United States · Cost

GLP-1 cost without insurance in the US

Pending medical review

Applies to: United States

By Joshua Nichvolodoff · Fact-checked against sources November 2, 2026 · Next review due January 31, 2027

Clinical review: not yet reviewed by a clinician. How review works · Editorial policy

Without insurance coverage, there are a few published routes to buying semaglutide or tirzepatide in the US. Here is what each one lists, dated and linked — and the FDA's warning about products that aren't the approved medicines.

Manufacturer self-pay

Novo Nordisk lists Wegovy at $349 a month (as reported by Novo Nordisk (NovoCare), April 2026; checked November 2, 2026 — may have changed)[1], the Wegovy pill at $149 / $199 / $299 / $299 a month by dose (as reported by Novo Nordisk (NovoCare), April 2026; checked November 2, 2026 — may have changed)[1], and Ozempic at $349 a month (0.25, 0.5 or 1 mg); $499 a month (2 mg) (as reported by Novo Nordisk (NovoCare), May 2026; checked November 2, 2026 — may have changed)[4]. Lilly lists the Zepbound KwikPen at $299 / $399 / $449 a month (as reported by Eli Lilly and Company, September 2026; checked November 2, 2026 — may have changed)[5]. See the pages for Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro and Zepbound.

TrumpRx

The White House lists Ozempic and injectable Wegovy at an average of $350 a month, as low as $199 (as reported by The White House, February 5, 2026; checked November 2, 2026 — may have changed)[6], and Zepbound at an average of $346 a month, as low as $299 (as reported by The White House, February 5, 2026; checked November 2, 2026 — may have changed)[6], through TrumpRx.gov with a prescription.

Medicare and Medicaid

If you have Medicare Part D, the GLP-1 Bridge lists $50 copay a month (as reported by Medicare.gov (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services), July 1, 2026; checked November 2, 2026 — may have changed)[7] for eligible enrollees[7]. Medicaid coverage for obesity is optional for each state; KFF counted 13 state programs covering these drugs for obesity under fee-for-service as of January 2026[2].

A warning about unapproved products

The FDA says compounded drugs are not FDA-approved and the agency does not review them for safety, effectiveness or quality, and warns that counterfeit GLP-1s may contain the wrong ingredients or the wrong amount of the active ingredient[3]. More: compounded vs generic vs brand-name.

Prices change; every figure is dated. General information, not medical or financial advice. Light Years earns nothing from any product named here.

Sources

  1. Wegovy price guide (self-pay and commercial copay). Novo Nordisk (NovoCare), April 2026. https://www.novocare.com/content/dam/novonordisk/novocare/redesign/pdf/Wegovy_Price_Guide.pdf. Accessed November 2, 2026. Back to the text
  2. Medicaid coverage of and spending on GLP-1s. KFF, January 16, 2026. https://www.kff.org/medicaid/medicaid-coverage-of-and-spending-on-glp-1s. Accessed November 2, 2026. Back to the text
  3. FDA's concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, October 1, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-alerts-and-statements/fdas-concerns-unapproved-glp-1-drugs-used-weight-loss. Accessed November 2, 2026. Back to the text
  4. Ozempic pill and pen price guide. Novo Nordisk (NovoCare), May 2026. https://www.novocare.com/content/dam/novonordisk/novocare/redesign/pdf/Ozempic_Price_Guide.pdf. Accessed November 2, 2026. Back to the text
  5. Zepbound coverage & savings (savings card terms). Eli Lilly and Company, September 2026. https://www.zepbound.lilly.com/coverage-savings. Accessed November 2, 2026. Back to the text
  6. Fact sheet: President Donald J. Trump launches TrumpRx.gov to bring lower drug prices to American patients. The White House, February 5, 2026. https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2026/02/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-launches-trumprx-gov/. Accessed November 2, 2026. Back to the text
  7. Weight loss drugs (Medicare GLP-1 Bridge). Medicare.gov (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services). https://www.medicare.gov/glp1bridge. Accessed November 2, 2026. Back to the text

Figures marked “as reported” are historical: they show what the source said on that date, not today's price or rule.

Changes to this page

  • — First published.

Substantive corrections are also logged at corrections.

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