How much does Ozempic cost?

Average cost of Ozempic

With health insurance covering most of the costs, the out-of-pocket monthly expenses for Ozempic can range between $25 to $200, compared with $1,000 to $1,200 without health insurance.

The FDA approves Ozempic for patients with type 2 diabetes, so most health insurance plans (including Medicare and Medicaid) will cover either all or a portion of costs under those conditions.

See the below table for more details on Ozempic’s monthly cost:

Out-of-pocket expenses, like copays, will depend on your health insurance plan, where you live and the pharmacy you use. For example, your health insurance company may require that you use a preferred pharmacy from a list of participating providers. A physician can also prescribe Ozempic off-label, but it may not be covered by insurance.

In addition, health insurance providers have different copays for various categories, or tiers, of prescription drugs. The price you pay could depend on which tier Ozempic falls into, according to the provider and your coverage plan.

Tiers generally range from one to four, with Tier 1 being low-cost, generic drugs all the way up to Tier 4 being high-priced, brand-name drugs. Currently, there are no approved generic alternatives available for Ozempic because it’s still under patent, so many health insurance providers classify it as a Tier 3 drug. For those with Medicare Part D specifically, the deductible will not be more than $545.

Costs also vary greatly internationally. In fact, the price of Ozempic is much higher in the United States than in many other countries, according to 2023 data from KFF analysis. For comparison, based on the analysis, prices for a one-month supply were as follows: Japan $169,  Canada $147, Germany $103 and France $83. Lower prices could be attributed to governments negotiating directly with drug manufacturers to set prices.

Ozempic discounts and savings options

Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic, offers a savings program to those who qualify. One eligibility requirement is that patients must be enrolled in a commercial health insurance plan. Those enrolled in federal or state health care programs, like Medicare or Medicaid, are ineligible to apply.

• Ozempic Savings Card: You can check eligibility and apply for the Ozempic Savings Offer directly on the NovoCare website. If approved, you’ll receive a savings card that discounts your prescription at the pharmacy. Maximum savings can vary between $150 for a one-month prescription, $300 for a two-month and $450 for a three-month. Offers are only valid for one-time use with up to a 90-day supply of Ozempic.
• Novo Nordisk’s Patient Assistance Program: This program is available to individuals without health insurance, Medicaid or Medicare coverage. To qualify, you must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident and have a total household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. If eligible for this program, you could receive Ozempic at no cost for up to 12 months or a calendar year with Medicare.
• GoodRx and SingleCare: Other prescription savings programs are available through companies like GoodRx and SingleCare. Both programs allow you to fill your Ozempic prescription at one of the company’s partner pharmacies and receive a discounted price.

  Currently, SingleCare prices a 2 milligram (mg) pen of Ozempic around $200 cheaper than GoodRx’s listing price. There are no health insurance requirements for either program, which means you can sign up for savings whether you have insurance coverage or not.

• Compounding pharmacy: Besides utilizing coupons or savings programs, one can potentially save money by purchasing a semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic) injection from a compounding pharmacy if available. Some online weight loss companies connect users to compounding pharmacies for their weight loss medications.

Compounding pharmacies can only produce certain medications if patients have a personalized need. For example, 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 — and semaglutide is currently in shortage at the time of publishing.

A press officer for the FDA told ConsumerAffairs in an email: “The FDA continues to actively monitor drug availability and work with the company to confirm the supply is stable and help ensure patient access to safe, effective drugs. The FDA is currently working to determine if the available supply of semaglutide would meet our definition of a Resolved Shortage.”

Ozempic price comparison with other weight loss medications

Choosing between Ozempic alternatives may depend on whether you have type 2 diabetes and how much you are able to pay out of pocket. Other drugs similar to Ozempic and approved for those with type 2 diabetes are Rybelsus, Mounjaro, Trulicity and Wegovy.

• Rybelsus also contains semaglutide, but is a pill you take once daily instead. It starts off as a 3 mg dose and increases to 7 mg after 30 days, then 14 mg if further sugar level reduction is required. Retail prices for the drug are slightly higher than Ozempic – ranging from $1,100 to $1,240 for a one-month supply, according to GoodRx. Savings plans offer one-time discounts of up to $900 for a three-month supply.

  Similar to Ozempic, studies have shown that Rybelsus helped a majority of participants reach an A1C level of 7% or lower, according to Novo Nordisk, the company that produces both Ozempic and Rybelsus.

• Mounjaro uses tirzepatide as the active ingredient. Retail prices are similar to those of Ozempic, ranging from $1,070 to around $1,200. You can apply for a savings card to reduce the cost by as much as $450 for a three-month supply.

  Injection pens come in various doses, ranging from 2.5 mg to 15 mg. Mounjaro is also approved for blood sugar regulation in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, the results from separate clinical studies show that Mounjaro may be more effective than Ozempic in lowering A1C levels.

• Trulicity (also a once-weekly injectable) uses the active ingredient dulaglutide. The retail price ranges from $977 to over $1,200. Savings cards available on the Trulicity website can drop the cost by as much as $450 for a three-month supply, but keep in mind that discounts can only be applied once.

  A study showed that it helped 50% to 67% of patients reach A1C levels under 7% and reduced the risk of cardiovascular events like stroke and heart attack. Doses range from 0.75 mg to 4.5 mg.

• Wegovy is a semaglutide injection approved for weight loss specifically. Retail prices are typically higher than Ozempic – ranging from $1,350 to $1,600 monthly. However, a coupon on the Wegovy website drops the cost by $225 for a one-month supply.

  It’s the only weight loss medication approved by the FDA to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events. In a 68-week medical study, participants lost an average of about 35 pounds when using Wegovy, along with a lower-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Wegovy is available in doses between 0.25 mg and 2.4 mg.

Factors influencing Ozempic pricing

Supply and demand are two of the most critical factors that affect drug pricing. The rising demand for Ozempic, especially in patients without type 2 diabetes, has caused a shortage, which raises prices overall. According to Novo Nordisk, (the weight-loss alternative) Wegovy is also currently in short supply.

In addition, the availability of a generic alternative can drive down prices. Companies can begin producing generic drugs after their initial patent has expired, which can take up to 20 years. The patent for semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy), in particular, is not set to expire anytime soon, so no generics are available at this time.

Retailer-specific Ozempic pricing details

Retail prices can vary by pharmacy and location. The coupon savings available through prescription discount companies like GoodRx and SingleCare may also differ. It’s important to check pricing in your specific area.

As of publishing, retail prices for New York City range from $1,078 to $2,127 for a 2 mg pen. According to GoodRx data, Costco had the highest prices while Acme Markets Pharmacy had the lowest. Coupon savings could bring the price down to $998.87 at Walgreens.

In Birmingham, Alabama, prices range from $1,162 to $2,127, with Costco having the highest and CVS Pharmacy with the lowest. With a coupon from GoodRx, you could also pay as low as $998.87 at Walgreens.

Not all pharmacies will accept coupons, so check GoodRx’s website for more details. Many national retailers, like CVS, Walgreens and Walmart, currently accept coupons. GoodRx states that its coupons are accepted at over 70,000 pharmacies nationwide. SingleCare is available in over 35,000 pharmacies.

Bottom line

Ozempic prices may not come down for a while until a generic drug is available. In the meantime, there are multiple ways to try to save at least some money on your prescription. Each pharmacy offers the drug at various prices, so research prices before filling your prescription.

You can also explore savings programs available through its manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, or GoodRx and SingleCare to find the best deal. Keep in mind that coupon savings are only good for a one-month supply.

If you don’t have health insurance, consider looking into cost assistance programs available through the manufacturer. You can also talk to your doctor and pharmacist, who may be able to offer insight on additional resources.