Key takeaways

  • The price of Ozempic can vary depending on your insurance coverage, treatment plan, and the pharmacy you use. Also, you may need to purchase pen needles separately.
  • There are some savings options for Ozempic, such as a savings card for people with insurance and Novo Nordisk discounts and Optum Perks coupons for those paying without insurance.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ozempic to:

Ozempic belongs to a drug class called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. Ozempic isn’t available in a generic version.

As with all medications, the cost of Ozempic can vary. Factors that may affect the price you’ll pay include:

  • your treatment plan
  • your insurance coverage
  • the pharmacy you use (it can help to compare prices across pharmacies to find the lowest cost)
  • whether you’re eligible for any of Ozempic’s savings programs (see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section)

You may also need to purchase pen needles to administer Ozempic.

To find out what the price of Ozempic will be for you, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Note: If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers Ozempic. This means the company and your doctor will discuss Ozempic in regard to your treatment. The insurance company will then determine whether the medication is covered. If a drug requires prior authorization, but you start treatment without the prior approval, you could pay the full cost of the medication.

You can ask your insurance company whether Ozempic requires prior authorization.

You may be able to find drug coupons on prescription discount websites that can reduce the cost of your medication. These coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits, but the discounted price may be lower than what you would pay through insurance.

Optum Perks is owned by RVO Health. By clicking on this link, we may receive a commission. Learn more.

If you need financial support to pay for Ozempic, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available.

Novo Nordisk’s monthly offers

Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic, now has special drug offers for those with type 2 diabetes who are paying for this medication without insurance.

For instance, existing patients pay $349 per month for Ozempic .25 (milligrams) mg, .5 mg, or 1 mg, and $499 per month for Ozempic 2 mg.

For more information about these and other Ozempic offers, visit the manufacturer’s website. If you have questions, you can call 877-304-6895, or talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Ozempic savings card

Ozempic has a savings card available for people with commercial insurance. This may also be called a copay card or a coupon card, since it can decrease the cost of your copay. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the Ozempic savings card, including information about whether you qualify.

Once you’re signed up, you can bring the manufacturer coupon card to your pharmacy, where they can use it along with your commercial insurance. If you currently have Medicaid or Medicare insurance, you will not be eligible for the Ozempic savings card.

Other assistance

Some websites provide details about drug assistance programs, ways to make the most of your insurance coverage, and links to savings cards and other services. Two such websites are:

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about drug cost and Ozempic.

How much does the Ozempic pen cost with insurance vs. without it?

The cost of Ozempic pens with or without insurance will depend on many factors, including your dose of Ozempic and the pharmacy you use.

Ozempic may be less expensive with insurance coverage than without it. However, to find out how much Ozempic may cost you, contact your pharmacist. They can give you the price that you’ll pay for Ozempic based on your insurance coverage.

Is Ozempic prescribed for weight loss? If so, how much does the drug cost when used for weight loss?

Ozempic may decrease your appetite, which can cause weight loss. However, Ozempic is not FDA-approved for this use, so it’s not known whether it may be safe or effective for weight loss.

In some cases, your doctor may prescribe Ozempic off-label. (With off-label use a drug is prescribed for a condition it hasn’t been approved to treat.)

Since this medication is not approved to treat weight loss, it’s not known how much Ozempic may cost for this use. Your insurance coverage may be different if the drug is being used off-label.

The best way to determine how much Ozempic may cost you is by calling your pharmacy. They can give you the cost of the medication based on your insurance coverage.

A drug called Wegovy contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic, semaglutide. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) Wegovy is approved for weight loss in certain people when combined with exercise and a low calorie diet.

To learn more about how Ozempic and Wegovy compare, refer to this article about Ozempic versus Wegovy.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about treatments for weight loss and their costs.

What’s the cost of Ozempic with Medicare?

If you have Medicare coverage, the best way to find out how much Ozempic may cost is by contacting your pharmacy. This is because there are different Medicare plans, which may have different prescription drug coverage and copays. Your pharmacist can help determine what the cost of Ozempic may be through your insurance plan.

Note: People with Medicare coverage may not be eligible for certain Ozempic coupons. The coupon card may be used by people with commercial insurance plans only.

If you need help paying for your Ozempic prescription, see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section.

What is Ozempic’s cost per month?

The cost that you pay for Ozempic each month may depend on many factors, including:

  • whether you have insurance coverage
  • your dose of Ozempic
  • whether you qualify for an Ozempic savings card or other savings program
  • the pharmacy you use

The best way to find out your monthly cost for Ozempic is by contacting your pharmacy. Your pharmacist can determine how much Ozempic may cost for you based on your specific insurance plan and dosage of the drug.

Ozempic is only available as a brand-name drug. It doesn’t come in a generic version. (A generic drug contains an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication but tends to cost less.)

Why are costs different for brand-name drugs vs. generic drugs?

Brand-name drugs can be expensive because of the research needed to test their safety and effectiveness. The manufacturer of a brand-name drug can sell it for up to 20 years. When the brand-name drug’s patent expires, multiple manufacturers can create generic versions. This marketplace competition may lead to lower costs for generics. And because generics contain the same active ingredient as brand-name drugs, they don’t require the same costly testing.

If you use Ozempic long term, you may be able to lower its cost in the following ways.

Getting a 3-month supply

You may be able to get a 90-day supply of Ozempic, if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower your cost. If you’re interested in this option, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Using a mail-order pharmacy

Ozempic may be available through a mail-order pharmacy. Using this type of service may help lower the drug’s cost and allow you to receive your medication without leaving home. Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order medications. You may also be able to get a 90-day supply of the drug via mail order.

If you don’t have health insurance, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest online pharmacy options that could work for you.

Now that you’ve learned about cost and Ozempic, you may still have some questions. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist, who can provide personalized guidance about cost issues related to Ozempic. However, if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you’d pay for Ozempic.

Here are some other resources you may find helpful:

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.