Wegovy

Introduction

Written by Ashley Wong, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Rosanna Sutherby, PharmD
Updated on November 14, 2023

Wegovy is a brand-name medication that’s prescribed for weight management in certain adults and children. Wegovy is not available in a generic version. The cost of Wegovy with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Wegovy for long-term weight management with a low calorie diet and exercise. It’s approved for use in:

• adults with obesity
• adults with overweight and a weight-related health condition
• children ages 12 years and older with obesity

Read on to learn about Wegovy and cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about Wegovy, including its uses, refer to this overview article.

Cost of Wegovy

Like other medications, the cost of Wegovy can vary. Certain factors may affect its price, such as:

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use

To find out how much Wegovy costs, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. They may be able to suggest ways to save money on your prescription, including those described in this article. To find out what you’d pay using savings coupons, read the “Coupons for Wegovy” section.

Coupons for Wegovy

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of Wegovy. The Optum Perks coupons above can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.

Available app for coupons

To make finding and using these coupons easier, you can download the Optum Perks app. To learn more about this prescription discount app, see this article.

Insurance and other considerations for Wegovy

Here’s a list of things to consider about the cost of prescription drugs:

• Prior authorization. If you have prescription drug insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers the cost of Wegovy. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for Wegovy. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin using it without this, you may have to pay the full price of the drug.
• A 3-month supply. If you’re using Wegovy long term, your doctor may suggest a 90-day supply of the medication. This will have to be approved by your insurance company. Getting a 90-day supply could help lower the drug’s cost. It could also save you time having to make trips to your pharmacy.

If you have questions about any of these considerations, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Or contact your insurance company and talk with a representative.

If you don’t have a health insurance plan, let your doctor or pharmacist know. They may suggest online pharmacy options you could use. You can also ask them about ways to obtain health insurance coverage.

Brand-names vs. generics

Wegovy is a brand-name medication. It’s not available in a generic version.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work. 

Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re believed to be as safe and effective as the brand-name version.

Common questions about Wegovy and cost

Here are some common questions about Wegovy and their answers.

Does Wegovy cost less than Ozempic?

It depends. The cost of a prescription drug, such as Wegovy or Ozempic, can differ depending on whether you have insurance. Insurance plans may also vary in how they cover Wegovy and the copay you’ll have to pay. If you don’t have insurance, see the question below for more details about Wegovy’s cost.

Wegovy and Ozempic contain the same active ingredient,* semaglutide. But they are approved to treat different conditions. Wegovy is approved for long-term weight management in certain people. Ozempic is approved to lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death caused by heart problems in certain adults. Ozempic is also approved to treat type 2 diabetes.

If you have questions about how the costs of Wegovy and Ozempic compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

* An active ingredient is what makes a drug work

How much does Wegovy cost without insurance?

The cost of Wegovy without insurance can vary depending on several factors. These include the dosage and the quantity of the drug you’re prescribed, such as a 30- or 90-day supply. It also depends on the pharmacy you’re purchasing the medication from. Different pharmacies can charge different prices for Wegovy.

If you’re paying out of pocket for Wegovy, you can check a few different pharmacies for the best price. For more information, see the “Coupons for Wegovy” section. If you have more questions about the cost of Wegovy, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Why are costs different for brand-name drugs vs. generic drugs?

Brand-name drugs can be expensive because of the studies needed to test how safe and effective they are.

Makers of a brand-name drug can sell their drug for up to 20 years. When the patent for a brand-name drug expires, other drugmakers can make and sell generic versions. A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.

This competition may help keep the costs of generic medications lower. Also, generic medications contain the same active drugs as brand-name medications. So they don’t require the same testing, which can be costly.

If you’d like to know more about the cost differences between brand-name and generic drugs, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

What to ask about Wegovy

This article provides cost information related to Wegovy. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescription. Above on this page, you’ll find coupons for Wegovy.

If you have more questions about paying for this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also contact your insurance company.

Here’s a list of questions you may want to ask regarding the cost of your medication:

• Do I have a copay for Wegovy?
• Are there lower cost drugs that could help with my weight loss?
• What are my options if I can’t afford Wegovy?

Resources

• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
• Ozempic-semaglutide injection, solution. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/adec4fd2-6858-4c99-91d4-531f5f2a2d79/spl-doc
• Wegovy (semaglutide) injection, for subcutaneous use. (2023). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/215256s007lbl.pdf

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.