What Will You Actually Pay
for Your GLP-1 Drug?

How to Use This Calculator

The GLP-1 True Monthly Cost Calculator is designed to cut through the confusion that every patient faces when they try to figure out what they will actually pay for Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, or compounded semaglutide. Instead of a single number, it shows you four simultaneous cost scenarios based on your specific situation — so you can see every option side by side and make an informed decision.

Start by selecting your drug in Question 1. If you are not yet on a GLP-1 but are researching options, pick the drug your doctor has discussed or the one you are most interested in. Question 2 asks for your insurance type — this is the single biggest driver of what you will pay, so answer it carefully. If you have employer coverage through a spouse or partner's job, select "Employer / Commercial." If you are on Medicare, select Medicare even if you also have a supplemental plan. Question 3 only appears for commercial insurance patients and asks about employer size, because large employers (5,000+ employees) are nearly three times as likely to cover GLP-1s for weight loss as small employers. Question 4 asks for your primary diagnosis. Be honest here — the calculator uses your diagnosis to assess insurance coverage likelihood, and a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis, for example, opens significantly better coverage pathways than obesity alone. Finally, enter your height and weight so the calculator can confirm your BMI, which several insurance criteria and manufacturer programs use as an eligibility threshold.

Once you hit Calculate, your results appear immediately below. No data leaves your browser — everything is computed locally, so your health information stays completely private.

Understanding Your Four Cost Scenarios

The results show four scenarios simultaneously, and understanding what each one represents is essential for making the right decision.

Scenario 1 — With Insurance

This is what your plan will likely charge you if it covers the drug. The range is wide — anywhere from $25 to $300 per month — because coverage varies enormously by employer size, plan tier, and diagnosis. If the calculator shows "likely not covered," that does not mean you have no options. It means your insurance is unlikely to cover the drug for weight loss at your current BMI or diagnosis, and you should look at Scenarios 2 and 3 instead. If it shows a specific dollar figure, that is an estimate based on typical Tier 3 or Tier 4 copay structures — your actual copay will appear on your Explanation of Benefits once you fill the prescription.

Scenario 2 — Manufacturer Savings Program

Both Novo Nordisk (maker of Ozempic and Wegovy) and Eli Lilly (maker of Mounjaro and Zepbound) run direct patient programs that dramatically reduce cost. For commercially insured patients, savings cards cap your monthly cost at $25 per month for up to 12 months. For uninsured patients, NovoCare offers Wegovy and Ozempic for $349 per month as a standard self-pay price, with new patients eligible for $199 per month on starting doses. Eli Lilly's LillyDirect program sells Zepbound single-dose vials for $349 per month directly to patients. These programs are real, they are funded by the manufacturers, and they are one of the most underused cost-reduction tools available. The catch is that they are time-limited and income-qualified for some tiers, so verify your eligibility directly with the manufacturer program before assuming you qualify.

Scenario 3 — Compounded Alternative

Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide are available through telehealth platforms for $99 to $299 per month — a fraction of brand-name pricing. These are not the same as the FDA-approved brand-name drugs, but they contain the same active ingredient manufactured by compounding pharmacies. The FDA resolved the official GLP-1 drug shortage designation in early 2025, which means compounding pharmacies can no longer produce exact copies of brand-name formulations for routine dispensing. However, 503A compounding pharmacies may still legally produce formulations that differ in dose, concentration, or added ingredients. If you are considering compounded semaglutide, verify that your pharmacy is registered as a 503A or 503B facility and ask for a certificate of analysis for each batch you receive.

Scenario 4 — Full Self-Pay List Price

This is what the pharmacy will charge you with no discount, savings card, or insurance — the number that causes sticker shock for most patients. Wegovy runs approximately $1,349 per month at list price. This scenario is shown not because it is what you should pay, but because it is the baseline that makes every other scenario meaningful. Almost no informed patient should be paying list price — some combination of Scenarios 1, 2, or 3 will produce a substantially lower number.

What to Do Based on Your Results

If your lowest cost is under $100 per month

You are in a favorable position. Whether through insurance, a manufacturer program, or compounded access, sub-$100 monthly cost is achievable and sustainable for most patients. Your next step is to confirm the coverage or program applies to your specific situation — call your insurer to verify prior authorization requirements, or contact the manufacturer program to confirm enrollment. Then consider using HSA or FSA pre-tax dollars to pay, which reduces your effective cost by another 22 to 37 percent depending on your tax bracket. Our HSA/FSA Tax Savings Calculator shows you exactly how much you save.

If your insurance shows "likely not covered"

Do not stop here. Insurance coverage for GLP-1 drugs has been evolving rapidly, and denials are frequently overturned. Ask your prescriber to submit a prior authorization request that emphasizes any qualifying comorbidities — high blood pressure, sleep apnea, elevated cardiovascular risk, or pre-diabetes all strengthen a coverage case even when your primary diagnosis is obesity. If the initial prior authorization is denied, appeal it. Studies show that 60 to 70 percent of initial GLP-1 prior authorization denials are overturned on appeal when proper clinical documentation accompanies the request. Ask your doctor for a peer-to-peer review with the insurance company's medical director — this single conversation reverses more denials than any written appeal alone.

If you are on Medicare

2026 is the first year Medicare Part D covers GLP-1 drugs for obesity. If you are newly eligible, your next step is to confirm your Part D plan includes GLP-1s on its formulary and to verify you meet the BMI and comorbidity thresholds. Under the Inflation Reduction Act's $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap for Part D, most Medicare beneficiaries on GLP-1s will pay between $50 and $100 per month after meeting their deductible. If your current plan does not cover GLP-1s, you can switch plans during Medicare open enrollment each October through December. Use our Medicare GLP-1 Cost Estimator to see your specific savings.

If cost is still a barrier after reviewing all four scenarios

The Brand vs. Compounded Savings Calculator gives you a detailed side-by-side comparison with safety context. If you do not currently have an HSA or FSA, speak with your HR department during open enrollment — adding an FSA for the following year costs nothing and immediately unlocks hundreds of dollars in annual tax savings. Finally, check whether your state Medicaid program covers GLP-1 drugs for obesity, as coverage has been expanding in 2025 and 2026 and several states now provide access at very low or zero cost-share for qualifying patients.

How Much Do GLP-1 Drugs Cost With Insurance in 2026?

GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Zepbound have list prices ranging from $900 to $1,400 per month — but what you actually pay depends heavily on your insurance type, your employer's size, and your specific diagnosis. With commercial insurance and a diabetes diagnosis, Ozempic and Mounjaro often cost as little as $25 per month on a savings card. With no insurance, the NovoCare and LillyDirect programs bring Wegovy and Zepbound to $349 per month for most patients. With Medicare, the new 2026 Part D coverage puts typical costs at $50 to $100 per month. The gap between list price and what a well-informed patient actually pays is often more than $1,000 per month — and this calculator exists to help you find that gap and close it.

Sources: Novo Nordisk NovoCare program, Eli Lilly LillyDirect, CMS Medicare Part D 2026 guidance, KFF 2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey, FDA compounding guidance, GoodRx pricing data. All figures represent estimates as of May 2026. Verify current pricing directly with your pharmacy, insurer, or manufacturer program. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or financial advice.