On this page
In short The two routes to a lower cash price What Wegovy costs without insurance What Zepbound costs without insurance If you have insurance that says no What to avoid If the cost is still out of reach Common questions SourcesIf your insurance does not cover GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, the sticker price is not your only option. Both manufacturers run self-pay programs: Wegovy pens are $349 a month through NovoCare Pharmacy after a $199 starter offer, and Zepbound starts at $299 a month through LillyDirect. All of them still require a prescription from a licensed prescriber.
The two routes to a lower cash price
Both drugmakers sell directly to self-paying patients through their own pharmacy services: NovoCare Pharmacy for Wegovy (semaglutide) and LillyDirect for Zepbound (tirzepatide). You still need a prescription, but you pay the program price instead of a pharmacy’s retail price, and the medication ships to you.
What Wegovy costs without insurance
According to NovoCare’s current offer page, patients new to the program pay $199 a month for the 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg starter doses for the first 2 monthly fills, an offer running through December 31, 2026. After that, Wegovy pens cost $349 a month for the 0.25 mg through 2.4 mg strengths, and $399 a month for the higher-dose Wegovy HD 7.2 mg pen. The Wegovy pill is priced by strength: $149 a month for 1.5 mg, $199 for 4 mg, and $299 for 9 mg and 25 mg.
What Zepbound costs without insurance
According to LillyDirect, Zepbound self-pay pricing starts at $299 a month for the 2.5 mg starting dose. Refills of higher doses within 45 days start at $449 a month under its refill program; without that refill cadence, listed prices run $499 to $699 a month depending on dose. Terms and dose-specific prices are on the LillyDirect page.
If you have insurance that says no
Many plans exclude weight-loss drugs or require prior authorization. If you have commercial insurance that does cover the drug, manufacturer savings cards can bring the cost as low as $25 a month, per the companies’ offer pages. People on government programs like Medicare and Medicaid are excluded from those savings cards. Our guides on prior authorization and appealing a denial explain the process if coverage is refused.
What to avoid
The FDA warns against unapproved GLP-1 drugs, including compounded versions and products sold as research chemicals. They are not FDA-approved, and the agency has flagged dosing errors and quality problems. A price far below the manufacturer programs is a red flag, not a bargain.
If the cost is still out of reach
Ask the prescriber managing your care whether other medications or approaches fit your situation and budget. For general strategies, see our guides on saving on prescriptions without insurance, drug maker patient assistance programs and prescription discount cards, and browse medication cash prices.
- NovoCare - Wegovy savings, self-pay and home delivery
- LillyDirect - Zepbound self-pay pricing
- FDA - Concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss
Common questions
Is there a generic version?
No FDA-approved generic versions of semaglutide or tirzepatide for weight loss are available in the U.S. Products marketed as generics or compounded copies are not FDA-approved, and the FDA has warned about them.
Do the self-pay programs work with Medicare or Medicaid?
Manufacturer savings cards exclude government program members. Medicare Part D coverage of these drugs depends on the plan and the approved use; check your plan’s drug list.
Do I still need a prescription for the $349 or $299 prices?
Yes. The manufacturer self-pay programs are a way to pay, not a way to skip the prescription. A licensed prescriber has to decide the drug is appropriate for you.
Can Pymander help with GLP-1 questions?
Pymander can answer everyday questions about these medications, side effects and costs, and help you decide what to ask a prescriber. It does not replace one. Pymander is available in all 50 states.