Losing GLP-1 coverage? What each medication costs without insurance
Without insurance, the lowest self-pay costs per 30 days are Ozempic injection from $213 ($535 at the top dose), Ozempic pill from $149 ($299 at the top dose), Wegovy injection from $213 ($374 at the top dose), Wegovy pill from $149 ($299 at the top dose), Wegovy HD from $428 ($428 at the top dose), Mounjaro from $535 ($535 at the top dose), Zepbound from $320 ($481 at the top dose), Trulicity from $417 ($417 at the top dose), Foundayo from $149 ($299 at the top dose). A prescription is still required.
If your employer is ending coverage, you are not alone: 14% of employers have already dropped or plan to drop GLP-1 coverage for weight management by 2027, up from 10% earlier in the year (Business Group on Health, reported by Insurance Business). In a separate survey, of employers covering these drugs for weight management, 72% said they were likely to continue in 2027 and 10% said they likely would not (Business Group on Health survey of 105 employers, reported by SHRM). Read Nov 6, 2026.
Staying on the same medication
The lowest current self-pay price of each brand, per 30 days, among prices that state their supply. Follow a medication's name for every seller, dose and condition.
| Medication | Starting dose, per 30 days | Top dose, per 30 days |
|---|---|---|
| Ozempic injection | $213NovoCare (Novo Nordisk) (Ozempic pen) | $535NovoCare (Novo Nordisk) (Ozempic pen) |
| Ozempic pill | $149NovoCare (Novo Nordisk) (Ozempic tablets) | $299NovoCare (Novo Nordisk) (Ozempic tablets) |
| Wegovy injection | $213Amazon Pharmacy (Wegovy pen) and NovoCare (Novo Nordisk) (Wegovy pen (standard doses 0.25-2.4 mg)) | $374Amazon Pharmacy (Wegovy pen) and NovoCare (Novo Nordisk) (Wegovy pen (standard doses 0.25-2.4 mg)) |
| Wegovy pill | $149Amazon Pharmacy (Wegovy pill) and GoodRx (Wegovy pill (oral semaglutide)) | $299Amazon Pharmacy (Wegovy pill) and GoodRx (Wegovy pill (oral semaglutide)) |
| Wegovy HD | $428NovoCare (Novo Nordisk) (Wegovy HD pen (7.2 mg)) | $428NovoCare (Novo Nordisk) (Wegovy HD pen (7.2 mg)) |
| Mounjaro | $535LillyDirect (Eli Lilly) (Mounjaro single-dose pens) | $535LillyDirect (Eli Lilly) (Mounjaro single-dose pens) |
| Zepbound | $320Amazon Pharmacy (Zepbound KwikPen) and LillyDirect (Eli Lilly) (Zepbound KwikPen (multi-dose pen)) | $481Amazon Pharmacy (Zepbound KwikPen) and LillyDirect (Eli Lilly) (Zepbound KwikPen (multi-dose pen)) |
| Trulicity | $417LillyDirect (Eli Lilly) (Trulicity single-dose pens) | $417LillyDirect (Eli Lilly) (Trulicity single-dose pens) |
| Foundayo | $149Amazon Pharmacy (Foundayo) and LillyDirect (Eli Lilly) (Foundayo (LillyDirect self-pay)) | $299Amazon Pharmacy (Foundayo) and LillyDirect (Eli Lilly) (Foundayo (LillyDirect self-pay)) |
If that is too much
Each of these is a different product from the one you may be on, so changing is a decision for you and your prescriber.
- GLP-1 pills are the lowest FDA-approved starting prices.
- An HSA or FSA can pay for prescribed medication if your plan allows it, so any FSA money left this year may be worth using before it lapses. Check your plan's deadline.
- Sellers that work with insurance may still help if your new plan covers a different medication.
- On Medicare? See the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge.
Compounded versions cost less at many sellers. They are not FDA-approved, and they are not the same product as a brand.
| Medication | Starting dose, per 30 days | Top dose, per 30 days |
|---|---|---|
| Compounded semaglutide | $99Strut Health (Compounded oral semaglutide lozenge) | $160NiceRx (Compounded semaglutide) and Sprout Health (Compounded semaglutide) |
| Compounded tirzepatide | $158Affinity Direct (Compounded tirzepatide) | $213Gimme Care (Compounded tirzepatide) |
What to check before your coverage ends
- What exactly is ending, and when. Some employers end coverage only for weight management and keep it for diabetes or heart-related uses, as Starbucks is reported to have done. Ask your plan what your own prescription falls under.
- Your current dose. Prices often rise with the dose, so price the dose you are on, not the starting one.
- Any savings card you use. These can depend on your insurance, so read its terms before assuming it continues.
- A refill before the date, if your plan and prescription allow one, so a change of seller does not leave a gap.
- Your prescriber. Talk to them before you change medication or dose, or pause treatment.
For HR and benefits teams
If your organization is changing GLP-1 coverage, you are welcome to link this page in what you send employees. It is free, it carries no sign-up, and its prices are read on each seller's own page and rechecked weekly. Other ways to use our prices.
Common questions
- What does a GLP-1 cost if my insurance stops covering it?
- Without insurance, the lowest self-pay costs per 30 days are Ozempic injection from $213 ($535 at the top dose), Ozempic pill from $149 ($299 at the top dose), Wegovy injection from $213 ($374 at the top dose), Wegovy pill from $149 ($299 at the top dose), Wegovy HD from $428 ($428 at the top dose), Mounjaro from $535 ($535 at the top dose), Zepbound from $320 ($481 at the top dose), Trulicity from $417 ($417 at the top dose), Foundayo from $149 ($299 at the top dose). These are the lowest current prices that state their supply, and they vary by seller and dose.
- Can I stay on the same medication after losing coverage?
- Usually, yes. Wegovy, Ozempic and Zepbound are all sold to self-pay patients through their manufacturers' programs and other sellers, with no insurance needed. You still need a prescription, and the price depends on your dose.
- Does my employer dropping weight-loss coverage also end diabetes coverage?
- Not necessarily. Some employers end coverage only for weight management and keep it for diabetes or other approved uses. Starbucks is one reported example. Ask your plan what your own prescription falls under.