How much are weight loss injections?

How much are weight loss injections

The current list price in the U.S. for a one-month supply (defined as four weekly injections used over 28 days) of Wegovy (semaglutide) and Saxenda (liraglutide) is $1,349, and Zepbound (tirzepatide) is $1,059. However, the patient’s out-of-pocket cost will likely be much lower if their insurance covers the prescription or if they use drug manufacturer coupons, programs or discounts from online pharmacies.

Factors influencing the cost of weight loss injections

The effective cost of weight loss injections varies based on insurance coverage, available coupons and discounts and where you purchase the drug.

Insurance

Insurance coverage for weight loss drugs varies by plan. Some commercial insurance providers cover this cost but only up to a certain amount, such as limiting the number of injection dosages it approves per month or only covering a certain percentage of the price.

In other cases, your plan may exclude coverage for medications used for weight loss but will cover them for weight-related conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. According to data collected by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 57% of adults polled who’ve taken GLP-1 medications say their insurance covered a portion of the cost, but the only way to know what your plan covers is to contact your insurance provider directly.

You may also be able to get a prescription for other medications like Ozempic or Mounjaro if you have type 2 diabetes. These are both GLP-1 drugs that are effective for weight loss but are only FDA-approved for diabetes treatment.

Those using Medicare or Medicaid may encounter different problems. Currently, Medicare doesn’t cover antiobesity medications solely for weight loss but will cover them when used for other uses like treatment of type 2 diabetes or reducing the risk of heart attack or stroke. Coverage for Medicaid recipients also varies since each state decides whether or not to cover weight loss drugs, with only 16 states currently covering pharmacology obesity interventions.

Coupons and discounts

Most drug manufacturers provide coupons that can dramatically cut costs. For instance, Wegovy has a coupon for up to $225 off a 28-day supply that can be used for up to one year if the drug is covered by your insurance plan. For patients whose insurance doesn't cover Wegovy, there’s a coupon to get a 28-day supply for $650.

Eli Lilly, the maker of Zepbound, offers a commercial savings card program with costs as low as $25 for a one- or three-month supply for patients with insurance coverage. For those who are commercially insured but their plan doesn’t cover Zepbound, you can opt for the cash option, which gets you a one-month prescription of the Zepbound 2.5 milligram (mg) vial for $399 when using the company’s LillyDirect pharmacy.

Online distributors

Patients may also turn to online platforms for their weight loss medications. These businesses often offer compounded versions of the drugs, which are less expensive. Compounded formulations include the same active ingredient as name brands but are made by compounding pharmacies instead of drug companies.

These pharmacies have lower overhead costs than companies like Eli Lilly (Zepbound) and Novo Nordisk (Wegovy), and their products don’t have to go through the same FDA review process, so they’re able to sell them to consumers at a lower price.

Additionally, compounding pharmacies can only produce certain medications if there is a specific personalized need in an individual patient (for example, if a patient has difficulty tolerating an FDA-approved medicine due to the formulation) or if the FDA declares a drug shortage on the drug in question.

A press officer at the FDA said in an email to ConsumerAffairs recently that the FDA is working to determine if “the available supply of semaglutide would meet our definition of a Resolved Shortage.”

Comparing weight loss injection options

The only FDA-approved injection weight loss drugs are Wegovy, Saxenda and Zepbound.

• Wegovy is approved to treat obesity in individuals 12 years and older and those with weight-related issues like high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes.
• Saxenda and Zepbound are approved for adults with obesity or those with a body mass index (BMI) over 27 and weight-related health concerns. Saxenda is also approved for children aged 12 to 17 with obesity who weigh over 132 pounds.

All three weight loss injections are effective in helping patients lose weight, and all have a similar list price ranging from $1,059 to $1,349 for a one-month supply.

Compounded versions of these drugs are used by some as an alternative and are less expensive. However, compounded drugs are not formally FDA-approved, and consumers should exercise caution around them.

In terms of cost, the best drug is the one you’re able to get a prescription for, and that’s covered by your insurance. However, there are obviously other important factors to consider so you should discuss your health goals with your doctor to determine the best weight loss medication to get the results you want at a price you can afford.

Where to get weight loss injections

It’s important to only work with qualified health care professionals when seeking weight loss injections and the best place to start is with your primary care provider. A reputable physician will evaluate your current health goals, your personal health history and your family’s health history to fully understand your needs.

You should also be wary of doctors who only recommend weight loss drugs and don't offer alternatives or provide other information about how to maintain a healthy weight like making dietary changes or exercising. These injections are not intended as a stand-alone weight loss intervention and should only be used in conjunction with healthy lifestyle changes. Your doctor should also provide ongoing care and monitoring.

Most physicians are able to prescribe weight loss injections, but you may want to look for a doctor who’s certified in obesity medicine or one who’s trained in internal medicine. These doctors will have specialized training and potentially a better understanding of how certain body systems may react to weight loss medications.

Online providers

If you’re unable to meet with your regular doctor or don’t want to, you can turn to online prescribers. There are a number of online platforms where you can fill out a preliminary questionnaire, meet virtually with a licensed physician who will perform a health assessment and if appropriate, prescribe weight loss drugs that are then delivered to your home or a nearby pharmacy.

If you do decide to get weight loss injections through an online provider, make sure it’s a reputable company. Ensure the platform only works with licensed medical providers and that the doctor you meet with performs a thorough consultation. The FDA recommends only buying prescriptions through state-licensed online pharmacies and, if possible, suggests talking with your regular doctor about any prescriptions you’ve purchased online.

When you receive the medication, check the packaging for misspellings, broken or damaged wrapping or poor print quality — all indicators of an untrustworthy product. You should also avoid ordering a compounded drug if you’re able to get an approved drug instead.

Effectiveness of weight loss injections

When used as prescribed, along with a lifestyle program that includes dietary changes and regular exercise, weight loss injections can be very effective. Studies show that patients can lose 5% to 15% of their starting weight, but there are several factors that can influence the effectiveness of the drug. For instance, you may not see the results you’re looking for if you aren’t making lifestyle interventions, if you aren’t taking the medication consistently or if you don't have a high enough dose.

It’s also worth noting that if you stop taking the medication, you may gain some of the weight back. One study found that those who stopped taking semaglutide injections and stopped lifestyle interventions gained back two-thirds of their starting weight. However, another study found that 56.2% of patients who ceased semaglutide injections for one year remained at around the same weight or continued to lose more after treatment.

Some research shows that Wegovy (semaglutide) is more effective than Saxenda (liraglutide), with one study finding that patients who took semaglutide lost 15.8% of their body weight compared with only 6.4% for those taking liraglutide.

However, the medication that works best for one person won’t necessarily work best for another since each patient will respond differently. Some people may experience more pronounced side effects from certain medications, while others may have another health condition that prevents them from taking a certain medication.

Bottom line

If you’ve struggled to maintain a healthy weight despite making lifestyle changes, prescription weight loss injections may be the medical intervention you’ve been looking for. These drugs are proven to be effective when used as directed and have seen a spike in popularity over the last decade.

However, they come at a high price and you’ll have to weigh the costs and benefits to see if it’s a sustainable solution for you. Furthermore, due to the influx of online platforms selling both brand name and compounded versions of these medications, you have to make sure you’re only working with reputable providers.