Quick answer: in October 2026, GLP-1 cost without insurance is $149 to $499 a month if you buy through the manufacturers’ self-pay programs, depending on the drug and dose.[1][4][6] At full list price, the same drugs cost about $650 to $1,350 a month.[3][7]
Prices and program terms checked October 2026. They change often; confirm with the manufacturer or your plan.
This guide compares every GLP-1 weight-loss injection and pill sold in the U.S., plus the two diabetes brands people often ask about. For how these drugs work, see our GLP-1 basics hub.
GLP-1 price table: list price vs self-pay
“List price” is the wholesale price the manufacturer sets before discounts. “Self-pay” is what you pay cash through the manufacturer’s own pharmacy program with a prescription. One “month” is usually a 28-day box.
| Drug (form) | Approved for | List price per month | Manufacturer self-pay per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wegovy (weekly injection) | Weight, heart risk, MASH | $1,349.02[1] | $199 for first 2 fills (new patients), then $349; $399 for 7.2 mg[1] |
| Wegovy pill (daily) | Weight | Not published by NovoCare | $149 (1.5 mg), $199 (4 mg), $299 (9 and 25 mg)[1] |
| Zepbound (weekly vial or KwikPen) | Weight, sleep apnea | About $1,086[3] | $299 (2.5 mg), $399 (5 mg), $449 (7.5-15 mg)[4][5] |
| Foundayo (daily pill) | Weight | $649[7] | From $149 at the lowest dose[6] |
| Saxenda (daily injection) | Weight | $1,349.02[9] | No self-pay program; savings card for eligible people[9] |
| Ozempic (weekly pen) | Type 2 diabetes | About $1,000[3] | $199 for first 2 fills, then $349; $499 for 2 mg[2] |
| Mounjaro (weekly pen) | Type 2 diabetes | $1,112.16[8] | From $499 (LillyDirect)[17] |
Generic liraglutide, the same medicine as Saxenda, is sold by several companies. Cash prices vary by pharmacy, so ask for a quote. See our Saxenda cost guide for details.
Wegovy and Ozempic (semaglutide)
Novo Nordisk sells both through NovoCare Pharmacy. New self-pay patients pay $199 for each of their first two monthly fills of the two lowest doses, through December 31, 2026. After that, most doses cost $349 a month.[1][2]
- Wegovy 7.2 mg (the newest, highest dose) costs $399 a month.[1]
- Wegovy pill prices rise with the dose, from $149 to $299.[1]
- Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes, not weight loss. Its 2 mg pen costs $499 a month self-pay.[2]
On January 1, 2027, Novo Nordisk plans to cut the list price of Wegovy, Ozempic and Rybelsus to $675 a month for all doses.[11] The cut matters most for people whose costs follow the list price, such as those with a high deductible.
Zepbound and Mounjaro (tirzepatide)
Lilly sells Zepbound through LillyDirect. In December 2025 it cut vial prices to $299 for 2.5 mg and $399 for 5 mg. Higher doses cost $449 a month if you refill within 45 days of your last delivery; late refills cost more.[4] Since February 2026, the multi-dose KwikPen has had the same self-pay prices as vials.[5]
Mounjaro is approved for type 2 diabetes. Its list price is $1,112.16 for a 28-day fill of four pens.[8] After Lilly said in November 2025 that it would add Mounjaro to LillyDirect at 50-60% off list price,[15] self-pay Mounjaro now starts at $499 a month for every dose.[17]
For a side-by-side look, see tirzepatide vs semaglutide cost.
Foundayo (orforglipron)
Foundayo is Lilly’s daily GLP-1 pill, approved in April 2026. It can be taken any time of day, with or without food.[6] Its list price is $649 for 30 tablets at every strength.[7] Self-pay starts at $149 a month for the lowest dose, and higher doses cost more.[6] See our Foundayo cost guide.
Saxenda and generic liraglutide
Saxenda is a daily injection with a list price of $1,349.02.[9] It is being discontinued: FDA’s shortage database lists it as available only until January 2027.[10] Generic liraglutide for weight management is sold by other companies.
Savings programs: who qualifies
| Program | Who it is for | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer self-pay (NovoCare, LillyDirect) | Anyone with a prescription paying cash | Prices above |
| $25 savings cards | Commercial insurance that covers the drug | As little as $25; Novo caps savings at $100 a month[1] |
| Medicare GLP-1 Bridge | Medicare Part D enrollees who meet criteria | $50 a month[12] |
Self-pay purchases usually do not count toward an insurance deductible. People on Medicare or Medicaid can generally not use the $25 cards.[1]
Medicare changes in 2026
By law, Medicare Part D plans cannot cover drugs used only for weight loss. They can cover GLP-1s for type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, fatty liver disease (MASH) and heart risk reduction when the drug is approved for that use.[13]
Two changes now apply:
- Medicare GLP-1 Bridge (July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027). Eligible people pay $50 a month for Wegovy (injection or pill), Zepbound KwikPen or Foundayo. Zepbound vials and single-dose pens are not covered. The $50 does not count toward the Part D deductible or the yearly out-of-pocket limit.[12]
- Negotiated semaglutide price (from January 1, 2027). Medicare’s negotiated price for Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy is $274 for a 30-day supply, compared with a 2024 list price of $959.[14]
Bridge eligibility, in short: you must be 18 or older and have Part D. You also need a BMI of 35 or more, a BMI of 30 or more with certain heart failure, hard-to-control blood pressure or kidney disease, or a BMI of 27 or more with prediabetes or past heart attack, stroke or leg artery disease. People with type 2 diabetes, moderate-to-severe sleep apnea or fatty liver disease use their regular Part D plan instead.[12]
These prices follow the November 2025 agreements between the federal government, Lilly and Novo Nordisk.[3]
How to get the self-pay price
- Get a prescription. Self-pay programs still require one from a licensed prescriber.
- Ask your prescriber to send it to the manufacturer’s pharmacy program (NovoCare Pharmacy for Novo Nordisk drugs, LillyDirect for Lilly drugs), or to a local pharmacy that honors the self-pay price.[1][6]
- Confirm the price for your exact dose before you pay, since prices are tiered.
- Keep refills on time. Zepbound’s lower price for higher doses depends on refilling within 45 days.[4]
- Check whether you could save more with coverage. If you later get insurance that covers the drug, a $25 savings card may beat the self-pay price.
Because self-pay prices apply only to genuine manufacturer products, they are also a way to avoid unapproved copies. FDA has warned about unapproved GLP-1 products, including copies sold online.[16]
What a year costs
Using today’s self-pay prices and a clinician-set dose schedule, rough first-year totals are:
- Wegovy injection: 2 fills at $199, then 11 at $349: about $4,240.
- Zepbound: 1 fill at $299, 1 at $399, then 11 at $449: about $5,640.
These are estimates for 13 four-week fills. Your dose, refill timing and price changes will move the total. If the drug isn’t working for you, see what to do when you’re not losing weight on a GLP-1.
