GLP-1 Monthly Cost in 2026: Self-Pay, Insurance and Medicare

How much do GLP-1s cost without insurance?

Between $149 and $449 a month for an FDA-approved product bought through the manufacturer’s self-pay program, if you refill on time; Zepbound’s regular price at 10 mg and above is $699, as of October 2026. The exact figure depends on the drug, your dose and whether you refill within the manufacturer’s window.

Novo Nordisk’s pricing page lists the Wegovy pill at $149 a month for 1.5 mg, $199 for 4 mg and $299 for 9 mg and 25 mg. The Wegovy pen is $199 a month for the first two fills of 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg for new patients, an offer that runs through December 31, 2026, then $349 a month for doses up to 2.4 mg and $399 for the 7.2 mg Wegovy HD pen.

LillyDirect prices the Zepbound KwikPen or vial at $299 a month for 2.5 mg, $399 for 5 mg, and $449 for 7.5 mg to 15 mg “when you refill within 45 days”. Miss that window and Lilly’s terms say the regular price applies: $499 for 7.5 mg and $699 for 10 mg, 12.5 mg and 15 mg. Pen needles, or a needle and syringe for vials, are bought separately. The single-dose pen is “as low as $499” a month with commercial insurance that does not cover it. LillyDirect’s Foundayo page prices the tablet at $149 for 0.8 mg and 2.5 mg, $199 for 5.5 mg and $299 for 9 mg; the 14.5 mg and 17.2 mg doses are $299 only when you refill within 45 days, and Lilly says the 2.5 mg and 5.5 mg prices “are temporarily reduced through December 31, 2026”. Lilly does not state the regular price for 14.5 mg and 17.2 mg Foundayo without an on-time refill. The brand-name prices side by side are in the price list.

These prices cover the medication only. You still need a prescriber, whose visit is billed separately unless a program bundles it.

What are the list prices of Wegovy and Zepbound?

Wegovy’s list price is $1,349.02 per package, the same for the pen, the HD pen and the pill, according to Novo Nordisk. TrumpRx.gov shows original prices of $1,087 for Zepbound and $1,028 for Ozempic.

List price is what a pharmacy bills before insurance or discounts. Novo Nordisk’s page says “most people don’t pay list price if their health insurance covers their medications”. It matters in two cases: your plan excludes the drug and you buy it at a retail pharmacy without a manufacturer offer, or you are in a deductible phase that is calculated from it.

Why does the price go up after the first months?

Because every manufacturer self-pay program prices by dose, and the starting dose is not the dose you stay on. Lilly’s page says of Zepbound: “2.5 mg is a starting dose and is not approved as a maintenance dose.”

The step from the lowest tier to the top one is $150 a month for Zepbound with on-time refills ($299 to $449), or $400 at the regular price ($299 to $699); $150 for the Wegovy pill ($149 to $299), $150 for Foundayo ($149 to $299), and $150 to $200 for the Wegovy pen after the two introductory fills ($199 to $349 or $399). Budget on the top tier: twelve bottles of the Wegovy pill at $299 come to $3,588. For Zepbound, Lilly defines a month as 28 days and its card covers at most 11 KwikPen fills a calendar year, so ask what the remaining fills cost.

Telehealth programs handle this differently, and some state one price at every dose. How to work out the all-in monthly price covers dose tiers, memberships and other charges a headline leaves out.

How much do compounded GLP-1 programs cost?

From $129 to $299 a month ongoing, among the 33 programs DoIQualify tracks that include compounded semaglutide in one price, on figures we checked (Prices checked between Sep 5 and Oct 1, 2026). Starting prices run from $99 to $249, which reflects first-month discounts and prepaid plans.

Strut Health is at the bottom of that range at $129 a month on auto-refill, and it has an open FDA warning letter. LevelsRx is $150 a month. TMates is $249 month to month. OMZO, TrimRx and MEDVi are $299 after a lower first month. Compounded tirzepatide costs more: $297 at TMates and $399 for follow-ups at OMZO and TrimRx.

Three programs we track price differently, so their headline is not comparable. Eden charges $99 for semaglutide plus a required $99 membership, about $198 in total. G-Plans and JRNYS charge a program or membership fee and bill medication on top.

Compounded GLP-1s are not FDA-approved. The FDA says it “does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness or quality before they are marketed”. At these prices a compounded program now costs about the same as the lower manufacturer self-pay tiers for an approved product, so compare both. Compounded vs brand-name GLP-1s explains the regulatory difference, and the compare table and the GLP-1 price list list every program’s price with the date we checked it.

Does insurance cover GLP-1s for weight loss?

It depends on your plan, so check your formulary for the specific product and ask whether prior authorization applies.

If your commercial plan covers the drug, the manufacturer savings cards bring your share down to as little as $25 a month. Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy offer is capped at $100 of savings a month. Lilly’s Zepbound card is capped at $100 for a one-month fill and $1,300 a calendar year, and expires on 12/31/2026. Foundayo’s card is capped at $100 a month and $1,000 a year.

If your commercial plan does not cover the drug, the same Lilly cards set the self-pay tiers above. None of these cards can be used with government insurance.

Does Medicare cover Wegovy or Zepbound?

Yes for some members since July 1, 2026, through a temporary program with a $50 monthly copayment. CMS states that “Medicare and Medicaid generally do not cover these drugs for the weight loss indication”, and the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge is the exception: a demonstration running from July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027 that operates outside the normal Part D benefit.

Medicare.gov lists the covered drugs as Foundayo tablets, Wegovy injection or tablets, and the Zepbound KwikPen only; single-dose Zepbound vials and pens are not covered. You need Part D drug coverage, your provider must complete a prior authorization, and you must meet one of three BMI tiers set out in who qualifies for a GLP-1.

You are not eligible for the Bridge if you have type 2 diabetes, moderate-to-severe sleep apnea or fatty liver disease, because your Part D plan may already cover a GLP-1 for those conditions. Separately, Medicare Part B covers obesity screening and behavioral counseling at no cost if your BMI is 30 or more and your provider accepts assignment.

Does Medicaid cover GLP-1s for weight loss?

Generally not, and it varies by state. CMS’s BALANCE model is designed to change that: CMS negotiates GLP-1 prices with manufacturers on behalf of state Medicaid agencies, and states can join between May 2026 and January 1, 2027. Participation is voluntary, so ask your state Medicaid agency whether it has joined and which products it covers.

Can you use HSA or FSA money for a GLP-1?

Yes for the prescription itself. IRS Publication 969 defines qualified medical expenses for HSAs and FSAs as those that “would generally qualify for the medical and dental expenses deduction”, and Publication 502 says you can include “amounts you pay for prescribed medicines and drugs”.

Program and membership fees are narrower. Publication 502 allows weight-loss program costs only “if it is a treatment for a specific disease diagnosed by a physician (such as obesity, hypertension, or heart disease)”, and excludes diet food and gym dues. Keep the diagnosis and the itemized receipt.

How can you lower what you pay for a GLP-1?

Match your situation to the route with the lowest confirmed price, then check the dose you will end up on.

• Commercial insurance that covers the drug: use the manufacturer savings card, from $25 a month.
• Commercial insurance that excludes it: manufacturer self-pay, $149 to $449 a month for an FDA-approved product if you refill on time; Zepbound’s regular price is up to $699.
• Medicare with Part D: the GLP-1 Bridge at $50 a month, if you meet its criteria.
• No insurance: compare manufacturer self-pay with compounded programs at $129 to $299, remembering that compounded medication is not FDA-approved.
• Any route: pay with HSA or FSA funds, and ask how many fills a year the price covers.

Medicare.gov adds a caution for members: TrumpRx and other discount cards “aren’t considered creditable coverage”, and purchases made with them do not count toward your deductible or out-of-pocket maximum.

The program cost calculator totals 3, 6 and 12 months for any two options. Before prepaying for several months to get a lower rate, read what to check about cancelling, pausing and renewals. The DoIQualify quiz shows whether you may meet common criteria and which programs fit your state and budget; a result is not an approval.

GLP-1 cost FAQ

Prices were read from the sources above between 19 September and 1 October 2026 and change frequently; the price at checkout is the one that applies. Compounded GLP-1s are not FDA-approved. We may earn a referral fee if you enroll through our links. Affiliate disclosure