Does Kaiser cover Ozempic?

In this article:

• Does Kaiser cover Ozempic?
• How much does Ozempic cost?
• How to check whether your Kaiser plan covers Ozempic
• How to save on Ozempic

In this article

• Does Kaiser cover Ozempic?
• How much does Ozempic cost?
• How to check whether your Kaiser plan covers Ozempic
• How to save on Ozempic

In 2018, Ozempic (semaglutide) hit the diabetes medication landscape like a whirlwind. Over the next five years, Ozempic prescriptions increased 40-fold, according to CNN, and it’s still one of the most popular prescription drugs for Type 2 diabetes on the market. It’s helped millions of Americans not only with blood sugar levels but also with weight management. But despite its popularity, Ozempic’s insurance coverage isn’t universal, leaving many people with Kaiser Permanente plans wondering if they’ll receive coverage.

In many cases, insurance and Medicare plans will cover Ozempic, but there are many variables at play, including the specific insurance plan and why it’s prescribed. Read on for all the important details.

Does Kaiser cover Ozempic?

Every insurance provider has a range of plans, and every plan is a little bit different, so Ozempic coverage largely depends on the plan’s policies. Kaiser’s 2025 Comprehensive Formulary documents for commercial insurance and Medicare Part D show which drugs their plans will generally cover, as long as they’re medically necessary. Ozempic is included, although the document notes that it requires prior authorization.

What does that mean? Prior authorization is the process insurance companies use to confirm that a drug is truly medically necessary. Sometimes, it’s as simple as the prescribing doctor submitting extra documentation or paperwork, while other times, it might entail trying similar (usually less expensive) drugs or therapies first.

Dr. Supriya Rao, MD, gastroenterologist and managing partner at Integrated Gastroenterology Consultants, estimates that her patients require some type of prior authorization around 50% of the time, and insurance companies require them to try a different drug first roughly a quarter of the time. Sometimes, she says, companies will deny coverage even when a patient’s A1c levels are above 6.5—which is the clinical definition of Type 2 diabetes. It all depends on the provider and plan.

Let’s take the Kaiser Permanente Northwest Region as an example. For people with Type 2 diabetes, those plans will only cover Ozempic if the patient has already tried other drugs—like metformin and/or SGLT-2 inhibitors—plus has certain levels of raised A1c or contraindications to other viable drugs. So, there would likely be a couple of prior authorization requirements.

That’s just one example, and it might vary significantly for other plans. The only way to know for sure is to check your plan’s formulary or contact Kaiser directly.

Does Kaiser cover Ozempic for weight loss?

Coverage not only varies by plan but can vary based on the reason for your Ozempic prescription. The medication is technically only FDA-approved to treat Type 2 diabetes, but it’s so effective at reducing body weight that healthcare providers often prescribe it off-label as a weight loss medication. The problem is that some health insurance plans won’t cover it for weight loss, and when they do, there might be several conditions the patient has to meet.

For example, the Northwest Region cited above says they’ll cover Ozempic for weight management if the patient has a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or more—or if they have a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or more plus diagnosed hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, or hyperlipidemia. On top of that, the patient must be on a documented diet and exercise plan and have already tried two other weight loss medications (phentermine, diethylpropion, phentermine/topiramate, naltrexone/bupropion).

Per Dr. Rao, sometimes patients need to lose a certain amount of weight before their insurance will cover a weight loss drug. “I’ve had patients who need to have completed six months of a lifestyle program,” she says, and she often provides nutrition classes and a lifestyle medicine curriculum for them.

Ozempic’s manufacturer also produces a semaglutide drug specifically approved for weight management. It’s called Wegovy, and some plans may cover it with fewer restrictions. But again, it depends on the specific plan.

How much does Ozempic cost?

For many people, the big question is: What kind of dent will it put in my bank account? Without insurance, the average cost of Ozempic is around $1,351 for a single 2mg/3ml pen—usually a 30-day supply. Over an entire year, this adds up, and patients can end up paying over $16,000 out of pocket.

Fortunately, insurance can significantly reduce those costs. How much, however, depends on how the plan’s formulary classifies Ozempic. Formularies arrange covered drugs into tiers, with generics in the lower tiers and brand-name or specialty medications in the higher ones. Most often, the insurance provider will offer more thorough coverage for lower tiers, while higher-tier drugs may come with higher costs from copays or coinsurance. Per Kaiser’s 2025 Comprehensive Formulary, Ozempic is typically in tier 3, so you’ll likely still have some out-of-pocket costs.

How to check whether your Kaiser plan covers Ozempic 

The most effective way to check Ozempic coverage with a Kaiser plan is to review the formulary. This determines which drugs are covered, whether they have prior authorization or quantity limit requirements, and how much coverage the plan will issue. Beneficiaries can find the formulary on Kaiser’s website. Just select your region at the top, and it will automatically populate the page with that region’s formularies.

Ozempic’s manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, also has a webpage where you can input your information and find out if and how your insurance plan will cover the drug. It will also provide an estimate for your out-of-pocket costs.

If neither option is appealing, Kaiser beneficiaries can call the company’s support line to speak with a member services representative. Make sure to have your plan’s information nearby when you call since they’ll need it to check your coverage.

Dr. Rao stresses the importance of understanding all your insurance plan’s requirements before approaching a doctor about getting Ozempic. What are the prior authorization requirements? How often do you need to complete prior authorization? Is there a lifestyle plan involved? Do you have to lose weight first? “I think if people are really armed with that information, it makes things a lot easier. Then there are no unmet expectations,” she says.

How to save on Ozempic

Not everyone will get coverage from their Kaiser plan, and even though Ozempic’s $1,351 retail price might look intimidating, there are ways to reduce it significantly. For example, coupons from SingleCare can knock off $500 or more. Signing up is free, and you just have to present your SingleCare card when you pick up your Ozempic from a partner pharmacy, then reap the discounts. You can use SingleCare even if you have private insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid, but you can’t use SingleCare discounts on top of that coverage—you have to choose one or the other.

Additionally, Noro Novdisk offers an Ozempic Savings Card for people who have partial coverage from private insurance. This card can save $100 for a one-month supply. The company also has a patient assistance program for people who meet certain financial requirements.