GLP-1 questions — direct answers
Straight, dated answers to the exact questions people ask about GLP-1 cost, coverage, and safety. Each links to the full guide.
Cost & savings
- How do I get Mounjaro for $25 a month?The $25/month price comes from the Mounjaro manufacturer savings card, which requires commercial (employer or marketplace) insurance — it does not apply if you are uninsured or on Medicare/Medicaid.
- What is the cheapest way to get Wegovy?With commercial insurance that covers Wegovy, the savings card can bring the copay to as little as $25. Without coverage, the cheapest FDA-approved route is the Wegovy pill at $149/month for the 1.5 mg starting dose ($299 at the 9 mg and 25 mg maintenance doses), or the pen at $199 for the first two fills and $349/month after that.
- How do I get semaglutide for $25 a month?The $25/month semaglutide price comes from the Novo Nordisk manufacturer savings card on Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus — it requires eligible commercial insurance and does not apply to Medicare, Medicaid, or the uninsured.
- How much is a GLP-1 at Costco or Walmart?At a retail pharmacy like Costco or Walmart, the cash price for a brand GLP-1 without insurance is close to list — roughly $970–$1,349/month — unless you use a discount program; the cheapest cash routes are the manufacturer self-pay programs, not the retail counter.
- Can you get a GLP-1 without a membership fee?Yes — not every GLP-1 telehealth provider charges a membership fee; some bundle the visit into the medication price or charge only a one-time consultation. Compare the all-in monthly cost (medication + any visit/membership fee + shipping), not just the drug price.
- How do I get the $25 Wegovy savings card?Activate the Wegovy Savings Card at NovoCare with a valid prescription. With commercial insurance that covers Wegovy it can bring your copay to as little as $25, paying up to $100 per 1-month fill. It does not apply to Medicare, Medicaid, or the uninsured.
- How do I get Ozempic for $25 a month?The $25/month price is the Novo Nordisk Ozempic Savings Card, which requires commercial (non-government) insurance that covers Ozempic for type 2 diabetes — the card pays at most $100 per 1-month fill and does not apply if you are uninsured or on Medicare/Medicaid.
- How do I get Zepbound for $25 a month?The $25 price is the Eli Lilly Zepbound Savings Card, which requires commercial insurance that covers Zepbound (the card pays up to $100 per 1-month fill and $1,300 a year); without coverage, Lilly self-pay runs $299–$699/month depending on dose and refill timing.
- How much is Zepbound without insurance?Without insurance, Zepbound is cheapest through Lilly self-pay (single-dose vial or KwikPen): $299/month at the 2.5 mg starting dose, $399 at 5 mg, and $449/month at 7.5 mg and above if you refill within 45 days ($699 at 10–15 mg if you miss that window) — versus a list price near $1,086/month.
- How much is Wegovy without insurance?Without insurance, NovoCare self-pay prices the Wegovy pen at $199 for each of the first two fills and $349/month after ($399 for HD 7.2 mg), and the pill at $149 (1.5 mg), $199 (4 mg) or $299 (9 and 25 mg) — far below the ~$1,349/month list price.
- How much is Ozempic without insurance?Without insurance, NovoCare self-pay prices the Ozempic pen at $199 for each of the first two fills, then $349/month at 0.25, 0.5 or 1 mg and $499 at 2 mg; Ozempic tablets start at $149. The list price is about $970/month. The Ozempic Savings Card “as low as $25” only works with commercial insurance that covers the drug.
Safety & legality
- Can you get a GLP-1 without a prescription?No — GLP-1 medications are prescription-only in the US and cannot legally be bought without a prescription; telehealth makes the visit fast and online, but a licensed clinician must still prescribe.
- Is compounded semaglutide legal in 2026?Compounded semaglutide can still be dispensed legally by licensed pharmacies for patient-specific prescriptions, but the broad compounding allowed during the 2024–25 shortage narrowed after the FDA removed semaglutide from the shortage list in 2025 — and it is not FDA-approved as a finished drug.
- Can you get a GLP-1 prescription online?Yes — licensed telehealth providers connect you with a US clinician who reviews your history in a virtual visit and can prescribe a GLP-1 if it’s medically appropriate, then ship it to you. A prescription is still required; it just happens online.
- Is compounded semaglutide safe?Compounded semaglutide is not FDA-approved and its safety depends heavily on the pharmacy — a licensed US 503A/503B pharmacy with published sterility testing lowers the risk, while unregulated or overseas “research peptide” sources sharply raise it. Verify the pharmacy before buying.
Insurance coverage
- Does insurance cover Zepbound for weight loss?Some commercial plans cover Zepbound for weight loss (often with prior authorization and a BMI requirement), Medicare covers it only for the obstructive-sleep-apnea indication, and Medicaid coverage varies by state.
- Does Medicare cover GLP-1 medications?Medicare Part D excludes drugs used for weight loss by law, but two routes exist: the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge — a flat $50/month from July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027 for Wegovy (pen or pill), Zepbound KwikPen and Foundayo, for members who meet its BMI criteria; and Part D coverage for another FDA-approved use — type 2 diabetes (Ozempic, Mounjaro), obstructive sleep apnea (Zepbound) or cardiovascular risk (Wegovy) — when your plan’s formulary includes it.