How much does Wegovy cost?

In this article:

• How much does Wegovy cost without insurance?
• Does insurance cover Wegovy?
• How much does Wegovy cost with insurance?
• Do Medicare and Medicaid cover Wegovy?
• How to get discounts on Wegovy
• How much does Wegovy cost without insurance?
• Zepbound vs. Wegovy cost
• Bottom line

In this article

• How much does Wegovy cost without insurance?
• Does insurance cover Wegovy?
• How much does Wegovy cost with insurance?
• Do Medicare and Medicaid cover Wegovy?
• How to get discounts on Wegovy
• How much does Wegovy cost without insurance?
• Zepbound vs. Wegovy cost
• Bottom line

Wegovy (semaglutide) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss in adults with obesity and in children 12 years and older as well as in overweight adults who have at least one weight-related comorbid condition. It is also approved to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in adults with cardiovascular disease who are either overweight or have obesity. Wegovy works by delaying gastric emptying, which can decrease appetite. Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, decreased body weight by an average of 15% over 68 weeks in clinical trials.

As a brand-name drug, Wegovy can be expensive, but it may be covered by some insurance plans for a low cost or no cost at all. Additionally, there are other ways to save if you don’t have insurance or if the copay with insurance is too high.

How much does Wegovy cost without insurance?

Wegovy is a prescription medication for weight loss that comes in a prefilled single-dose injectable pen. On average, 4, 2.4 mg pens cost $1,850 per month without insurance. Costs fluctuate and vary by pharmacy and location. With a Wegovy coupon from SingleCare or the SingleCare app, you could pay $1,227 per month, depending on your pharmacy.

Healthcare providers prescribe a starting dose of 0.25 milligrams (mg) weekly for four weeks, increasing the dose every month until a weekly maintenance dose of 1.7 or 2.4 mg is reached. 

Does insurance cover Wegovy?

In order to get a Wegovy prescription covered by insurance, you need to meet approval criteria set by the FDA. The FDA approves Wegovy for weight loss in adults who have obesity with an initial body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more and pediatric patients ages 12 and older with obesity and an initial BMI at the 95th percentile or higher. It’s also approved for adults who have a BMI of 27 or more with at least one weight-related medical condition, such as heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, or Type 2 diabetes. 

Even if you meet the FDA-approved criteria for Wegovy, it is important to check with your health insurance company before finalizing treatment plans. Many insurance companies require healthcare providers to request prior authorization before coverage is granted. “This request must include patient-specific information such as current weight, prior weight history and loss attempts, other medical conditions, and current activity levels,” says Dexter Turnquest, MD, a bariatric surgeon at Houston Methodist Hospital.

If someone’s insurance plan doesn’t cover Wegovy, their healthcare provider can submit a request for coverage to their insurance company, which will review the request and reconsider coverage. Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Wegovy, provides a sample letter your healthcare provider can refer to in order to ensure they provide the correct information in their request for coverage. 

If your insurance company still doesn’t cover Wegovy, consider speaking with your healthcare provider about Wegovy alternatives.

How much does Wegovy cost with insurance?

According to Novo Nordisk, 80% of insured patients pay less than $25 a month for Wegovy, but coverage and the out-of-pocket cost largely depend on a person’s specific insurance policy. Some commercial insurance plans do not cover medications to treat obesity or may not cover them until a deductible is met.

Do Medicare and Medicaid cover Wegovy?

Medicare does not cover medications for weight loss. However, Wegovy was FDA approved in March 2024 to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in those with cardiovascular disease who are overweight or have obesity. If this specific criteria is met, Medicare may cover Wegovy.

Medicaid coverage for Wegovy varies by state and plan. Novo Nordisk recommends contacting your state’s Medicaid office to determine whether it will cover weight management medications. 

How to get discounts on Wegovy

People with insurance can get a discount on the cost of Wegovy using a NovoCare Wegovy savings card, depending on eligibility. Using the card with their insurance benefits, they can pay as little as $0, subject to a maximum savings of $225 per 28-day supply for up to 13 fills.

People without insurance (and those with insurance that does not cover Wegovy) can pay about $500 for a 28-day supply with the Novo Nordisk Wegovy savings card. 

Another option, and one to consider once the Wegovy savings card benefits are exhausted, is a SingleCare prescription coupon or discount card. Depending on your preferred pharmacy, you may save over $600 for four 2.4 mg/0.75 mL pens (a 28-day supply). Just show your card to your pharmacist. You can also search for Wegovy coupons on the SingleCare app, compare prices at local pharmacies, download a free digital coupon from the most affordable pharmacy, and show the coupon to your pharmacist to get your discount.

Weight loss coupons & resources

Ozempic vs. Wegovy cost

Wegovy and Ozempic are made by the same manufacturer, Novo Nordisk. Both medications contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide, and work similarly. “Semaglutide helps the pancreas release the right amount of insulin to lower your blood sugar,” says Nilda Agnes Abellera, MD, medical director of Infuze MD.

However, the costs, approved uses, age restrictions, and dosages differ. After the dose is gradually increased, Wegovy delivers a higher maximum weekly dose and has a higher maintenance dose than Ozempic. Additionally, the FDA approved Wegovy for weight loss but not Ozempic. For that reason, Ozempic is sometimes prescribed off-label for weight loss. 

As for cost difference, Ozempic costs slightly less than Wegovy. The average price of Ozempic is $1,368 per month without discounts or insurance for a 2 mg/3 mL pen, which should last a month. While Wegovy comes in a box of four single-use pens, Ozempic is supplied as one pen that delivers multiple doses. With a SingleCare coupon for Ozempic, you could pay about $828 for a one-month supply of Ozempic. Costs fluctuate and vary by pharmacy and location.

“Both Wegovy and Ozempic are generally covered by insurance if prescribed for diabetes,” Dr. Abellera says. Again, the cost for each with insurance varies by plan. 

Zepbound vs. Wegovy cost

Since Ozempic isn’t approved for weight loss (but may be prescribed off-label for weight loss), it may be worth asking your healthcare provider about Zepbound (tirzepatide). Zepbound is a dual GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist that is approved for weight loss in adults with obesity (a BMI of 30 or more) and adults who are overweight (a BMI of 27 or more) with a weight-related medical condition. Zepbound is also approved for treating obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity.

In clinical trials, people have lost more weight with Zepbound than with Wegovy. Zepbound may be more affordable without insurance as well. Zepbound costs $1,517 per month without insurance for four, 2.5 mg/0.5 mL pens. With the SingleCare app or a Zepbound coupon from SingleCare, you could pay $950 per month without insurance. Talk to your healthcare provider about the differences between Wegovy and Zepbound to see which is best for you. 

Bottom line

The injectable prescription weight loss medication Wegovy offers a positive solution for those seeking chronic weight management. According to clinical trials, it was associated with sustained, clinically relevant reduction in body weight when combined with lifestyle interventions like diet and exercise. 

Insurance coverage varies when it comes to weight loss drugs, so check your plan details to verify the cost. You can do this by calling the phone number on the back of your insurance card.

Without insurance, the average retail price of Wegovy is $1,849 per month, but there are ways to save, and SingleCare coupons for Wegovy can make it more affordable.