Quick answer: semaglutide cost in October 2026 ranges from $149 to $499 a month if you pay cash through Novo Nordisk, depending on the brand and dose, versus list prices of about $1,000 (Ozempic) and $1,350 (Wegovy).[1][2][3] With insurance that covers it, a savings offer can bring the cost to as little as $25 a month, and eligible Medicare enrollees can get Wegovy for $50 a month.[11][7]
Prices and program terms checked October 2026. They change often; confirm with the manufacturer or your plan.
Semaglutide is one medicine sold under several brand names by Novo Nordisk. Each brand has its own approved use and price. Rybelsus, the original semaglutide pill for diabetes, was reformulated and renamed the Ozempic pill in the U.S. in 2026.[5]
Semaglutide brands and what they treat
- Ozempic pen: weekly injection for type 2 diabetes (plus heart and kidney benefits in people with diabetes).
- Ozempic pill: daily tablet (1.5, 4 and 9 mg) for type 2 diabetes, available since May 4, 2026. It replaces Rybelsus in the U.S.[5]
- Wegovy pen: weekly injection for chronic weight management and heart risk reduction. Wegovy HD (7.2 mg) was added in 2026.
- Wegovy pill: daily 25 mg tablet for weight management, launched January 2026.
Semaglutide price comparison table
| Product | List price (monthly) | Self-pay (NovoCare) | Commercial insurance with savings offer | Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ozempic pen | About $1,000 | $199 intro; $349 (up to 1 mg); $499 (2 mg) | As little as $25 | Part D, $2,100 yearly cap |
| Ozempic pill | Not stated | $149 / $199 / $299 | As little as $25 | Part D, varies by plan |
| Wegovy pen | About $1,350 | $199 intro; $349 (up to 2.4 mg) | As little as $25 | $50 via GLP-1 Bridge |
| Wegovy HD 7.2 mg | — | $399 | As little as $25 | Ask Medicare (Bridge covers Wegovy) |
| Wegovy pill | — | $149 / $199 / $299 | As little as $25 | $50 via GLP-1 Bridge |
Sources: NovoCare Pharmacy for self-pay prices,[1][2] the White House for list prices,[3] the Ozempic and Wegovy savings terms,[11] and Medicare.gov for the Bridge.[7] Savings offers cap discounts at $100 a month and exclude government insurance.[11]
Semaglutide cost without insurance
Novo Nordisk sells all its semaglutide brands at fixed cash prices through NovoCare Pharmacy and participating pharmacies:[1][2]
- Pens: $349 a month for most doses, $499 for Ozempic 2 mg and $399 for Wegovy HD. New patients pay $199 for the first two fills of the lowest doses, through December 31, 2026.
- Pills: $149 for the starting dose, $199 for 4 mg and $299 for higher doses, for both Ozempic and Wegovy tablets.
You need a prescription. Self-pay spending does not count toward an insurance deductible.[1] For details see Ozempic cost without insurance, Wegovy cost without insurance and Wegovy pill cost.
Semaglutide cost with insurance
Coverage depends on the reason you take it:
- For type 2 diabetes (Ozempic): most commercial and Medicare drug plans cover it, often with prior authorization.
- For weight loss (Wegovy): coverage is optional for employers and often excluded.
If your plan covers the drug, the Ozempic or Wegovy savings offer lowers your copay to as little as $25, with a maximum savings of $100 a month.[11] See Ozempic cost with insurance and our semaglutide coupon guide.
Semaglutide cost with Medicare
- Part D, 2026: covers Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for approved non-weight-loss uses. Your out-of-pocket costs for covered drugs are capped at $2,100 for the year.
- Medicare GLP-1 Bridge: from July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027, eligible enrollees with obesity can get Wegovy (pen or pill) for a $50 monthly copay, with prior authorization.[7]
- 2027 negotiated price: CMS set maximum fair prices of $276.78 for an Ozempic 4 mg/3 mL pen, $276.78 for 30 Rybelsus 7 mg tablets and $385.63 for a 4-pen box of Wegovy 2.4 mg, effective January 1, 2027.[6]
2027 list price cuts
Novo Nordisk will lower the list price of Wegovy (2.4 mg pen and 25 mg tablet), Ozempic (0.5, 1 and 2 mg) and Rybelsus (7 and 14 mg) to $675 a month on January 1, 2027. That is about 50% off for Wegovy and 35% off for Ozempic.[4] Novo said self-pay prices will not change.[4]
Generic and compounded semaglutide
Generic. No generic semaglutide is sold in the U.S. as of October 2026. In April 2026, the FDA tentatively approved one generic version of Ozempic, but it must wait for final approval before it can be sold.[10] So there is no generic price or “generic coupon” yet.
Compounded. Compounded semaglutide is mixed by a pharmacy and is not approved by the FDA. During the shortage, compounders were allowed to make copies. On February 21, 2025, the FDA determined the semaglutide shortage was resolved. It gave state-licensed pharmacies (503A) until April 22, 2025 and outsourcing facilities (503B) until May 22, 2025 to stop making copies of the approved drug.[8] On April 30, 2026, the FDA also proposed excluding semaglutide from the list of bulk substances outsourcing facilities may use.[9]
Why prices differ between semaglutide brands
All of these products contain the same active ingredient, so it can seem odd that their prices differ. Three things drive the gap:
- Dose and supply. An Ozempic box holds one pen that delivers several weekly doses, while a Wegovy box holds four single-dose pens, and the highest Wegovy doses are larger than any Ozempic dose.[1][2]
- Approved use. Ozempic is for type 2 diabetes and Wegovy is for weight management and heart risk. Insurers and Medicare treat those uses very differently, so the same molecule can be covered under one name and excluded under the other.[7]
- Pricing channel. List price, self-pay price, Medicare’s negotiated price and the $245 Medicare and Medicaid price announced by the White House are separate numbers set through separate deals.[3][6]
For a closer look at the two injectable brands, see Wegovy vs Ozempic. If you are comparing the older pill with the injection, see Rybelsus vs Ozempic.
How to pay less for semaglutide
- Check your plan’s formulary for the brand that matches your diagnosis.
- Use the savings offer if you have commercial coverage.
- Compare pill and pen prices. The pills are $50 a month cheaper at maintenance.
- Check Medicare’s GLP-1 Bridge if you have Part D and obesity.
- Check the Novo Nordisk patient assistance program if you are uninsured with low income.
For how semaglutide compares on price and results with tirzepatide, see semaglutide vs tirzepatide.
