What is the cost of Ozempic per month?

In this article:

• Cost of Ozempic per month
• Ways to save
• Weight loss results and health implications

In this article

• Cost of Ozempic per month
• Ways to save
• Weight loss results and health implications

Diabetes and obesity are two of the most common health challenges for Americans, and Ozempic (semaglutide) is a popular option for treating both. As a GLP-1 agonist drug, it can help people with Type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels, but it can also help those people shed unwanted pounds. Those benefits, however, come at a cost. Without health insurance or other savings offers, Ozempic costs nearly $1,400 per month. However, that cost depends on various factors. 

Read on for all the important details, plus some reliable ways to save on Ozempic. 

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Ozempic 2 mg/3 mL (1 Pen)

23666 - Hampton, VA

$825.00

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$825.00

i Price with signup

Get free coupon

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What is the cost of Ozempic per month?

The standard dosing frequency for Ozempic is once a week, so four doses is a one-month supply. The strength of those doses, however, depends on your stage of treatment. Healthcare providers typically start patients on 0.25 mg doses before titrating up to 0.5 mg, 1 mg, and 2 mg. However, the strength of the dose might not affect the cost of the drug. Ozempic’s manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, for example, says the price of Ozempic is the exact same whether you get 0.25, 0.5, 1, or 2 mg.

Cost of Ozempic per month without insurance 

If you were to walk into your local pharmacy without insurance coverage or other discounts, you could pay around $1,388 for a 30-day supply of brand-name Ozempic. Of course, that price isn’t the same across the board, and it can vary based on your location and the pharmacy you choose. 

Cost of Ozempic per month with insurance 

This depends entirely on your specific insurance plan. “Insurance companies will consider covering Ozempic for patients who have type 2 diabetes, to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) such as heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease,” says Jennifer Warren, MD, medical director at Mochi Health.

Novo Nordisk’s website says that people with commercial insurance can get Ozempic for as little as $25 for a one-month, two-month, or three-month subscription. This refers to their Ozempic Savings Card program, but not everyone qualifies. Eligible applicants must have private insurance that covers some of the cost, and they can’t be enrolled in any government-sponsored program, like Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, or VA benefits.

Insurance companies might not cover Ozempic purely for weight loss. However, “They may offer coverage for Wegovy for weight loss, or the other FDA indication: to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with established cardiovascular disease and either obesity or overweight,” Dr. Warren says. 

On top of that, some insurance providers might require prior authorization, which means your healthcare provider has to take additional steps to prove that Ozempic is medically necessary. “​​The main prior authorization requirement is diabetes. Patients need to have diabetes before the insurance pays for these meds,” says Dr. Wiljon Beltre, MD, founder of Beltre Bariatrics. But in some cases, it might mean trying a diet and exercise plan—or other drugs—for a certain amount of time before moving on to Ozempic. 

Medicare Part D and Medicaid plans may cover Ozempic when it’s prescribed for Type 2 diabetes, but not weight loss drugs, since these programs don’t cover weight loss drugs at all. Like private insurance, the amount covered depends on the specific health insurance company and plan. 

Ways to save on Ozempic

Ozempic’s out-of-pocket cost can seem intimidating, especially without insurance coverage. But the good news is that there are other ways to save. Here are a few we recommend. 

1. Free Ozempic coupons

SingleCare offers discounts on thousands of prescription medications, including Ozempic, and these free coupons can take hundreds off the cost. Instead of paying the $1,387 average cost, using SingleCare can reduce that price to as low as $825. It’s free to sign up, and you can use the coupons at any of the 35,000+ participating pharmacies. You can’t use it on top of insurance coverage, but sometimes the coupons can drop prices lower than certain copay amounts. 

2. Alternative medications

Whether it’s for diabetes or weight loss, Ozempic is far from the only option available. There’s no FDA-approved generic version of semaglutide on the market yet, but there are still some alternatives. For example, Mounjaro, Rybelsus, Victoza, and Saxenda are some other GLP-1 medications that might have lower list prices or better insurance coverage for some people. And other diabetes drugs like metformin, Jardiance, and Farxiga often have lower out-of-pocket costs. However, your healthcare provider will make the call on the best option for you.

RELATED: Cheapest semaglutide injection

Just beware of companies selling unapproved versions of GLP-1 drugs, since the FDA hasn’t reviewed them for safety or effectiveness. 

3. Government assistance programs

For Medicare beneficiaries, there’s a program called Extra Help, which provides financial assistance to individuals who need help paying for prescription drugs. Typically, you’ll have to meet certain financial requirements to qualify. Medicaid is also available for people who meet certain income thresholds, and you can get benefits whether or not you have Medicare. The eligibility requirements, however, vary by state. 

4. 90-day prescriptions

Sometimes, healthcare providers will be open to writing 90-day prescriptions instead of 30-day ones. Studies have shown that these longer prescriptions can help improve both savings and patient adherence, so it’s worth asking if you can get a three-month supply of Ozempic. However, for drugs like Ozempic, how much you’re able to get at one time may be limited by your insurance plan or by the availability of the drug.

5. Comparing prices

Medication prices vary significantly between pharmacies, even pharmacies in the same area. So, comparing prices at several different locations or types of pharmacies could save money. 

Weight loss results and health implications

Ozempic is often a long-term treatment for diabetes management, and it might take weeks to reach its full effects. For weight loss, it might take even longer. In a 2022 study, patients taking semaglutide for weight management lost 5.9% total body weight after three months, and 10.9% after six. So anyone taking Ozempic should expect that they’ll need to pay for it longer than just one or two months. 

“I’ve seen patients lose anywhere from 5–15% or even more of their body weight with semaglutide, particularly when combined with healthy lifestyle changes,” Dr. Warren says.

“Many patients also report improved energy, reduced cravings, and better blood sugar control.”

Ozempic’s main effect on the body is blood sugar reduction. Clinical trials showed that a 1 mg dose can lower A1C by 1.9% and a 2 mg dose lowers it by 2.2%. However, research has also shown that semaglutide can reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, death from cardiovascular events, and stroke. 

But there are two sides to every coin, and like any other drug, Ozempic comes with the risk of side effects. Per Dr. Beltre, “Some of the potential side effects or health implications include ileus, which is a substantial slowdown of the gastrointestinal tract leading to severe constipation or sometimes diarrhea, pancreatitis, and increased risk of some thyroid cancers.” 

That’s why it’s important to discuss Ozempic with a healthcare professional. They can develop an individualized treatment plan based on your medical history, conditions, other medications, budget, and more.