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Key takeaways
The cheapest ways to get semaglutide are by joining the manufacturer’s patient assistance program, signing up for the Ozempic savings card, or using a SingleCare discount card.
Although there’s no generic form of semaglutide, you can explore alternatives at much lower costs.
While there are over-the-counter medications that claim to provide the same benefits as semaglutide, medical experts advise against using them in place of the injectable drug.
Semaglutide (the active ingredient in brand-name drugs Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, antidiabetic, and weight loss drug. The injectable medicine, Ozempic, is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat Type 2 diabetes and lower the risk of cardiovascular events and kidney problems in certain adults. Semaglutide injections may also be used off-label for weight management.
If you’re underinsured or uninsured, you can lower the cost of semaglutide injections with the help of discounts, patient assistance programs, or alternative medications.
How much does semaglutide cost?
The average retail price of semaglutide, particularly Ozempic, without Medicare, Medicaid, or a private or commercial insurance plan, is $1,343 per 1, 3 ml of 2 mg/3ml auto-injector pen.
According to John Lowe, MD, an internist and obesity medicine specialist at Restore Care in Ogden, Utah, several factors can impact the cash price of the weight loss medication semaglutide, such as:
- The dosage and frequency of injections
- The pharmacy or retailer
- Where you live
- Manufacturer discounts or patient assistance programs
According to the drug’s manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, it costs $998 for 1 3 ml of 2 mg/ml auto-injector pen, which typically lasts one month. Based on this price, you could be paying almost $12,000 out of pocket for a year’s supply of weight loss drugs.
What is the cheapest way to get semaglutide?
Semaglutide is a very pricey medication to pay for out of pocket. Plus, while there are similar drugs like tirzepatide (Zepbound), there’s currently no generic version of the medication available. “Currently, no generic semaglutide is available in the United States,” Dr. Lowe explains. “Semaglutide remains under patent protection, so there are only brand-name versions (Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus) available.”
If you’re uninsured, or your health insurance provider doesn’t provide coverage for this injectable medicine, there are other ways you may lower your costs.
Here are four ways to get the cheapest semaglutide without insurance or if you’re underinsured:
1. Novo Nordisk Patient Assistance Program
Novo Nordisk offers a patient assistance program that provides Ozempic and Rybelsus at no cost to patients who meet eligibility criteria. You can complete their online application to see if you qualify for the program, complete the online application.
2. Ozempic savings card
NovoCare offers patients with private or commercial insurance coverage the chance to pay as little as $25 for a 1-, 2-, or 3-month supply of Ozempic for up to 48 months. To receive this savings card, patients must have a prescription for a 1-, 2-, or 3-month prescription of Ozempic and meet a few eligibility criteria.
3. SingleCare discount card
As you seek the cheapest way to get semaglutide, look into pharmacy discount cards. The SingleCare discount card can help you locate semaglutide at a lower cost. With this savings card, you could pay as low as $825.00 for 1, 3ml prefilled 2mg/3ml pen (0.25mg or 0.5mg/dose) at CVS auto-injector pen of Ozempic.
You can use this discount card without insurance, and in some instances, it can be much cheaper than paying a copay. Some people can get up to 80% off their prescription drug prices. The SingleCare prescription savings card is accepted at several major U.S. pharmacies.
To get a copy of this card, search for your preferred pharmacy on the Ozempic, Rybelsus, or Wegovy on the SingleCare website. Then, you’ll click “Get free coupon,” which will give you a coupon you can save to your phone or print out. You’ll show the coupon to your pharmacist for discounted semaglutide injections.
RELATED: See more weight loss coupons
Semaglutide alternatives
As mentioned, there are no generic versions of semaglutide, but several other GLP-1 medications and similar prescription medications can be much cheaper than the popular injectable medication. In your search for an alternative, you may come across compounded versions of semaglutide. Before considering compounded semaglutide, seek medical advice from your healthcare provider, who would be responsible for prescribing it. These specially designed medications could come with some risks, such as unwanted side effects. Compounded semaglutide should be used with caution as it is not approved by the FDA, and many versions do not meet the quality standards.
Below is a table of lower-cost semaglutide alternatives (in comparison to Ozempic’s list retail price) to explore:
Alternatives for semaglutide |
||
|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Dosage | Cost |
| Trulicity (dulaglutide) | 0.75-4.5 mg injected under the skin once a week | $1,322 for 4, 0.5 ml of 1.5 mg/0.5 ml pen |
| Bydureon BCise (exentide) | 2 mg injected under the skin once a week | $1,179for 4, 0.85 ml of 2 mg/0.85 ml pen |
| Glucophage (metformin) | 500-1000 mg twice daily | $166 for 60, 500 mg tablets |
| Januvia (sitagliptin) | 100 mg once a day | $761 for 1, 30 tablets |
| Actos (pioglitazone) | 15-45 mg once a day | $730 for 30, 3 mg tablets |
| Farxiga (dapagliflozin) | 5-10 mg once a day | $809 for 30, 10 mg tablets |
| Jardiance (empagliflozin) | 10-25 mg once every morning | $865 for 30, 25 mg tablets |
| Byetta (exenatide) | 5-10 mcg injected under the skin twice a day | $1,059 for 1, 1.2 ml of 5 mcg/ 0.02 ml |
While it may be tempting to try over-the-counter (OTC) medications, Dr. Foxman advises against them. “There’s no OTC medication that works the same way,” he says. “Some supplements claim to help with appetite or blood sugar levels, but they don’t have the same proven effects as semaglutide. All current OTC products are just gimmicks and work of the placebo effect (40% of all results are Placebo).”
The bottom line
The cheapest semaglutide without insurance or if your insurance company won’t offer coverage may be attainable through patient assistance programs and savings cards. As you seek low-cost semaglutide, be sure to seek medical advice from your healthcare provider so they can help you find a treatment that’s affordable and safe.
The SingleCare prices in this article are the most accurate at the time of publishing in ZIP code 23666 as of November 6, 2025. Prices vary by pharmacy. Visit our semaglutide coupon page for updated semaglutide prices near you.
- Novo Nordisk Patient Assistance Program (PAP), NovoCare Diabetes (n.d.)
- Novo Nordisk Patient Assistance Program Application, Novo Nordisk (n.d.)
- Human drug compounding, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (2024)
- FDA’s concern with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2024)
- Ozempic savings card, Ozempic (n.d.)
- John Lowe, MD of Restore Care
- Alex Foxman, MD, FACP, ABOM, of Achieve Health and Weight Loss