Search for articles or Rx savings
Key takeaways
Wegovy is a prescription-only injection that acts as a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 agonist) and aids in long-term weight loss.
Recently, the FDA approved Wegovy to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events (such as death, heart attack, or stroke) in adults with known heart disease and with either obesity (BMI > 30) or overweight (BMI > 25).
Based on the new indication showing that Wegovy may reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, some insurance plans cover Wegovy for that purpose.
Wegovy is an injectable brand-name prescription drug used along with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity to treat chronic weight management. It has recently been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as death, heart attack, and stroke in adults with known heart disease and who are obese or overweight. The active ingredient in Wegovy is semaglutide, a drug sold under the brand-name Ozempic to reduce blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes. One side effect of this medication was decreased appetite, and unintentional weight loss often occurred, so the manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, formulated Wegovy as a weight loss drug.
How much does Wegovy cost without insurance?
People without insurance can expect to pay $1,850 for four pens, a 28-day supply. A year of Wegovy treatment can cost more than $22,000.
The best Wegovy savings may be found with a SingleCare prescription discount card. With SingleCare, the lowest price for a month’s worth of Wegovy is only $1,227.
How much does generic Wegovy cost?
Semaglutide is the generic component of Wegovy. As of June 2025, there is no FDA-approved generic medication available for semaglutide. Novo Nordisk manufactures all medications containing semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus). Novo Nordisk holds multiple patents on semaglutide, with patents not set to expire before 2031. Generic versions of semaglutide may be available in Canada as early as 2026 and in the US in 2031.
RELATED: Weight loss coupons & resources
| Drug name | Price without insurance of brand-name drug | SingleCare price | Savings options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wegovy
(semaglutide) | $1,850 per 4, 0.5ML of 0.25 mg/0.5 mL auto-injector pens | $1,227 per 4, 0.5ML of 0.25 mg/0.5 mL auto-injector pens of brand-name Wegovy | See latest prices |
| Ozempic
(semaglutide) | $1,517 per 1, 1.5 mL of 2 mg/1.5 mL auto-injector pen | $950 per 1, 1.5 mL of 2 mg/1.5 mL auto-injector pen of brand-name Ozempic | See latest prices |
| Mounjaro
(tirzepatide) | $1,470 per 4, 0.5 mL of 5 mg/0.5 mL auto-injector pens | $875 per 4, 0.5 mL of 5 mg/0.5 mL auto-injector pens of brand-name Mounjaro | See latest prices |
| Zepbound
(tirzepatide) | $1,517 per 4, 0.5 mL of 5 mg/0.5 mL auto-injector pens | $1950 per 4, 0.5 mL of 5 mg/0.5 mL auto-injector pens of brand-name Zepbound | See latest prices |
| Victoza
(liraglutide) | $1440 per 3, 3 mL of 18 mg/3 mL auto-injector pens | $160 per 3, 3 mL of 18 mg/3 mL auto-injector pens of brand-name Victoza | See latest prices |
| Saxenda
(liraglutide) | $1,900 per
5, 3 mL of 18 mg/mL auto-injector pens | $1,210 per 5, 3 mL of 18 mg/3 mL auto-injector pens of brand-name Saxenda | See latest prices |
Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing. The listed price without insurance references the price of brand-name drugs (unless otherwise specified). The listed SingleCare price references the price of generic drugs if available. Click the link under “Savings options” to see the latest drug prices.
Save up to 80% on Wegovy with SingleCare
Different pharmacies offer different prices for the same medication. SingleCare helps find the best price for you.
Is Wegovy covered by insurance?
Wegovy is not covered by Medicare, nor is it a covered medication by many commercial insurance plans for weight loss. Some insurances are indicating they will cover Wegovy for the cardiovascular health indication. Insurance companies that do cover Wegovy for weight loss usually place it in their higher copay tiers. The final out-of-pocket cost of Wegovy is determined by other insurance plan payments, such as coinsurance or deductibles. At times, it is difficult to calculate the cost. Calling your insurance company is the more accurate way to confirm the out-of-pocket cost of Wegovy.
RELATED: Does Kaiser cover Wegovy?│Does Aetna cover Wegovy?
Medicare drug plans do not cover weight loss drugs like Wegovy. Medicaid coverage for Wegovy varies by state. People with VA benefits do have obesity drug coverage, but Wegovy is a non-formulary drug at the VA. People in the military do have coverage for Wegovy, but approval requires prior authorization.
How to get Wegovy covered by insurance
Call your insurance (or check their online portal) to ask about their coverage of Wegovy (semaglutide), or have a provider write a prescription for Wegovy and ask that they include the indication (medical condition or comorbid conditions) for this prescription. This may include hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease, BMI > 30. If the insurance denies the prescription, ask the provider to fill out a prior authorization form. If this is denied, then a denial appeal can be performed.
How to get Wegovy without insurance
Wegovy is a brand-name drug that is not always covered by health insurance. Fortunately, a few strategies can help save money.
1. Shop around for Wegovy
The typical retail pharmacy price for Wegovy is currently about $1,349 per four-week supply. Get significant savings by searching SingleCare for your prescription to find out which pharmacy has the best price.
2. Use a SingleCare savings card
The lowest SingleCare price for a four-week supply of Wegovy is $1,234, a monthly savings of $115. Yearly savings could add up to over $1,380. Since discount prices vary by participating pharmacies, browse the best prices on SingleCare’s Wegovy coupons page.
3. Ask the prescriber about alternative GLP-1 agonists
If insurance coverage is lacking, switching to another GLP-1 agonist may save hundreds of dollars a month. The active ingredient in Wegovy (semaglutide) is the same active ingredient in Ozempic, but the price of Ozempic is about $400 lower than the monthly cost of Wegovy.
4. Ask your healthcare provider about other weight loss medications
If other FDA-approved weight loss medications haven’t yet been tried, ask the prescribing healthcare provider about alternatives to expensive GLP-1 agonists such as Adipex-P (phentermine), Xenical (orlistat), Bontril PDM (phendimetrazine tartrate), and Tenuate Dospan (diethylpropion ER). You can find more information on common Wegovy alternatives here. Keep in mind that these drugs may not be as effective and will have different side effects and drug interactions.
Wegovy alternatives
Drugs that work like Wegovy for weight loss, i.e., other GLP-1 agonists, are all expensive, and none are available in a less-expensive generic version. Some GLP-1 agonists are only FDA-approved for Type 2 diabetes (Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Victoza) and may be prescribed off-label for weight loss. These may be slightly less expensive per month than Wegovy. The other GLP-1 agonists approved for weight loss include Zepbound and Saxenda, and both are similarly priced as Wegovy. Because individual prices vary from pharmacy to pharmacy, it is worthwhile to compare prices.
If GLP-1 agonists are not affordable, ask the prescribing healthcare provider for medical advice about other weight loss drugs.
- These U.S. Health Insurers Will Now Cover Wegovy, the Wildly Popular $1,349 Weight-Loss Drug, Entrepreneur (2024)
- VA Formulary Advisor, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- What is the list price for Wegovy® and will it impact me? NovoCare