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Key takeaways
Wegovy is a prescription-only, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 agonist) that aids in long-term weight loss.
Wegovy typically retails for $1,349 without insurance in the U.S.
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 or overweight.
Based on the new indication that showed that the drug could reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, some insurance plans will approve coverage of Wegovy for that purpose.
Is Wegovy covered by insurance? | How much does Wegovy cost without insurance? | How to get Wegovy without insurance
Wegovy is an injectable brand-name prescription drug used along with a reduced-calorie diet and physical activity for 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, or 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 was decreased appetite, and unintentional weight loss often occurred, so the manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, formulated Wegovy as a weight loss drug.
Is Wegovy covered by insurance?
Wegovy is not covered by Medicare and many commercial insurance plans for weight loss, however some insurance plans as well as Medicare 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.
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 much does Wegovy cost without insurance?
People without insurance can expect to pay $1,349.02 (the current list price) for four pens, a 28-day supply. At that price, a weekly dose costs about $337. A year of Wegovy treatment adds up to approximately $17,500.
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 $1,234.
Compare Wegovy prices to related drugs |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Price without insurance of brand-name drug | SingleCare price | Savings options |
| Wegovy
(semaglutide) |
$1,349 per 4, 0.5ML of 0.25 mg/0.5 mL auto-injector pens | $1,234 per 4, 0.5ML of 0.25 mg/0.5 mL auto-injector pens of brand-name Wegovy | See latest prices |
| Ozempic
(semaglutide) |
$936 per 1, 1.5 mL of 2 mg/1.5 mL auto-injector pen | $815 per 1, 1.5 mL of 2 mg/1.5 mL auto-injector pen of brand-name Ozempic | See latest prices |
| Mounjaro
(tirzepatide) |
$1,069 per 4, 0.5 mL of 5 mg/0.5 mL auto-injector pens | $994 per 4, 0.5 mL of 5 mg/0.5 mL auto-injector pens of brand-name Mounjaro | See latest prices |
| Zepbound
(tirzepatide) |
$1,060 per 4, 0.5 mL of 5 mg/0.5 mL auto-injector pens | $1034 per 4, 0.5 mL of 5 mg/0.5 mL auto-injector pens of brand-name Zepbound | See latest prices |
| Victoza
(liraglutide) |
$815 per 3, 3 mL of 18 mg/3 mL auto-injector pens | $665 per 3, 3 mL of 18 mg/3 mL auto-injector pens of brand-name Victoza | See latest prices |
| Saxenda
(liraglutide) |
$1,698 per
5, 3 mL of 18 mg/mL auto-injector pens |
$1,157 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.
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. Although individual prices may vary from pharmacy to pharmacy, it may be worthwhile to compare prices.
If GLP-1 agonists are not affordable, ask the prescribing healthcare provider for medical advice about other weight loss drugs.
What is the generic for Wegovy?
Semaglutide is the active ingredient and generic name for Wegovy, but there is no generic version on the market. Generic semaglutide injections for weight loss will not be available until at least 2033, when the patents “run out.”
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 for 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 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 is also the active ingredient in Ozempic, but the price 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.
