How to get the cheapest semaglutide without insurance

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist marketed by Novo Nordisk with the brand name drugs Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus. Wegovy is FDA-approved for chronic weight management in obese and overweight patients. Ozempic and Rybelsus are prescription drugs approved by the FDA for the management of blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes patients.

Semaglutide costs about $1000 per month without insurance. Currently, only Novo Nordisk is authorized to manufacture semaglutide, while there’s no generic version available. The company has set the cost of these medications extremely high, which makes it very expensive for patients, especially those without insurance.

Fortunately, there’s a patient assistance program (PAP) by Novo Nordisk for Ozempic and Rybelsus, Wegovy and Ozempic saving card programs, and compounded semaglutide available as alternative options to get cheap semaglutide without insurance.

This article details cost-saving strategies to get affordable and cheap semaglutide without insurance.

How much does semaglutide cost without insurance?

On average, the cost of semaglutide is around $1,000 per month without insurance. Ozempic costs around $968.52 per month or $242.13 per week. However, the price may vary depending on the location, pharmacy, and dosage.

Wegovy costs around $1,349.02 per month or $337.25 per week. However, the prices may vary depending on the pharmacy and location you purchase from.

Rybelsus tablets cost around $968.53 for a 30-day supply or $242.13 per week.

Compounded semaglutide is an affordable alternative to Ozempic and Wegovy. Although the medication has the same active ingredient as these drugs, it has not been approved by the FDA. Compounded semaglutide is a custom-made medication formulated by compounding pharmacies to meet patients’ individual needs. This medication is particularly useful during drug shortages when patients cannot access Ozempic and Wegovy. Compared to $968.52 and $1349.02 for Ozempic and Wegovy, respectively, compounded semaglutide offered by NiceRx costs $249 per month.

Why is semaglutide so expensive without insurance?

Semaglutide is expensive without insurance because currently, Novo Nordisk is the only company authorized to manufacture the medication while it is under patent protection. According to an estimate by the Institute of Clinical and Economic Review, the prices of these weight loss drugs should be 44-57% less than the current price to become affordable.

Additionally, the US. government does not regulate how much a pharmaceutical company can charge for a drug. American patients pay approximately ten times more ($936) for Ozempic compared to people in Australia, the United Kingdom, France, and Sweden, and five times more than patients in Japan.

Drug shortages have also driven up the prices of Semaglutide. The company Novo Nordisk limited the supply (in May 2023) of lower doses of semaglutide to meet the needs of patients already taking semaglutide.

How to get cheap semaglutide without insurance

There are various options to get cheap semaglutide without insurance, such as compounded semaglutide, patient assistance programs, semaglutide coupon cards, and telehealth providers.

Compounded semaglutide

Compounded semaglutide has the same active ingredient as the brand-name medications Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus. The medication is customized by semaglutide compounding pharmacies according to the needs of patients. Although compounded semaglutide is a cheaper alternative to semaglutide, this medication is not approved by the FDA for type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management. However, many patients buy compounded medications during drug shortages.

NiceRx offers a one-month supply of compounded semaglutide including free shipping to your doorstep.

Patient assistance programs

Novo Nordisk offers a patient assistance program (PAP) for patients who meet the eligibility criteria. Patients approved for the PAP receive free Ozempic or Rybelsus from Novo Nordisk without registration charges or monthly fees.

Savings card programs

The Wegovy Savings Card program helps patients without insurance coverage for Wegovy, or those with commercial insurance coverage for Wegovy with out-of-pocket costs of more than $849 per month, access a 28-day supply of Wegovy for $650.

Medicare or Medicaid

Medicare and Medicaid might cover semaglutide for people with type 2 diabetes. However, these federal programs typically don’t cover weight loss medications. Coverage and eligibility vary by state so check with your local representative for coverage details.

Online telehealth providers

As semaglutide is a prescription-only medication, you can consult a telehealth provider to get an online prescription for semaglutide after a detailed evaluation. Telehealth platforms like NiceRx offer online telehealth consultations for semaglutide with the delivery of the weight loss drug directly to your doorstep without insurance. Telehealth consultations save you time, the cost of traveling and the hassle of visiting a doctor in person.

Semaglutide patient assistance programs

Novo Nordisk offers various programs to make semaglutide affordable for patients including the following:

Novo Nordisk Patient Assistance Program

Novo Nordisk patient assistance program (PAP) offers free Ozempic and Rybelsus to eligible individuals with type 2 diabetes. The program has free registration and no monthly fee.

You can apply for PAP if you meet the following criteria:

• You must be a U.S. citizen or a legal resident of the United States.
• Your total household income should be equal to or less than 400% of the federal poverty rate (FPL).
• You should not be enrolled in any commercial or private insurance.
• You should not be enrolled in federal, state, or government programs such as Medicaid, Veteran Affairs (VA), or low-income subsidies.

You can apply for the PAP online or contact Novo Nordisk directly for assistance. You’ll need to provide information about your household income, insurance status, and medical condition.

The program is not for individuals prescribed Ozempic or Rybelsus for weight loss.

Wegovy Savings Card program

With the Wegovy saving card, you can pay as little as $0 per month if your commercial insurance covers Wegovy or if your out-of-pocket expenses are equal to or less than $849 per month. You can save a maximum of $225 per month with this offer. Otherwise, you can receive Wegovy for $650 per month if your commercial insurance doesn’t cover Wegovy, if you’re uninsured, or if your out-of-pocket costs are more than $849 per month.

You can apply for this savings program if:

• You have a valid prescription for Wegovyfrom a healthcare professional with an FDA-approved indication.
• You are not enrolled or eligible for federal or state healthcare programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE, DOD, and Medigap or similar programs.

You can use the Wegovy savings card for up to 48 months.

Ozempic Savings Card program

The Ozempic saving card program provides eligible patients with a 1-month, 2-month, or 3-month supply of Ozempic for as little as $25.

You can apply for this program if:

• You have a valid prescription for Ozempic from a healthcare professional with an FDA-approved indication.
• You are not enrolled or eligible for federal or state healthcare programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE, DOD, and Medigap or similar programs.

You can use the Ozempic savings card for up to 48 months.

Medicare Part D Extra Help

Medicare Extra Help (Part D) program is designed for individuals with low or limited incomes and resources to pay for Medicare Drug coverage. Currently, Medicare doesn’t cover Wegovy or other weight loss medications. However, Medicare will cover the cost of FDA-approved medications for managing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risks. Part D covers Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes.

Medicare Part D insured patients with type 2 diabetes may qualify for Extra Help/a> to get a 30-day supply of Rybelsus for $10.35 only from Novo Nordisk.

Prescription discount cards

If you aren’t eligible for the Patients Assistance Program or Novo Nordisk saving cards, you can check out prescription discount cards offered by websites like SingleCare, WellRx, GoodRx, or Optum Perks to get semaglutide at a lower price. These coupons can provide savings of up to 27% of the retail price.

Is compounded semaglutide the best option?

Compounded semaglutide also acts as a GLP-1 receptor agonist and is customized for each patient. It is an affordable alternative to the expensive brand-name versions of semaglutide. Compounding pharmacies manufacture this medication as prescribed by healthcare providers to meet the patient’s needs.

Compounded semaglutide is used as an alternative during drug shortages, which is very common for weight loss medications. You can get this medication from compounding pharmacies. Additionally, if you are allergic to any of the ingredients of Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus, you can use customized compounded semaglutide.

Although compounded semaglutide has several benefits, it is not approved by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) for chronic weight management and treatment of type 2 diabetes. It does not undergo manufacturing and safety reviews.

According to the FDA, compounded semaglutide from some compounding pharmacies may contain semaglutide acetate or semaglutide sodium (salt forms of semaglutide) instead of the base form of semaglutide. Novo Nordisk claims that it does not provide semaglutide to other companies for compounding.

How to buy semaglutide online without insurance

You can buy semaglutide online via telehealth platforms or online pharmacies if you are uninsured.

1. Telehealth services

Telehealth services are the best cost-effective and time-saving alternative to in-person consultations. They cut down the expenses of traveling to healthcare facilities. Telehealth services are the most suitable for patients with busy schedules, full-time jobs, the elderly, and those with functional disabilities.

You can consult a telehealth provider online to get semaglutide without insurance. They will evaluate your condition, check your preliminary test reports (such as random and fasting blood sugar levels and HbA1c), measure your vitals statistics (blood pressure, pulse rate, and breathing rate), calculate your body mass index, and prescribe you the correct dosage of the right medication.

NiceRx offers a weight loss program with GLP-1 medications. The program includes 100% online telehealth consultations, delivery of weight loss drugs to your doorstep, and continuous monitoring and care while you are on your weight loss journey. You can book your online telehealth consultation anytime to get a prescribed treatment plan. You can discuss with your prescriber the potential side effects of the medication and weight-related changes while you are on semaglutide therapy. In case of any side effects, immediately seek medical advice.

2. Online pharmacies

You can legally buy semaglutide from online pharmacies or local pharmacies only if you have a valid prescription from a licensed healthcare provider. The FDA recommends purchasing semaglutide from a state-licensed pharmacy, or an outsourcing facility registered with the FDA.

You can buy compounded semaglutide from online pharmacies but always choose a reputable pharmacy that complies with FDA guidelines and meets the standards of quality.

Many unauthorized websites are selling illegal and fake semaglutide, which contains little or no semaglutide at all. That is why you should always be conscious about choosing an online pharmacy.

FDA has issued a warning letter about the illegal use of semaglutide, stating that these drugs may be counterfeit, may contain fake or harmful ingredients, and may have too much, too little, or no active ingredient at all.

Alternatives to semaglutide for weight loss

GLP-1 medications promote weight loss by suppressing appetite. You can discuss with your healthcare provider switching to other FDA-approved affordable alternatives to semaglutide for weight reduction, such as phentermine/topiramate (Qsymia), orlistat (Xenical), and naltrexone/bupropion (Contrave).

Phentermine/topiramate (Qsymia) is taken once daily. Clinical studies suggest that the medication promotes significant weight loss and is well tolerated among individuals. Orlistat reduces fat absorption (approximately 30%) to reduce body weight. It also promotes significant weight reduction after 2 months. It is taken three times a day in combination with lifestyle changes, a low-calorie diet, and behavioral modifications.

Naltrexone/bupropion (Contrave) is a new combination of drugs (taken twice a day) that are used for chronic weight management in obese and overweight patients as an adjunct to low-calorie diet and increased physical activity. This medication can be an affordable alternative to semaglutide.

Bottom line

Semaglutide can be very expensive, especially for patients without insurance coverage but there are many options to make it affordable. Novo Nordisk offers a patient assistance program (PAP) for Ozempic and Rybelsus and also offers savings card programs for Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus. You can also use prescription cards or telehealth platforms to save money.

Compounded semaglutide can also be an affordable alternative to standard semaglutide, but the medication is not approved by the FDA. Always choose a reliable pharmacy to purchase compounded semaglutide as it does not undergo safety or manufacturing review.

NiceRx offers compounded semaglutide at an affordable price with free shipping and 100% online telehealth consultations. Get started on your weight loss journey today!