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Key takeaways
Without insurance, Rybelsus can cost close to $1,400. Insurance coverage can decrease that amount significantly, but how much depends on the specific Aetna plan.
Many Aetna plans list Rybelsus as a preferred brand, and the drug’s manufacturer says nearly all commercial insurance and Medicare Part D plans will cover it.
Other ways to save on Rybelsus include SingleCare coupons, manufacturer savings programs, trying alternatives, and comparing prices.
Rybelsus (semaglutide) is a brand-name prescription drug approved for controlling blood sugar levels in adults with Type 2 diabetes. While many other GLP-1 drugs—like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Victoza—are injections, Rybelsus is an oral medication. It’s typically covered by insurance and Medicare when it’s prescribed for diabetes, but it depends completely on the specific plan. And even when it’s covered, the amount of coverage can vary, too.
Does Aetna cover Rybelsus?
Aetna typically covers Rybelsus, but there are many different Aetna plans, and coverage varies by policy. Copays, coinsurance, and drug formularies vary by plan. Wiljon Beltre, MD, founder of Beltre Bariatrics, says that most insurance plans cover Rybelsus but typically only for people with a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes.
A glance through Aetna’s various formularies shows that they often consider Rybelsus a preferred brand, meaning many plans will cover it instead of nonpreferred drugs for Type 2 diabetes. Many of Aetna’s Medicare plans will cover it as well—as long as it’s prescribed for Type 2 diabetes and not solely for weight loss.
Rybelsus’ manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, says that around 98% of commercial insurance plans and 95% of Medicare Part D plans nationwide will cover it. Even so, you’ll want to check your plan’s drug list to make sure.
But that doesn’t mean your coverage will kick in automatically. Some plans may require prior authorization first. This is the process that insurance companies use to make sure a drug is truly medically necessary before they issue drug coverage. Sometimes, Aetna plans might require that the patient commit to a diet and exercise plan while taking Rybelsus or that they try a drug like metformin first. Others might want the prescriber to submit documentation that the patient has specific A1C levels.
How much is Rybelsus without insurance?
Let’s say you don’t have insurance, or your Aetna health benefits won’t cover Rybelsus, and you’re planning on paying completely out of pocket. In that case, the average cost of Rybelsus is around $1,397 for 30, 7 mg tablets—a one-month supply. Over an entire year, that could add up to more than $16,000.
That price isn’t the same across the board, though. Each pharmacy has different prices, and the price of Rybelsus can vary significantly between them, so what you pay depends on where you live and which pharmacy you choose.
How much does Rybelsus cost with Aetna?
Just because an insurance plan covers Rybelsus doesn’t mean it will be free. You might still have a copay or coinsurance to cover after Aetna pays its part. How much, however, is difficult to pinpoint, since it once again depends on the plan.
Aetna formularies sort prescription drugs into tiers—typically generics, preferred brands, preferred specialty drugs, non-preferred brands, and non-preferred specialty drugs. Generics and preferred brands usually get better coverage than non-preferred drugs, and Rybelsus often falls into the preferred brand category.
How to check whether your Aetna plan covers Rybelsus
The best way to find out whether your Aetna plan covers Rybelsus is to check the formulary. Fortunately, Aetna makes it pretty easy with a webpage that lets you access PDF documents of every plan’s drug list. Just scroll down, choose the year and plan from the dropdown boxes, and on the next page, click the PDF under “Pharmacy drug guide.” Scroll through the document and find Rybelsus to see what tier it falls into (preferred brand, non-preferred brand, etc.)
But if you want more details, log in to your member account. There, you can search the drug name to find, not just your Rybelsus coverage, but also specific pricing for local pharmacies and alternatives that might help you save money. If you’d rather talk to a person, you can also call the number on your member ID card to ask a representative.
How to save on Rybelsus
Insurance might be the first thought that pops into your head when you think about reducing prescription costs, but there are other ways to save on Rybelsus.
For example, SingleCare has free Rybelsus coupons that can drop the average cost from around $1,397 to around $874. All you have to do is sign up, then present your SingleCare card at a local participating pharmacy to get the discount immediately.
Novo Nordisk also offers discounts for eligible individuals, but not everyone qualifies. Eligible applicants must have private insurance that covers some of their prescription costs, and they can’t receive benefits from government-sponsored programs like Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, or VA benefits.
For people without insurance or who have Medicare, Novo Nordisk has a patient assistance program (NovoCare) for people who have a household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level.
Dr. Beltre says looking for alternative generic drugs can also help save money. While there’s no generic version of Rybelsus yet, there are other generic medications that may be more affordable. Generic Rybelsus alternatives include metformin, glimepiride, and glipizide. Your healthcare provider can recommend the best alternatives for you, accounting for any other health conditions you have, medications you’re taking, and medication preferences.
- Rybelsus (semaglutide) savings and coverage tools for your patients, Novo Medlink
- Prior authorization, Aetna
- Understanding drug tiers, Patient Advocate Foundation
- Use the Aetna drug search tool, Aetna
- Find out if your medicine is covered, Aetna
- Diabetes Savings Offer Program, NovoCare
- Patient Assistance Program, NovoCare