

• Compounded semaglutide is more affordable. Make sure you’re getting it from a licensed U.S. facility with a prescription from a healthcare provider. Hers compounded semaglutide costs start at $199 per month.

Taking semaglutide — whatever type you choose — is an exciting step toward taking charge of your health.

To get started, do our free online assessment. You’ll get personalized medical advice to help you find the best weight loss treatment for you.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here.