Updated: Sep 21, 2025, 9:02am
Semaglutide injections are the current hot topic when it comes to medical weight loss. They are praised due to their effectiveness in helping manage type 2 diabetes and promoting weight loss.
If you’re considering starting this weight loss journey, you may have many questions on your mind. One of them is: how much will I actually have to pay?
The answer is a bit complicated since there is a different list of web prices, insurance plans, coupons, and alternative formulations. In some cases, you can even be spending more than $1,000 per month.
But don’t worry; here, we will go over all the options available so that your weight loss journey doesn’t break the bank. We will break down the true cost of semaglutide in 2025, exploring every alternative you have available, including brand names and compounded versions.
Quick Price Snapshot (TL;DR)
For those without any insurance or who are underinsured, the U.S. list prices for a one-month supply of brand-name semaglutide can range from $900 to $1,400. However, some manufacturer coupons are available that can sometimes lower the out-of-pocket cost of Ozempic to around $499 (as of August 2025). Compounded can be a cheaper alternative, usually ranging between $250 to $450 per month.
Brand List Prices & Dose Pack Breakdown
Understanding the pricing structure of the three semaglutide products (Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus) can be pretty confusing. Here is a breakdown of the monthly U.S. list prices and common coupon-adjusted prices before you apply any insurance.
| Drug | Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) | Cash / Self-Pay / Direct-to-Consumer Price Offers | Common Coupon / Saving Programs / Copay Cards | Are Different Strengths Priced Differently? |
| Ozempic | It normally costs $997.58 per pen for a 4-week supply. | NovoCare offers for people who don’t have insurance a price of $499 per month | People with commercial insurance may pay as low as $25 per month (if the plan covers Ozempic) | List prices don’t vary by strength. You can get the 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, and 2 mg at the same price. |
| Wegovy | You can get a 28-day supply of Wegovy for $1,349. | If your insurance doesn’t cover the medication, or you don’t have insurance, the company offers a price of $499 per month. | Copays may be as low as $0 to $25 per month. | All dose strengths have the same pricing. |
| Rybelsus | You can get a 30-day supply of Rybelsus for $936 to $1,000, depending on the dose. | They don’t have a direct-to-consumer program. | Eligible commercially insured patients may pay as little as $10 for a 30-day supply. | There is a change regarding the dosage strengths. The higher the dose, the higher the price |
As you can see, for both Ozempic and Wegovy, there is no change in the pricing based on the dosage strength. That is because manufacturers often use a “flat pricing” model for drugs. The cost is based on a monthly supply of the active ingredient, which simplifies billing for pharmacies and insurers.
Another interesting thing to note is the difference in pricing between Wegovy and Ozempic. While both contain the same active ingredient, Wegovy is priced higher than Ozempic. This price difference is primarily due to its FDA indication for weight loss, a market with enormous demand and poor insurance coverage, which allows for higher pricing.
Insurance & Medicare Coverage
Insurance is the primary factor that determines your final cost for semaglutide medication. Coverage for GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy can vary drastically depending on your current plan and the reason for using the medication.
For type 2 diabetes, most commercial insurance plans and Medicare Part D plans provide coverage for Ozempic and Rybelsus, since they are FDA-approved for this condition. However, you may still face co-pays, deductibles, and prior authorization requirements.
For obesity and weight management, coverage is far more limited. A 2024 analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) found that only 1% of the ACA plans cover Wegovy. Medicare explicitly excludes coverage for weight loss drugs, a policy that remains a major barrier for millions of seniors.
Will insurance pay if I’m overweight but not diabetic?
It’s unlikely, but it may be possible. Some employer-sponsored commercial plans have opted to cover weight loss medications like Wegovy. However, many have not, due to the high cost. You must check your specific plan’s policies to know for sure.
The recent FDA approval for Wegovy to reduce cardiovascular risk in people who are overweight or obese may encourage more insurance companies to cover it. However, this may be a slow change that we need to wait and see.
Manufacturer Savings Cards & Coupons
To help reduce high out-of-pocket costs, Novo Nordisk offers savings programs for both patients with commercial insurance and those without. Keep in mind that these programs are not available to patients on government-funded plans, such as Medicare, Medicaid, or TRICARE.
- Ozempic Savings Card: Eligible patients with commercial insurance may pay as little as $25 for a one, two, or three-month supply. Keep in mind that you can bet a maximum monthly savings of $150.
- Wegovy Savings Offer: Eligible patients with commercial insurance that covers Wegovy may pay as little as $0 for their prescription. If your insurance does not cover it, the card can save you up to $500 for a 28-day supply.
- Rybelsus Savings Card: Eligible patients may pay as little as $10 for a 30-day supply.
It’s essential to read the terms and conditions, as they often include eligibility restrictions and expiration dates. It’s also important to note that you can’t use them in conjunction with other coupons, such as those obtained from GoodRx.
Compounded Semaglutide: Affordable Alternative
Due to drug shortages and their high prices, many patients have turned to compounding pharmacies. These pharmacies create custom versions of semaglutide, often by mixing the base active ingredient with other ingredients like vitamin B12.
Throughout 2023 and 2024, the typical cost for compounded semaglutide was $250 to $450 per month.
International Prices & Medical Tourism
The large differences in semaglutide pricing between the U.S. and other countries have led many to consider “medical tourism” or personal importation.
- Canada: A monthly supply of Ozempic can cost around $600 to $800.
- United Kingdom: Through the National Health Service (NHS), the list price is around £73 (around $90) per pen, but private access is limited and costly.
- India: Wegovy launched in 2024 with a price of around $210 to $310 per month.
However, keep in mind that importing drugs comes with risks. The FDA’s personal importation policy is very strict, and making sure that the drug is legitimate and kept at the right temperature during transit can be challenging.
Cost Calculator & Patient Scenarios
If you still have some questions regarding the cost and what it would look it, let’s take a look at what three different patients might pay per month in 2025.
| Scenario | Drug | Calculation | Estimated Monthly Cost |
| Patient with commercial insurance that covers Ozempic for type 2 diabetes | Ozempic 1.0 mg weekly | Insurance co-pay of $40 + Ozempic Savings Card | $25 if the card reduced the co-pay to the minimum. |
| Patient with no insurance coverage for weight loss drugs. | Wegovy 2.4 mg weekly | Retail price of $1,349 + Wegovy savings offer of $500 | $849 monthly |
| Patient who is seeking a lower-cost alternative. | Compounded semalgutide 1.0 mg weekly | Price from a compounding pharmacy | $350 to $600 per month |
If you still have questions regarding the pricing of your medication, speak with your healthcare professional. They can guide you through the process and give you advice to get the lowest price possible.
FAQs
Why is semaglutide so expensive?
The high prices of semaglutide are due to several factors: patent protection that prevents creating generic competition, a complex pharmaceutical supply chain with several middlemen, and the ability of manufacturers to set high prices in the U.S. market, which lacks government price negotiation as seen in other countries.
When will a generic be available?
We still may have to wait several years until there is a generic version of semaglutide. According to Novo Nordisk’s investor information, key patents for semaglutide do not expire until the early 2030s (probably around 2032).
Is Rybelsus cheaper per milligram?
No, while the monthly price for Rybelsus and Ozempic is nearly the same ($936), the highest dose of Rybelsus contains 14 mg of semaglutide daily, while the highest dose of Ozempic has 2.0 mg weekly. So, when you calculate it per milligram, Ozempic is significantly more concentrated, and in that sense, less expensive per unit of the drug. However, this may not be as useful to determine which is the best option since they have different bioavailabilities.
Key Takeaways & Next Steps
- Brand-name list prices remain high, often going from $936 to $1,349 per month.
- Insurance coverage is the best way to lower costs, but some insurance plans may not cover the medication that is intended for weight loss purposes.
- Manufacturer coupons can provide significantly lower savings, but they are limited to those who have commercial insurance.
- Compounded semaglutide offers a cheaper alternative
Your first step should always be to thoroughly review your insurance plan. If the drug is not covered, speak with your doctor about filing a prior authorization request or appealing the decision.
Once you have a clear understanding of the potential costs, consider booking a telehealth consultation to discuss your treatment options. In addition, you can download a prior authorization checklist to help you and your doctor streamline the approval process with your insurance provider.
Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Semaglutide has a boxed warning for the risk of thyroid C-cell tumors. Do not use semaglutide if you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before starting or stopping any medication.
