How Much Do Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound & Mounjaro Cost in 2026? (With & Without Insurance)
GLP-1 prices changed more in the past year than in the five before it. There are new pills, a new Zepbound pen, cash prices from $149, and a $50 Medicare option. This guide puts every number in one place: what the drugs list for, what pharmacies actually pay, what you'll pay by dose without insurance, how insurance and Medicare change it, and which route is cheapest for your situation.
Medically reviewed Medically reviewed by Jill St. Germain, PharmD — NPI 1356626378 · Last updated 2026-10-02
Brand GLP-1s list at $1,028 to $1,349 a month, but almost nobody pays that anymore. What you'll pay:
- No insurance: manufacturer cash prices start at $149 a month for the Wegovy pill, Ozempic pill and Foundayo. Pens start at $199 for Wegovy and Ozempic and $299 for Zepbound, then run $349–$499 a month at maintenance doses.
- Commercial insurance that covers it: as little as $25 with a savings card, though the cards are capped at $100–$150 a month.
- Medicare: $50 a month for eligible weight-loss patients through the GLP-1 Bridge (July 2026 to December 2027). For diabetes, Part D caps yearly drug costs at $2,100.
- Connecticut Medicaid (HUSKY): no longer covers GLP-1s prescribed only for weight loss.
GLP-1 prices at a glance
| Medicine | Form | Approved for | Cash price / month | Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zepbound (tirzepatide) | Weekly injection: KwikPen, pen or vial | Weight loss, sleep apnea | $299–$449 | $50 Bridge (KwikPen) |
| Wegovy pen (semaglutide) | Weekly injection | Weight loss, heart risk | $199 → $349 · HD 7.2 mg $399 | $50 Bridge |
| Wegovy pill (semaglutide) | Daily tablet | Weight loss, heart risk | $149–$299 | $50 Bridge |
| Foundayo (orforglipron) | Daily tablet, no food rules | Weight loss | $149–$349 | $50 Bridge |
| Ozempic pen (semaglutide) | Weekly injection | Type 2 diabetes | $199 → $349–$499 | Part D (diabetes) |
| Ozempic pill (semaglutide) | Daily tablet | Type 2 diabetes | $149–$299 | Part D (diabetes) |
| Mounjaro (tirzepatide) | Weekly injection | Type 2 diabetes | $499 (card, not covered) | Part D (diabetes) |
List price vs. pharmacy cost vs. what you pay
Every GLP-1 has three different prices. Knowing which is which explains why the numbers online look so contradictory:
The pharmacy-cost data reveals something most price guides miss: Lilly's newer products cost pharmacies far less than the older pens.
Source: CMS NADAC (data.medicaid.gov). Per-mL and per-tablet NADAC prices multiplied by the package contents. Cash-pay programs can sell below pharmacy cost because the manufacturer covers the difference.
Cash price by dose, without insurance
Self-pay prices rise as your dose goes up, so the first months cost less than maintenance. These are the manufacturers' published monthly prices:
| Medicine | Starting doses | Middle doses | Maintenance / top doses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wegovy pill | 1.5 mg: $149 | 4 mg: $199 | 9 mg or 25 mg: $299 |
| Ozempic pill | 1.5 mg: $149 | 4 mg: $199 | 9 mg: $299 |
| Foundayo | 0.8 mg and 2.5 mg: $149* | 5.5 mg: $199* · 9 mg: $299 | 14.5 or 17.2 mg: $299 if refilled within 45 days, otherwise $349 |
| Wegovy pen | 0.25 / 0.5 mg: $199 for first 2 months | 1 mg, 1.7 mg: $349 | 2.4 mg: $349 · HD 7.2 mg: $399 |
| Ozempic pen | 0.25 / 0.5 mg: $199 for first 2 months (new patients) | Up to 1 mg: $349 | 2 mg: $499 |
| Zepbound (KwikPen or vial) | 2.5 mg: $299 | 5 mg: $399 | 7.5–15 mg: $449 (vials: $599–$1,049 if refilled after 45 days) |
| Mounjaro | No self-pay program. Savings card if not covered: as low as $499. | ||
Lilly's lowest prices for higher doses depend on refilling on schedule. Zepbound vials at 7.5 mg and up, and Foundayo 14.5 or 17.2 mg, keep their lower price only if each refill is purchased within 45 days of the last delivery. Miss that window and the same month can cost $50 to $600 more.
With commercial insurance
With employer or marketplace insurance, four things decide your price:
- Is it on your plan's formulary?Many employer plans cover GLP-1s for diabetes but exclude them for weight loss. Mounjaro or Ozempic may be covered while Zepbound or Wegovy is not, even though they contain the same medicine.
- Prior authorizationMost plans need your prescriber to document BMI, related conditions and sometimes prior diet attempts before they'll pay.
- Deductible and copayOn a high-deductible plan you may owe the plan's full negotiated price until the deductible is met, which can be close to $1,000 a month.
- Savings cardIf covered, manufacturer cards can bring your cost to $25, but they're capped at $100 a month ($150 for Mounjaro). See how each card works.
If your plan doesn't cover weight-loss GLP-1s, or you haven't met a high deductible, the manufacturer's cash price ($149–$449) can be cheaper than your insurance price. The catch is that cash purchases usually don't count toward your deductible. We can price both ways in one call.
Medicare in 2026
$50 GLP-1 Bridge
- Wegovy (pen or pill), Zepbound KwikPen, Foundayo
- July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027
- BMI 35+, or 27+ with certain conditions
- The $50 doesn't count toward your Part D deductible or cap
Regular Part D
- Ozempic, Mounjaro, Ozempic pill, Rybelsus and others
- Your plan's copay or coinsurance applies
- Yearly out-of-pocket drug costs capped at $2,100 in 2026
Part D, plan rules
- Wegovy to lower heart-attack and stroke risk
- Zepbound for moderate–severe sleep apnea
- Usually with prior authorization
Manufacturer savings cards can't be used with Medicare. If you already got a GLP-1 through your Part D plan in 2026, you stay on that coverage rather than switching to the Bridge.
Medicaid and HUSKY in Connecticut
- Weight loss only: not covered. Connecticut's HUSKY program ended coverage of GLP-1s prescribed solely for weight loss in mid-2025. GLP-1s had cost the program about $85 million in fiscal 2024, roughly a third of its drug budget.
- No manufacturer cards or Medicare Bridge. Medicaid members can't use either.
- Still covered (with prior authorization): GLP-1s for type 2 diabetes, and certain other FDA-approved uses.
- Cash is an option. HUSKY members can still pay the manufacturer's cash price, from $149 a month, outside of Medicaid.
Cost per year and cost per pound
Most people stay on a GLP-1 to keep the weight off, so the yearly number matters more than the monthly one:
Sources: manufacturer self-pay terms (Lilly, Novo Nordisk), Medicare GLP-1 Bridge fact sheet, list prices from TrumpRx.gov. October 2026.
Cost per 1% of body weight lost. Dividing a year of cash-price treatment by each drug's average weight loss in its FDA trials gives a rough value comparison:
Weight loss: Zepbound and Wegovy pen from their FDA labels (72 and 68 weeks), Foundayo from its FDA label (72 weeks), Wegovy pill from Novo Nordisk's OASIS 4 results (64 weeks). All figures include people who stopped treatment early. These are different trials, not a head-to-head comparison, and individual results vary widely. Bars scaled to $323.
The most expensive GLP-1 per month isn't the most expensive per pound lost. Zepbound costs the most in cash but produced the most weight loss in its trials, so its cost per percentage point lost is the lowest.
| Factor | Zepbound | Wegovy pen | Wegovy pill | Foundayo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maintenance cash price | 1/5 | 3.7/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Starting cash price | 1/5 | 3.7/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Average weight loss | 5/5 | 2.6/5 | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| Needle- free | 1/5 | 1/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Scoring: maintenance price $299–$449 and starting price $149–$299 scored linearly (cheapest = 5). Weight loss 11.1%–20.9% scored linearly (most = 5). Needle-free: pill = 5, injection = 1. Your prescriber weighs medical fit, which this chart doesn't.
Your cheapest route
- "Too-good" prices. Compounded or "research" semaglutide and tirzepatide at a fraction of these prices are not FDA-approved generics, and none exist yet. See what changed for compounded GLP-1s.
- Overseas sellers. With US cash prices now starting at $149, the case for unverified overseas websites is much weaker than it was, and the risks haven't changed. Read our guide to buying medication from outside the US before you consider it.
Getting the best price at Arrow Pharmacy
- Call before you fillGive us the drug, the dose and your insurance (or none) at (860) 522-9289.
- We price every routeYour copay, the savings card and its cap, the manufacturer cash price, and the Medicare Bridge if you're on Medicare.
- We tell you plainlyIf a manufacturer's own pharmacy is cheaper for you (for example, the Zepbound KwikPen self-pay card, which we can't process), we'll say so. If filling with us is best, we'll have it refrigerated and ready, or bring it with free next-day delivery across greater Hartford.
Call (860) 522-9289. One call compares every way to pay for your prescription. Related: GLP-1 coupons and savings cards · Wegovy · Zepbound · Ozempic
Frequently asked questions
How much is Ozempic without insurance?
Ozempic lists at about $1,028 a month. Novo Nordisk's self-pay price is $199 a month for the first two months on the 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg doses, then $349 a month for doses up to 1 mg and $499 for 2 mg. The new Ozempic pill costs $149 (1.5 mg), $199 (4 mg) or $299 (9 mg) a month. These self-pay offers run through December 31, 2026.
How much is Wegovy without insurance?
Wegovy lists at about $1,349 a month. Through NovoCare, the pen costs $199 a month for the first two months on the starting doses, then $349; Wegovy HD 7.2 mg is $399. The Wegovy pill is $149 at 1.5 mg, $199 at 4 mg and $299 at 9 mg or 25 mg.
How much does Zepbound cost without insurance?
Zepbound lists at about $1,087 a month. Lilly's self-pay prices are $299 for 2.5 mg, $399 for 5 mg and $449 for 7.5 to 15 mg, on the KwikPen or vials. Vials at 7.5 mg and up cost $599 to $1,049 if you refill more than 45 days after the last delivery. Arrow Pharmacy can't process the KwikPen self-pay card, so for that route we point people to LillyDirect.
How much is Mounjaro without insurance?
Mounjaro has no separate self-pay program. Lilly's savings card can bring a month to as low as $499 if your commercial plan doesn't cover it, and pharmacies pay about $1,077 a month for it at wholesale. Mounjaro is approved for type 2 diabetes, where insurance and Medicare Part D coverage is far more common than for weight-loss drugs.
What is the cheapest GLP-1 without insurance?
By published cash price, the cheapest starting options are $149 a month: the Wegovy pill (1.5 mg), the Ozempic pill (1.5 mg) and Foundayo (0.8 mg and, through 2026, 2.5 mg). At maintenance doses, the Wegovy pill (9 or 25 mg) and Foundayo (9 mg, or 14.5–17.2 mg refilled on time) are $299, Wegovy and Ozempic pens are $349, and Zepbound is $449.
Does Medicare pay for GLP-1s in 2026?
For diabetes, yes: Ozempic, Mounjaro and similar drugs are covered under Part D, and your yearly out-of-pocket drug costs are capped at $2,100 in 2026. For weight loss, the new Medicare GLP-1 Bridge (July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027) lets eligible Part D members get Wegovy (pen or pill), the Zepbound KwikPen or Foundayo for $50 a month. Wegovy for heart-risk reduction and Zepbound for sleep apnea can also be covered by Part D plans.
Does Connecticut Medicaid (HUSKY) cover Ozempic or Wegovy?
HUSKY stopped covering GLP-1s prescribed only for weight loss in mid-2025 because of their cost. It still covers GLP-1s for type 2 diabetes and certain other FDA-approved uses, usually with prior authorization. Manufacturer savings cards and the Medicare $50 Bridge can't be used with Medicaid, so ask us to check the current HUSKY rules for your prescription.
Why is the list price so different from what people pay?
List price is the manufacturer's starting price before any discounts, and almost nobody pays it. Insurers negotiate rebates, manufacturers offer savings cards for insured patients, and since late 2025 both Lilly and Novo sell directly to cash-paying patients at $149 to $499 a month. Pharmacies also pay less than list: CMS's NADAC survey puts the pharmacy cost of a month of Wegovy at about $1,307, and of a Zepbound KwikPen month at $482 to $676.
Is it cheaper to buy GLP-1s through LillyDirect or NovoCare?
For cash buyers, the manufacturers' own pharmacies (LillyDirect and NovoCare) charge the same self-pay prices you see on TrumpRx, GoodRx and Costco. If your insurance covers the drug, filling at a local pharmacy with your insurance and savings card is usually cheapest. Call us and we'll compare both for your plan.
How much does a year of GLP-1 treatment cost?
At steady maintenance doses and self-pay prices: about $3,588 a year for the Wegovy pill or Foundayo (at $299 a month), $4,188 for Wegovy or Ozempic pens ($349), $5,388 for Zepbound ($449) and $5,988 for Mounjaro on the not-covered card ($499). At list price the same year would be $12,000 to $16,000. Most people need ongoing treatment to keep the weight off, so plan for it as a recurring cost.
Sources
- TrumpRx — GLP-1 cash prices and list prices (Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound) — U.S. Government (TrumpRx.gov)
- NADAC (National Average Drug Acquisition Cost) — Ozempic, Wegovy, Wegovy HD, Wegovy tablets, Mounjaro, Zepbound, Zepbound KwikPen, Foundayo (survey date 2026-09-23) — CMS
- Zepbound coverage and savings (self-pay pricing and savings card terms) — Eli Lilly and Company
- Lilly lowers the price of Zepbound single-dose vials (Self Pay Journey Program, 45-day refill rule) — Eli Lilly and Company (December 1, 2025)
- Foundayo coverage and savings (self-pay prices by dose, purchase offer terms) — Eli Lilly and Company
- Foundayo (orforglipron) now available in the U.S. (FDA approval April 1, 2026) — Eli Lilly and Company (April 9, 2026)
- Save on Wegovy (NovoCare self-pay pricing for Wegovy pen, Wegovy HD and Wegovy pill) — Novo Nordisk
- Save on Ozempic (savings card and self-pay pricing for Ozempic pen and pill) — Novo Nordisk
- Mounjaro Savings Card terms — Eli Lilly and Company
- Medicare GLP-1 Bridge: GLP-1 drugs for $50 a month (fact sheet) — Medicare.gov (CMS)
- Final CY 2026 Part D Redesign Program Instructions ($2,100 out-of-pocket threshold) — Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- People call GLP-1s life-changing. CT says it can't afford them. — CT Mirror (March 2025)
- ZEPBOUND, WEGOVY and FOUNDAYO — FDA-approved prescribing information (weight-loss trial results) — U.S. National Library of Medicine (DailyMed) / U.S. FDA
- Wegovy pill approved in the US as first oral GLP-1 for weight management (OASIS 4 results) — Novo Nordisk