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Given its promising weight loss results, it’s not surprising that demand for Ozempic® hasn’t lessened much, if at all. But with a hefty price tag of nearly $1,000 a month, the costs can keep people who need obesity treatment from being able to access this drug.
If you’re looking for ways to spend less on your Ozempic prescription, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we’ll walk you through ways to save money, including a special Ozempic coupon (aka the Ozempic Savings Card), a patient assistance program, and more.
If, after going through these steps, you decide that Ozempic isn’t right for you, there are other options for weight loss. Found-affiliated health care providers are trained in obesity medicine, and they work with a portfolio of different medications to personalize prescriptions and help people lose weight. Some of these drugs are very affordable.
Let’s explore the options!
There’s no single, straightforward answer to how much Ozempic (or any medication) will cost an individual patient in the United States. To start, it’s important to understand the “list price,” an amount the drug manufacturer sets. Think of it as the sticker price. That said, most people will pay less than the list price, thanks to insurance coverage, deals manufacturers make with health insurers, patient assistance programs, coupons, or rebates. Your insurance plan’s out-of-pocket limits and copay rate for prescription drugs will also influence how much you pay.
Drug manufacturer Novo Nordisk set Ozempic’s list price at $935.77. The cost remains the same, regardless of whether you have a prescription for a 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, or 2 mg weekly dose.
In short, it depends on what type of insurance you have, what it covers, and the prescription drug’s indicated purpose. Some insurers cover the cost of Ozempic and weight-loss medications; others don’t. The Ozempic website has a self-guided tool for assessing coverage to help you determine if your insurance company will cover this medication.
If you have prescription coverage through a state-funded program (like Medicaid) or a federally funded program (like Medicare), laws inform your coverage. Under federal laws, Medicare Part D—the U.S. government’s drug coverage program—can cover the costs of weight-loss medications if they are prescribed to people with heart disease, for the purpose of preventing serious events like heart attacks and strokes. The prescribed medication has to be FDA-approved for preventing major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).
Under Medicaid, each state determines whether or not to cover weight-loss medications. (As of July 2023, sixteen states covered at least one weight-loss drug under Medicaid.)
Since Ozempic, which contains the active ingredient semaglutide, is FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes, insurers may not cover it for weight loss because that’s considered off-label use. That said, Novo Nordisk manufactures another brand name drug, Wegovy®, which is FDA-approved specifically for weight loss and also contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient as Ozempic.
To determine which treatment works best for you—whether Ozempic, Wegovy, Victoza®, Trulicity®, or something else—Found-affiliated health care providers can help. Trained in obesity medicine, Found’s team of clinicians uses the MetabolicPrint™ assessment to uncover the underlying causes of your weight challenges. Using your unique metabolic profile, they can then customize a prescription medication and treatment plan to help you reach your weight goals.
Keep in mind that common side effects of GLP-1s include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and constipation. More serious but less common side effects can include pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, kidney problems, and changes in vision. Those with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasias syndrome type 2 should not use these drugs. Find detailed side effects and risk information on our dedicated medication page.
Yes, there’s an Ozempic Savings Card, which operates similarly to a coupon. With this discount card, you might pay as little as $25 for an 84-day supply, according to the Ozempic website, with a maximum savings of $150 (for a 1-month supply), $300 (for a 2-month supply), and $450 (for a 3-month supply). The offer is good for up to 24 months.
To be eligible for the Ozempic Savings Card (or Ozempic $25 coupon), you’ll need to meet all of these criteria:
Prescription: You have a valid prescription for Ozempic.
Commercial insurance: You’re covered by commercial insurance (and you’re not getting prescription coverage through a state or federal health care program, such as Medicare or Medicaid).
Coverage: The cost of your prescription is not entirely covered by your commercial insurance plan.
Residency: You’re based in the United States or a U.S. territory.
People with Medicare and others who aren’t eligible for the Ozempic coupon may qualify for free medicine through Novo Nordisk’s Patient Assistance Program (also known as “PAP”). The program also covers Rybelsus® (semaglutide tablets), Victoza (liraglutide), and other drugs.
To be eligible for the Novo Nordisk Patient Assistance Program, you’ll need to meet all of these criteria:
Citizenship and residency: You’re a citizen or a legal resident of the U.S.
Income: You have a total household income that’s at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. (Not sure? Check out this chart from the non-profit organization NeedyMeds.)
Insurance coverage: You have coverage through Medicare, but you’re not enrolled in or don’t qualify for any other state, federal, or government program (such as Medicaid, Low Income Subsidy, or Veterans Affairs Benefits)—or, you don’t have health insurance coverage at all.
For more details and to apply, check out Novo Nordisk’s Patient Assistance Program on the NovoCare website.
No, unfortunately, there isn’t a generic Ozempic yet. Right now, Novo Nordisk has a patent that’s set to expire in December 2031. But if another company successfully challenges Novo Nordisk’s patent and wins, a generic version of Ozempic might be developed sooner. It’s hard to predict how the future will unfold.
About Found
To discover your MetabolicPrint and start your journey with Found, take our quiz. Found is among the largest medically supported weight care clinics in the country, having served more than 200,000 members to date.
GLP-1*
GLP-1 prescriptions, filled through your local pharmacy, are now available as part of Found's weight-loss toolkit. While GLP-1s can be effective for weight loss, they are not clinically appropriate for everyone. Eligibility for a GLP-1 is based on a thorough evaluation of your medical history and lab work. If a GLP-1 is not appropriate for you, our providers will work with you to determine an effective medication for your health profile.
