Ozempic is Novo Nordisk's once-weekly semaglutide injection approved for adults with type 2 diabetes; it is not approved for weight loss, and the same ingredient is sold for weight management as Wegovy [3].
Ozempic price list
Ozempic's self-pay price stays at $349 until the 2 mg dose, the top of the label's range [1] [3]. The table shows each way to buy it. For all GLP-1s together, see the GLP-1 Price Tracker.
| Channel | Price a month | What is included | Checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NovoCare, new self-pay patient, 0.25 or 0.5 mg | $199 for two fills | Drug only. Offer ends Dec 31, 2026. | Oct 17, 2026 | NovoCare [1] |
| NovoCare self-pay, 0.25, 0.5 or 1 mg | $349 | Drug only. Prescription needed. | Oct 17, 2026 | NovoCare [1] |
| NovoCare self-pay, 2 mg | $499 | Drug only | Oct 17, 2026 | NovoCare [1] |
| Commercial plan covers GLP-1s, with savings offer | As little as $25 | Savings capped at $100 a month. Not for government plans. | Oct 17, 2026 | NovoCare [1] |
| TrumpRx | From $199 | Starter-dose intro price; prescription needed | Oct 17, 2026 | TrumpRx [2] |
| Retail list price | $1,028 | Before discounts; falls to $675 on Jan 1, 2027 | Oct 17, 2026 | TrumpRx [2]; Novo [4] |
| Costco | $199 to $499 reported | A third-party tracker said Costco matched NovoCare in Sept 2026; not confirmed with Costco | Sept 2026 | WeightLossRankings [5] |
Costs that are easy to miss
- The visit to get a prescription. Ozempic is prescription-only [3], and a telehealth visit or office visit is billed on top.
- The 2 mg step. The label allows maintenance at 0.5, 1 or 2 mg, raising the dose after at least 4 weeks [3]. Moving to 2 mg adds $150 a month at NovoCare [1].
- The end of the intro. The $199 price covers two fills. After that it is $349 [1].
- Medicare. The $25 offer excludes government plans [1].
How to pay less for Ozempic
- Use your diabetes coverage. Type 2 diabetes is Ozempic's approved use [3]. If your commercial plan covers it, the savings offer can cut the copay to $25 [1]. See does insurance cover Ozempic.
- On Medicare with diabetes, Medicare says your Part D plan might cover GLP-1s for type 2 diabetes [6]. Details on our Medicare page.
- Start on the intro price if you are new and paying cash: $199 for the first two starter fills [1].
- For weight loss, look at Wegovy. It is the same ingredient approved for weight management, at $349 a month self-pay [7], or $149 to $299 for the pill. See Ozempic vs Wegovy.
Getting Ozempic for weight loss
Ozempic is approved for blood sugar control, heart risk reduction and kidney protection in adults with type 2 diabetes [3]. Prescribing it only for weight loss is off-label. That matters for cost: a plan that covers Ozempic for diabetes may not pay for it without a diabetes diagnosis, and the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge does not cover Ozempic at all [8]. People without diabetes who want semaglutide usually get Wegovy, which is approved for weight management [9].
Cheaper alternatives to Ozempic
| Option | Cash price a month | Approved for weight loss? | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ozempic pen | $349 ($499 for 2 mg) | No | [1] |
| Wegovy pill | $149 to $299 | Yes | [7] |
| Wegovy pen | $349 | Yes | [7] |
| Foundayo pill | $149 to $299 | Yes | [10] |
| Zepbound | $299 to $449 | Yes | [11] |
| Compounded semaglutide | $99 to $297 in the programs we track | Not FDA-approved | [12] [13] |
Counterfeit Ozempic and unapproved copies
FDA says counterfeit Ozempic has been found in the US and may contain wrong or harmful ingredients or the wrong amount [14]. Buy only from a state-licensed US pharmacy with a prescription. Compounded semaglutide is not FDA-approved and FDA does not review it for safety, effectiveness or quality [14]. See compounded semaglutide.
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Telehealth programs that prescribe Ozempic (clean or caution only)
- Clean
- Price
- Membership $39 first month, then $74 to $149; Ozempic price not listed [15]
- What you get
- Ozempic through insurance or cash, plus Wegovy, Zepbound and Foundayo
- FDA record
- No FDA warning letter found as of Oct 17, 2026
- BBB
- Not yet checked
- Note
- Drug billed separately
- Price
- Membership $19.99 (first month free); first visit $129 without insurance [16]
- What you get
- Prescribes Ozempic for diabetes only; Wegovy and Zepbound for weight
- FDA record
- No FDA warning letter found as of Oct 17, 2026
- BBB
- Not yet checked
- Note
- Drugs and labs extra
Ozempic safety basics
Ozempic has a boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumors seen in rodents; do not use it with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2 [3] [9]. Get care for severe stomach pain that will not go away or signs of an allergic reaction. Low blood sugar is more likely with insulin or a sulfonylurea. The label says to stop at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy [3]. For an emergency, call 911. See Ozempic side effects.
Questions people ask
How much is Ozempic without insurance?
Through NovoCare, Ozempic costs $349 a month for 0.25, 0.5 or 1 mg and $499 for 2 mg. New patients pay $199 for their first two fills of 0.25 or 0.5 mg through Dec 31, 2026 (checked Oct 17, 2026) [1].
How do I get Ozempic for $25 a month?
You need commercial insurance whose plan covers GLP-1s. Novo's savings offer can then lower the copay to as little as $25, with savings capped at $100 a month. It does not apply to Medicare, Medicaid or other government plans [1].
Do you need a prescription for Ozempic?
Is there a generic for Ozempic?
No generic Ozempic is sold. Compounded semaglutide is not a generic: it is not FDA-approved and FDA does not review it for safety, effectiveness or quality [14].
Does Costco sell Ozempic, and how much is it?
Can I get Ozempic for weight loss?
Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes, not weight loss [3]. A prescriber may use it off-label, but a plan that covers it for diabetes may not pay without a diabetes diagnosis, and the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge excludes Ozempic [8]. Wegovy is the same ingredient approved for weight management, at $349 a month self-pay [7].
How much does Ozempic cost with Medicare?
Will Ozempic get cheaper in 2027?
Novo will cut Ozempic's list price to $675 a month on Jan 1, 2027, about 35% off. Novo says self-pay prices are not affected [4].
Sources
17 cited
- Ozempic at NovoCare Pharmacy. Novo Nordisk (NovoCare Pharmacy), Oct 17, 2026.
- TrumpRx.gov home page. TrumpRx.gov (US government), Oct 17, 2026.
- Ozempic (semaglutide) injection label. DailyMed, National Library of Medicine, May 2026.
- Novo Nordisk announces reduction in US list price for Wegovy, Ozempic and Rybelsus. Novo Nordisk via PR Newswire, Feb 24, 2026.
- Costco Pharmacy GLP-1 prices (third-party tracker). WeightLossRankings.org, Sep 2026.
- Weight loss drugs coverage. Medicare.gov (CMS), Oct 17, 2026.
- Wegovy self-pay offer. Novo Nordisk (NovoCare Pharmacy), Oct 17, 2026.
- Medicare GLP-1 Bridge: information for pharmacies. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Oct 17, 2026.
- Wegovy (semaglutide) injection and tablets label. DailyMed, National Library of Medicine, Jun 2026.
- Foundayo on LillyDirect: self-pay prices. Eli Lilly and Company (LillyDirect), Oct 17, 2026.
- Zepbound on LillyDirect: self-pay prices. Eli Lilly and Company (LillyDirect), Oct 17, 2026.
- Eden home page and prices. Eden, Oct 17, 2026.
- DirectMeds pricing. DirectMeds, Oct 17, 2026.
- FDA's concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss. US Food and Drug Administration, Oct 1, 2026.
- Ro weight loss pricing. Ro, Oct 17, 2026.
- PlushCare weight loss. PlushCare, Oct 17, 2026.
- Costco to sell Ozempic and Wegovy for $499 a month. HealthDay, Oct 6, 2025.
This page is general information, not medical advice. Talk with a licensed clinician about your own care.