GLP-1 Medication Cost Index, September 2026
Brand list prices and insurance copay ranges, tracked by Trimi Health.
Prices last checked on against the manufacturers' own published pricing. Eli Lilly list prices are Lilly's published wholesale acquisition cost as of January 1, 2026.
Key Findings
$1,144
Avg. monthly list price (brand)
$13,725
Avg. annual list price (brand)
$25–250
Typical monthly copay with commercial coverage
Averaged across the four brand list prices in the tables below (Wegovy $1,349.02, Ozempic $1,027.51, Mounjaro $1,112.16 and Zepbound single-dose pen $1,086.37 per fill), brand list price is about $1,144 per month and $13,725 per year. Patients with commercial coverage that includes anti-obesity medications typically pay $25–250 per month.
Semaglutide Pricing Comparison
| Source | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Wegovy (brand, list price) | $1,349/mo | $16,188/yr |
| Wegovy pen (NovoCare Pharmacy self-pay) | $349–399/mo | $4,188–4,788/yr |
| Ozempic (brand, list price, off-label for weight loss) | $1,028/mo | $12,330/yr |
| Wegovy with commercial insurance coverage | $25–150/mo | $300–1,800/yr |
List prices are Novo Nordisk's published list prices (wholesale acquisition cost) per fill, checked September 28, 2026. NovoCare's Ozempic list-price page shows $1,027.51 per fill in one layout and $997.58 in another; this index uses $1,027.51, the figure consistent with Novo Nordisk's announced cut of about 35% to $675. Wegovy pen self-pay through NovoCare Pharmacy is $349 per month for the 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg doses and $399 for Wegovy HD 7.2 mg; Novo Nordisk also runs a $199 per month offer for a new patient's first 2 fills of 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg, through December 31, 2026. Novo Nordisk has announced that the list price of Wegovy and Ozempic will fall to $675 per month on January 1, 2027. Wegovy and Ozempic are FDA-approved finished drugs. Compounded semaglutide is prepared per individual prescription by a state-licensed 503A pharmacy and is not FDA-approved as a drug; compounded pricing is set independently by each provider and is not part of this index.
Tirzepatide Pricing Comparison
| Source | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Mounjaro (brand, list price, off-label for weight loss) | $1,112/mo | $13,346/yr |
| Zepbound single-dose pen (brand, list price) | $1,086/mo | $13,036/yr |
| Zepbound vial or KwikPen (LillyDirect self-pay, varies by dose) | $299–699/mo | $3,588–8,388/yr |
| Zepbound with commercial insurance coverage | $25–250/mo | $300–3,000/yr |
List prices are Eli Lilly's published list prices (wholesale acquisition cost) per fill as of January 1, 2026, per Lilly's pricing pages. LillyDirect self-pay for the Zepbound vial or KwikPen is $299 per month for 2.5 mg, $399 for 5 mg and $449 for 7.5 mg to 15 mg when refilled within 45 days; otherwise Lilly's regular self-pay prices apply ($499 for 7.5 mg and $699 for 10 mg to 15 mg). The annual range assumes one dose for 12 fills. Mounjaro and Zepbound are FDA-approved finished drugs. Compounded tirzepatide is prepared per individual prescription by a state-licensed 503A pharmacy and is not FDA-approved as a drug; compounded pricing is set independently by each provider and is not part of this index.
Cost Per Pound Lost Analysis
Comparing the cost-effectiveness of different weight loss approaches using published average outcomes and brand list pricing.
| Method | Avg. Weight Lost | Annual Cost | Cost Per Pound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semaglutide (Wegovy list price) | 33 lbs (14.9%, STEP 1) | $16,188 | $490/lb |
| Tirzepatide (Zepbound list price) | 46 lbs (20.9%, SURMOUNT-1) | $13,036 | $283/lb |
| Bariatric surgery | 100 lbs | $20,000–$35,000 | $200–350/lb |
| Commercial diet programs | 10 lbs | $1,200–$3,600 | $120–360/lb |
Weight loss averages based on published clinical trial data. Semaglutide: STEP 1 trial, about 14.9% of body weight at 68 weeks. Tirzepatide: SURMOUNT-1 trial, about 20.9% of body weight at 72 weeks. Both trials studied the FDA-approved branded products. Individual results vary. Based on a 220 lb starting weight and manufacturer list price; manufacturer self-pay prices would lower the cost per pound. Bariatric surgery costs include the procedure only.
Insurance Coverage Landscape
Commercial Insurance
Coverage of GLP-1 medications for weight loss varies widely by employer and plan, and many plans exclude anti-obesity medications. Plans that do cover them often require prior authorization, step therapy, or have quantity limits. Copays range from $25 to $250/month depending on the plan.
Medicare & Medicaid
Since July 1, 2026, the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, a CMS demonstration running through December 31, 2027, covers Wegovy (injection or tablet), Zepbound KwikPen and Foundayo for eligible Part D enrollees at a $50 monthly copay. It runs outside the regular Part D benefit. Medicaid coverage of GLP-1 medications for weight loss varies by state.
Manufacturer Savings Programs
Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly offer savings cards that can reduce copays to as little as $25 per month for commercially insured patients whose plan covers the drug; government beneficiaries are excluded. Cash payers can buy direct from the manufacturer instead, through NovoCare Pharmacy for Wegovy and LillyDirect for Zepbound, at the self-pay prices in the tables above.
HSA and FSA Payment
HSA/FSA payment may be accepted; your plan administrator determines eligibility. Confirm what documentation your plan requires before you pay.
How to Get the Lowest Price on GLP-1 Medications
Check your insurance coverage first
If your plan covers GLP-1s for weight loss with a low copay, that will be the cheapest option. Call the number on your insurance card and ask about coverage for Wegovy, Zepbound, or Mounjaro. On Medicare Part D, ask about the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge.
Check the manufacturer's self-pay price
If you are paying cash for a brand-name drug, NovoCare Pharmacy (Wegovy) and LillyDirect (Zepbound) sell direct at prices well below list. Self-pay prices vary by dose and change over time, so confirm the current figure on the manufacturer's own page.
Ask about the compounded pathway if you are paying cash
If your plan does not cover GLP-1s, a licensed provider can evaluate you for compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide, which is prepared per individual prescription by a state-licensed 503A pharmacy. Compounded preparations are not FDA-approved as drugs, and each provider publishes its own cash-pay rate.
Compare plan terms, not just the headline rate
Longer prepaid plans carry a lower monthly rate at Trimi, but the 6-month and annual plans are billed upfront, and the annual plan is a 12-month commitment. Confirm the billing term before you enroll. See how Trimi's billing terms work.
Ask your HSA or FSA administrator
HSA/FSA payment may be accepted; your plan administrator determines eligibility. Ask what documentation your plan needs before you pay.
Look for flat-rate, all-dose pricing
Many providers charge more at higher doses. Trimi charges the same price at every dose level, so your cost stays predictable even as your treatment progresses.
Methodology
The GLP-1 Medication Cost Index is compiled by Trimi Health from the following data sources:
- Brand pricing: List prices (wholesale acquisition cost) and direct-to-patient self-pay prices as published on the manufacturers' own pricing pages: NovoCare for Novo Nordisk, and Lilly's pricing information and LillyDirect pages for Eli Lilly. Sources are listed below.
- Insurance data: The $25 floor of each copay range is the manufacturers' published savings-card minimum for commercially insured patients; the upper end reflects typical plan cost-sharing and varies by plan. Medicare coverage is from Medicare.gov.
- Scope: This index reports brand list pricing and insurance copay ranges. Compounded preparations are dispensed per individual prescription and priced independently by each pharmacy and telehealth provider, so they are not scored against brand list price in this dataset.
- Clinical outcomes: Weight loss percentages from published Phase 3 clinical trials (STEP 1 for semaglutide, SURMOUNT-1 for tirzepatide).
- Bariatric surgery costs: National averages from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
Prices were last checked on . All prices are in US dollars per monthly fill and reflect list, self-pay or plan pricing as labeled, without additional discount programs unless otherwise noted. Annual figures are 12 fills.
- NovoCare: Wegovy list and self-pay prices (Novo Nordisk)
- NovoCare: Ozempic list price (Novo Nordisk)
- Lilly pricing information: Mounjaro list price (Eli Lilly)
- Lilly pricing information: Zepbound list price (Eli Lilly)
- LillyDirect: Zepbound self-pay prices (Eli Lilly)
- Medicare.gov: Medicare GLP-1 Bridge coverage of weight loss drugs
More original analysis from Trimi Health is collected on the research page.
Cite This Data
This data is published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. You are free to share and adapt this data with proper attribution.
Trimi Health. "GLP-1 Medication Cost Index, September 2026." trytrimi.com/glp1-cost-index. Accessed October 1, 2026.
For media inquiries or data requests, contact research@trytrimi.com
See Whether the Compounded Pathway Fits You
Trimi Health connects patients with licensed providers who can evaluate them for compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide, prepared per individual prescription by a state-licensed 503A pharmacy. No insurance needed. The same rate applies at every dose.
The pricing data on this page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or financial advice. Actual costs may vary based on location, insurance plan, pharmacy, and other factors. Trimi Health is a telehealth platform; clinical care is provided by Arora Health's provider network. Trimi publishes this index as brand and insurance pricing research. Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro and Zepbound are FDA-approved finished drugs; a compounded preparation is prepared per individual prescription by a state-licensed 503A pharmacy and is not FDA-approved as a drug.