Is Ozempic covered by insurance?

If you’re considering taking the prescription drug Ozempic® for weight loss, you might be wondering how to pay for it.

Ozempic costs nearly $1,000 per month—and it’s only natural for people to hope their health insurance plans will shoulder some of the burden. But is Ozempic covered by insurance? How can you find out if your insurance covers it? And what are your options if you don’t have coverage for Ozempic?

In this piece, we’ll explore the ins and outs of insurance coverage for Ozempic and ways to save money on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs.

What is Ozempic, and how can it help you lose weight?

Ozempic is a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1) manufactured by Novo Nordisk. The brand-name prescription medication received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat type 2 diabetes by helping regulate blood sugar levels and to reduce the risk of severe cardiovascular events in those with the disease and known heart disease. However, it’s also proven effective as a weight loss aid for people with overweight or obesity.

Its active ingredient is semaglutide, the same active ingredient as its sister drug, Wegovy®, which is FDA-approved for weight loss. 

In a study on semaglutide, researchers found that patients saw an average decrease of almost 6% in body weight after three months on the drug. At the six-month mark, they lost, on average, 10.9% of their body weight.

Though Ozempic is not FDA-approved as a treatment for weight loss, health care professionals may prescribe Ozempic off-label for weight management where it is deemed clinically appropriate for the patient. 

At Found, our obesity-trained health care providers can help you determine if Ozempic is the right weight loss drug for you and, if it’s not, explore other weight loss medications that may be a better fit.

Does insurance cover Ozempic?  

Because Ozempic received FDA approval for helping people with type 2 diabetes regulate their blood sugar levels and lower their cardiovascular risk, many insurers will cover some or all of its cost when it’s prescribed for type 2 diabetes, with or without heart disease. 

However, because prescribing Ozempic for weight loss is off-label, health insurance plans generally do not cover it when it is prescribed for weight loss. 

Some insurance plans exclude coverage of weight loss medications, as a rule, off-label or not. And some will cover it only with prior authorization.

Is Ozempic covered by Medicare or Medicaid?  

The U.S. federal government’s drug coverage program, Medicare Part D, does not cover Ozempic for weight loss. However, it does cover Ozempic as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, with or without heart disease. (By statute, Medicare cannot cover FDA-approved weight-loss drugs.)

Medicaid coverage varies by state. States determine whether or not to cover weight loss medications under Medicaid. Each state has its Preferred Drug List (PDL) or formulary, showing which drugs are covered. (As of January 2025, at least 13 states covered GLP-1 weight loss drugs under Medicaid, with the former administration proposing a rule allowing Medicare and Medicaid to cover weight-loss medications for those with obesity.) If your state doesn’t cover Ozempic for weight loss, you can ask your health care provider about filing an appeal. 

What is the out-of-pocket cost of Ozempic?

The list price for Ozempic, set by the manufacturer, is $997.58 for a one-month supply. (That's as of February 2025. List prices are subject to change.) Retail prices at pharmacies often are higher. What you’ll ultimately pay depends on the specifics of your insurance plan, if you have insurance, and any savings cards or pharmacy discount programs, like GoodRx or SingleCare, that you use. 

How much does Ozempic cost with insurance?

If you have coverage for Ozempic for weight loss, costs (like co-pays) will vary depending on your insurance plan and what tier Ozempic falls on in your prescription drug list (also called a formulary).

The good news is that those with commercial insurance coverage may qualify for reduced co-pays through the Ozempic Savings Card program (think of it like an Ozempic coupon). With the Ozempic Savings Card, people can pay as little as $25 for a 1-, 2-, or 3-month Ozempic prescription for up to 48 months. 

The savings card has some eligibility requirements, but the primary one is that you must already have private commercial insurance that covers Ozempic for your diagnosis.

Will Found help me determine whether my insurance covers Ozempic? 

If your Found-affiliated health care provider prescribes Ozempic to help you on your weight-loss journey, our Care Navigator team will fill out a pre-authorization request for your insurance provider. Your insurer will then choose whether to approve or deny coverage for the prescription. (Prescriptions are up to a medical provider’s discretion.) 

To start your weight care journey, take the Found quiz. 

Does using Found impact the cost or coverage of Ozempic?  

Found prescribes medication, but your cost for Ozempic depends on your insurance coverage and any savings or discount programs you use. If your insurer offers Ozempic coverage, you may have a co-pay. Found membership does not cover your co-pay; that’ll be an out-of-pocket expense. 

What are my options for medical weight loss if my insurance won't cover Ozempic? 

If your insurer doesn’t cover Ozempic, you’ve still got options.

Many insurance companies require a process called step therapy. In a nutshell, this means your insurer wants you to try a less expensive medication first.

Fortunately, Found offers a diverse portfolio of effective weight-loss medications, and many of them work as a first-step medication in step therapy. 

What to know about using Ozempic

How it’s taken

‍As a once-weekly subcutaneous injection in your upper arm, stomach, or upper thigh, using a pre-filled injector pen.

Dose

‍‍Typically, Ozempic’s manufacturer recommends patients start with a 0.25 mg weekly dose for the first four weeks, and clinicians adjust the dose for patients based on their progress and how well they tolerate the medication. After the first four weeks, providers can increase the dose to 0.5 mg for at least another four weeks. If needed, health care providers may increase the dose to 1 mg weekly for four weeks and  up to a maximum weekly dose of 2 mg.

Side effects

‍The most common side effects of semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy) include nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and constipation. These reactions may subside over time. But tell your health care provider if you experience severe stomach problems that won’t go away, including abdominal bloating or pain, acid reflux, a feeling of fullness after eating just a few bites of food, nausea, and vomiting (including vomiting undigested food eaten a few hours earlier). These may be symptoms of gastroparesis (stomach paralysis). 

Serious risks

‍Although rare, in animal studies, semaglutide caused thyroid C-cell tumors. A “black box” for Ozempic warns of the risk of these tumors. If you have trouble swallowing, develop hoarseness, or feel swelling or a lump in your neck, contact your health care provider immediately. The FDA also warns not to take Ozempic if you have (or have a family history of) multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 or medullary thyroid cancer. Ozempic is not approved to treat insulin-dependent diabetes and can cause diabetic ketoacidosis in some people using the drug. Find detailed side effects and risk information for Ozempic and other drugs by name on our dedicated medication page.

The choice to take Ozempic—or any prescription drug—is highly individual. If you’re considering whether this medication is the best match for you, or if another option might be more suitable, talking with a Found-affiliated health care provider who is trained in obesity medicine is a good place to start. 

About Found

Found is among the largest medically-supported telehealth weight care platforms in the country, having served more than 250,000 members to date. To discover your MetabolicPrint™ and start your journey with Found, take our quiz. 

Found is not affiliated with Eli Lilly and Co., the owner of the registered trademarks Mounjaro® and Zepbound®, nor is it affiliated with Novo Nordisk A/S., the owner of the registered trademarks Wegovy®, Ozempic®, and Saxenda®. The content provided is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a basis for diagnosing or treating any health condition. Always follow your health care provider’s instructions to ensure safe and effective management of your health conditions. Certain medications are only FDA approved to treat conditions other than weight but may be prescribed to help aid in weight loss. Prescriptions are up to a medical provider’s discretion. Visit website for risk information.