Can I use SingleCare for GLP-1s if I’m on Medicare?

In this article:

• Can you use SingleCare for GLP-1s if on Medicare?
• Does Medicare cover GLP-1s?
• GLP-1 Coverage for Medicare patients (Weight loss only)
• Cost comparison and savings options for GLP-1s

In this article

• Can you use SingleCare for GLP-1s if on Medicare?
• Does Medicare cover GLP-1s?
• GLP-1 Coverage for Medicare patients (Weight loss only)
• Cost comparison and savings options for GLP-1s

If you have a prescription for a GLP-1 like Ozempic or Wegovy, you probably already know that medications in this class of drugs—glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists—are in high demand and come at high prices. Why the hype? Although they were first approved to lower blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 drugs also cause weight loss and reduce the risk of heart attack. 

Regardless of whether you’re on a GLP-1 for diabetes, weight loss, cardiovascular disease, or something else, your prescription could potentially cost more than $1,000 per month. Medicare enrollees may feel like their savings are limited, but there’s good news: SingleCare can help. 

Here’s what you need to know about when and how you can use SingleCare to lower the cost of your GLP-1 prescription if you’re on Medicare.

Can you use SingleCare for GLP-1s if on Medicare?

Yes, you can still use SingleCare to lower the cost of GLP-1s if you are enrolled in Medicare. It’s true that people who receive Medicare benefits cannot use savings cards or coupons from drug GLP-1 manufacturers like Novo Nordisk or Eli Lilly due to anti-kickback laws. However, SingleCare coupons are different. It is neither illegal nor against any rules to use SingleCare coupons while on Medicare

So, what’s the catch? Medicare and SingleCare coupons cannot be combined or used at the same time. You must choose between using your Medicare drug coverage or paying cash with a SingleCare coupon or the SingleCare discount card.

When to consider SingleCare for GLP-1s if you’re on Medicare

There are three situations when you could save money by paying cash with a SingleCare coupon instead of using your Medicare benefits.

• You don’t have Medicare prescription drug coverage. Not everyone receives their Medicare coverage in the same manner. Medicare Part D is an optional benefit that covers a wide range of prescription drugs. If you are not enrolled in Medicare Part D, SingleCare can help lower the cost of your prescription drugs when you need them. 
• Your Medicare copay is higher than the drug’s SingleCare price. If you have Medicare Part D, your plan has a formulary that categorizes covered medications into different tiers. Higher-tier drugs like GLP-1s tend to have higher copays. In rare cases, your out-of-pocket cost with a SingleCare drug coupon could be lower than your Part D copay.
• Medicare doesn’t cover your GLP-1. If your Medicare drug plan does not cover your prescribed GLP-1 — or you’ve been prescribed a GLP-1 for weight loss, which Medicare does not cover — you can still lower the cash price of your prescription with a SingleCare coupon.

If you’re unsure whether these situations apply to you, a pharmacist can help you compare SingleCare drug discounts with your Medicare copays. The critical thing to remember is that you must choose either SingleCare or Medicare. You can’t use both.

How to use SingleCare for GLP-1s if you’re on Medicare

If you’ve decided to use SingleCare to lower the out-of-pocket cost of your GLP-1, it’s essential to understand that the price won’t count toward your Medicare Part D out-of-pocket maximum for the year. By using SingleCare, you’re instructing the pharmacy to process your payment as a cash payer instead of as a Medicare patient. 

Here’s how to access SingleCare savings:

1. Sign up. Click here or download the app for iOS or Android, where you’ll click “Sign up for free” at the bottom of your screen.
2. Search for your GLP-1. Type in the name of your prescription (Victoza, Trulicity, Rybelsus, etc.). Filter results for your dosage, quantity, and zip code.
3. Choose your coupon. You may be offered a variety of coupons based on pharmacies in your area. Choose the one that’s best for you and print, text, or save it.
4. Show the coupon to your pharmacist. Show the free drug coupon when you pick up your prescription. As long as your sign-up information matches your identification information at the pharmacy, you’ll pay the discounted price.

Does Medicare cover GLP-1s?

The short answer: Sometimes. 

“[Medicare] Part D usually covers GLP-1s for Type 2 diabetes,” says Supriya Rao, MD, gastroenterologist, director of medical weight loss at Lowell General Hospital, and clinical assistant professor at Tufts University School of Medicine. As of August 2024, the GLP-1s covered for diabetes were Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Mounjaro.

Even when a GLP-1 is listed on a Medicare plan’s prescription drug formulary (a list of covered drugs) and prescribed for Type 2 diabetes, coverage is usually contingent upon prior authorization (a paperwork process between the healthcare provider and the insurer). Dr. Rao says that even then, some GLP-1 users are denied coverage if they can’t supply recent A1c (blood sugar) results, haven’t tried a lower-cost drug like metformin, or run into issues with their pharmacy network.

Of course, GLP-1s are sometimes prescribed for reasons other than diabetes. In those cases, it may be more difficult to obtain Medicare coverage for the medication.

Does Medicare cover GLP-1s for weight loss?

No, GLP-1s are generally not covered for weight loss under Medicare. Currently, Medicare does not cover any anti-obesity medication prescribed solely to help someone lose weight. 

The only way you might get a GLP-1 covered for weight loss is when weight loss is simply an added benefit of a drug prescribed to treat Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, heart disease, or another FDA-approved use. For example, Dr. Rao notes that Wegovy — a weight-loss drug also approved by the FDA for cardiovascular risk reduction — may be covered under Part D when the patient has an established diagnosis of heart disease. In that case, Medicare does not cover the GLP-1 because it causes weight loss; instead, the coverage is for cardiovascular health.

An important note: In August 2025, the Trump Administration said it is considering a pilot program that would cover weight-loss drugs under Medicare for five years. If the program is approved and implemented, weight-loss drug coverage would begin in January 2027. Discussions are ongoing, and all plans are subject to change. Even if the program is confirmed, it is still too early to determine whether GLP-1s will be included.

Cost comparison and savings options for GLP-1s

GLP-1s are very expensive. They can cost $1,000-$1,400 or more per month without insurance or other discounts. But there are ways to save. For instance, SingleCare discounts can significantly lower GLP-1 prices, although exact savings vary by pharmacy.

Let’s look at Ozempic as an example. The average retail price of Ozempic is $1,393 per 1, 3 mL prefilled 20 mg/3 mL pen (0.25 mg or 0.5 mg/dose) multidose pen. SingleCare discounts can significantly lower the price (as low as $825 for the same multidose pen), although exact prices vary by pharmacy. 

If you have a GLP-1 prescription and a Medicare Part D plan that covers the GLP-1, you are likely to pay the lowest amount by asking your pharmacist to process your prescription through your Medicare drug plan. Other ways to lower out-of-pocket costs include:

• Use SingleCare coupons when paying cash. As mentioned above, you cannot combine Medicare coverage with SingleCare discounts. But if Medicare does not cover your GLP-1 prescription, you can use a SingleCare discount card or coupon instead of your Medicare plan. This could save you hundreds of dollars per month.
• Shop pharmacies for the lowest price. Drug prices vary by pharmacy, even if the pharmacies are right across the street from each other. It’s a good idea to compare prices for your prescription at multiple local pharmacies. This could save you a lot of money over time.
• Talk to your prescriber about switching to a covered GLP-1. The best way to lower your out-of-pocket prescription drug costs is to get the medications covered through your insurance. If your Medicare plan doesn’t cover the GLP-1 you are taking, ask your prescriber if you can safely switch to one that is covered.