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How much is Ozempic without insurance?

Ozempic costs $199 to $499 a month without insurance through NovoCare, per Novo Nordisk's prices checked Oct 17, 2026 [1]: $349 for the 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg and 1 mg pens, $499 for 2 mg, and $199 for a new patient's first two starter fills through Dec 31, 2026 [1]. Its list price is $1,028 a month [2].

Updated Oct 17, 2026By the Wellchosen Health editorial team

Medical review: pending. A licensed clinician has not yet reviewed this page.

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].

NovoCare self-pay
$349 a month (0.25, 0.5, 1 mg); $499 (2 mg) [1]
Intro price
$199 for the first two fills of 0.25 or 0.5 mg, through Dec 31, 2026 [1]
With covered insurance
As little as $25 a month, savings capped at $100 [1]
List price
$1,028 a month; $675 from Jan 1, 2027 [2] [4]
FDA-approved use
Type 2 diabetes, not weight loss [3]
Checked
Oct 17, 2026

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.

Ozempic prices, checked Oct 17, 2026
ChannelPrice a monthWhat is includedCheckedSource
NovoCare, new self-pay patient, 0.25 or 0.5 mg$199 for two fillsDrug only. Offer ends Dec 31, 2026.Oct 17, 2026NovoCare [1]
NovoCare self-pay, 0.25, 0.5 or 1 mg$349Drug only. Prescription needed.Oct 17, 2026NovoCare [1]
NovoCare self-pay, 2 mg$499Drug onlyOct 17, 2026NovoCare [1]
Commercial plan covers GLP-1s, with savings offerAs little as $25Savings capped at $100 a month. Not for government plans.Oct 17, 2026NovoCare [1]
TrumpRxFrom $199Starter-dose intro price; prescription neededOct 17, 2026TrumpRx [2]
Retail list price$1,028Before discounts; falls to $675 on Jan 1, 2027Oct 17, 2026TrumpRx [2]; Novo [4]
Costco$199 to $499 reportedA third-party tracker said Costco matched NovoCare in Sept 2026; not confirmed with CostcoSept 2026WeightLossRankings [5]
NovoCare also lists Ozempic tablets for type 2 diabetes with separate prices. We could not match those prices to doses, so they are left out.

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

  1. 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.
  2. On Medicare with diabetes, Medicare says your Part D plan might cover GLP-1s for type 2 diabetes [6]. Details on our Medicare page.
  3. Start on the intro price if you are new and paying cash: $199 for the first two starter fills [1].
  4. 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

Monthly cash prices, checked Oct 17, 2026
OptionCash price a monthApproved for weight loss?Source
Ozempic pen$349 ($499 for 2 mg)No[1]
Wegovy pill$149 to $299Yes[7]
Wegovy pen$349Yes[7]
Foundayo pill$149 to $299Yes[10]
Zepbound$299 to $449Yes[11]
Compounded semaglutide$99 to $297 in the programs we trackNot FDA-approved[12] [13]
More options on semaglutide cost and Mounjaro cost.

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.

Compare Wegovy prices

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Telehealth programs that prescribe Ozempic (clean or caution only)

  1. Ro (Ro Body Program)

    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

    Visit Ro (Ro Body Program)

  2. PlushCare weight loss

    Clean
    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

    Visit PlushCare weight loss

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?

Yes. Ozempic is a prescription drug and is not sold over the counter [3]. FDA warns that counterfeit Ozempic has been found in the US [14].

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?

Costco began selling Ozempic at $499 a month in October 2025 [17]. A third-party tracker reported Costco prices matching NovoCare's $199 to $499 in September 2026, which we could not confirm with Costco [5].

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?

The $25 savings offer is not open to Medicare members [1]. For type 2 diabetes, Medicare says your Part D plan might cover GLP-1s [6], and your cost depends on that plan. The GLP-1 Bridge does not cover Ozempic [8].

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
  1. Ozempic at NovoCare Pharmacy. Novo Nordisk (NovoCare Pharmacy), Oct 17, 2026.
  2. TrumpRx.gov home page. TrumpRx.gov (US government), Oct 17, 2026.
  3. Ozempic (semaglutide) injection label. DailyMed, National Library of Medicine, May 2026.
  4. Novo Nordisk announces reduction in US list price for Wegovy, Ozempic and Rybelsus. Novo Nordisk via PR Newswire, Feb 24, 2026.
  5. Costco Pharmacy GLP-1 prices (third-party tracker). WeightLossRankings.org, Sep 2026.
  6. Weight loss drugs coverage. Medicare.gov (CMS), Oct 17, 2026.
  7. Wegovy self-pay offer. Novo Nordisk (NovoCare Pharmacy), Oct 17, 2026.
  8. Medicare GLP-1 Bridge: information for pharmacies. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Oct 17, 2026.
  9. Wegovy (semaglutide) injection and tablets label. DailyMed, National Library of Medicine, Jun 2026.
  10. Foundayo on LillyDirect: self-pay prices. Eli Lilly and Company (LillyDirect), Oct 17, 2026.
  11. Zepbound on LillyDirect: self-pay prices. Eli Lilly and Company (LillyDirect), Oct 17, 2026.
  12. Eden home page and prices. Eden, Oct 17, 2026.
  13. DirectMeds pricing. DirectMeds, Oct 17, 2026.
  14. FDA's concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss. US Food and Drug Administration, Oct 1, 2026.
  15. Ro weight loss pricing. Ro, Oct 17, 2026.
  16. PlushCare weight loss. PlushCare, Oct 17, 2026.
  17. 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.

Compare Wegovy prices