Introduction
Gone are the days when people had to go on crash diets and extreme workouts just to lose weight. Today, losing weight no longer requires extreme diets or workouts. Medications like Ozempic, which contains semaglutide, help lower blood sugar and promote weight loss.
As with any drug, you have to consider if it’s within budget, especially if you need to take it for a long period. Also, if you need to manage a chronic condition such as type 2 diabetes or obesity.
However, long-term use can be costly, especially for chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes or obesity. This article breaks down the costs of different semaglutide options to find the most affordable one.
What is semaglutide?
Before we dive into the cost of semaglutide, let’s understand what it is and how it works. The secret to semaglutide’s twofold therapeutic benefit of blood sugar regulation and weight management lies in its composition.
Semaglutide, classified as a GLP-1 receptor agonist, mimics a gut hormone that triggers insulin release when blood sugar spikes. It slows digestion, helping you feel fuller longer, which reduces cravings and aids weight loss.
At the same time, semaglutide also delays gastric emptying or the process wherein food exits the gut and enters the small intestine. Because digestion is slowed down, people taking semaglutide tend to feel fuller for longer and don’t think about food as much. With fewer food cravings, they end up losing weight. Semaglutide also sends signals to the brain that you’re already full.
Who can take semaglutide?
As effective as semalgutide is in controlling blood sugar levels and triggering weight loss, not everyone can just take it if they want to. They have to meet certain diagnostic criteria before being eligible to take the drug. In addition, they need to first secure a prescription before availing of Ozempic or its sister semaglutide brands, Wegovy or Rybelsus.
The FDA approves Ozempic and Rybelsus for type 2 diabetes, while Wegovy treats obesity. Ozempic is also prescribed to reduce cardiovascular risks for patients with heart disease.
- Ozempic & Rybelsus: For type 2 diabetes and, in some cases, heart disease.
- Wegovy: For those with a BMI of 27+ with a weight-related condition or a BMI of 30+.
Despite different indications, these brands provide similar benefits. Some doctors even prescribe Ozempic or Rybelsus off-label for weight loss.
Oral and subcutaneous semaglutide
Despite possessing the same active ingredient, Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus vary in formats.
Ozempic and Wegovy are both referred to as subcutaneous semaglutide, as they come in pre-filled injectable dosing pens, while Rybelsus comes in tablet form and is taken orally.
Dosage and administration
To reap the full benefits of semaglutide, patients must observe its proper dosage and administration. You’ll typically start on a low dose before gradually increasing this as your body adjusts to the drug.
Both Ozempic and Wegovy can be injected subcutaneously in three different injection sites: the 1) abdomen, 2) thigh, or 3) upper arm. They must be administered once weekly, regardless of meals.
Make sure that you are not injecting into a muscle or vein. It’s best to use a different injection site with every injection. However, if you want to use the same injection site, pick a different spot in that area to prevent irritation. Rybelsus, on the other hand, must be taken on an empty stomach once daily.
Safety and efficacy
Because Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus all have FDA approval, you can rest assured that these can safely and effectively perform their designed use. Many studies confirm the safety and efficacy of semaglutide. The following are some key examples.
In the STEP 5 trial, researchers examined the two-year effects of semaglutide in adults who were overweight or with obesity. Participants lost an average of 15 percent of their body weight with semaglutide while those in the placebo group lost approximately 2.6 percent of their body weight.
Those on semaglutide also lost 14.4 centimeters or 5.7 inches off their waistline and also saw improvements in their systolic blood pressure by 5.7 mmHg. Participants in the semaglutide group also experienced better diastolic blood pressure, blood sugar levels, total cholesterol, and triglycerides (a type of fat in your blood).
A study done in December 2022, meanwhile, found that participants on semaglutide lost more body fat than body mass, consumed less food due to a decrease in appetite, had better control of eating, and had fewer food cravings, especially for greasy foods.
Potential side effects
Just like any drug, semaglutide has its potential risks and side effects. Note, though, that the most common ones are manageable and the more serious ones are rare.
The most common adverse effects of subcutaneous semaglutide include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, or abdominal pain. Gradual dosage increases may help manage symptoms.
The more serious side effects of semaglutide injections include allergic reactions, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), pancreatitis, kidney problems, and thyroid c-cell tumors.
Semaglutide cost without insurance
There are several ways to get a prescription for semaglutide—from a doctor, online from a state-licensed pharmacy, an outsourcing facility registered with the FDA, or a telemedicine company.
According to a January 2024 report by CBS News, the price of Ozempic rose by 3.5 percent to $984.29* for a month’s supply. Meanwhile, Wegovy has a list price of $1,349 for a month’s supply, up from around $1,080* in 2023.
Rybelsus, meanwhile, also increased its list price, currently at $1,029, up from its 2023 price range of $936* for a 30-day supply.
With insurance
With insurance, Ozempic can cost as low as $25 a month for a supply good for one, two, or three months, while Wegovy can cost as little as $0 per dose if covered by insurance.
Wegovy users can also use Wegovy’s savings card, which allows people with commercial insurance to spend possibly $0 per dose.
On the other hand, the price of Rybelsus will vary depending on the health insurance plan, the treatment plan, and the pharmacy. Insured patients eligible for semaglutide’s savings and support offer may pay as low as $10 for 1-3 months’ supply.
If you have insurance, you might need to secure prior authorization first before your insurance provider covers Rybelsus. Under this process, your doctor and insurance provider will discuss Rybelsus and its benefits to your treatment plan. The insurance company will then determine whether to cover Rybelsus or not. Before treatment,check with your insurance provider if it requires prior authorization as you might need to pay in full.
How insurance plans work
If you have commercial insurance, or insurance coverage for businesses, they typically cover Ozempic and Rybelsus for type 2 diabetes. Note that this depends on your plan and its benefits.
Insurance plans commonly follow a tier system for covered drugs. Generic drugs are commonly at the lowest level and specialty drugs are on the highest levels. To check, you can simply call your insurance company and ask what your copay amount is. In addition, most insurance companies follow a formulary, or a list of covered drugs.
You may also be able to avail of copay assistance from semaglutide’s manufacturer, Danish pharmaceutical company, Novo Nordisk. Basically, you pay a flat fee every time you visit your doctor or purchase a medicine.
Copay assistance is typically available for people with commercial prescription insurance. It is not available to people under federal or state health programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, or Tricare.
Under this coverage, you could pay a small amount for a three-month supply of Ozempic. Just make sure that you have a prescription for one to three months’ supply of Ozempic for treating type 2 diabetes.
Which semaglutide is the cheapest?
Based on the aforementioned prices, a month’s supply of Rybelsus is the cheapest semaglutide without insurance, at $1,029*. This is compared to the cost of a month’s supply of Ozempic and Wegovy (without insurance), at 984.29* and $1,080*, respectively. The cost of the auto-inject pens used in Ozempic and Wegovy is also a factor as to why they are more expensive.
It’s important to note that factors like the dosage and the pharmacy where you source semaglutide can impact its price.
Reason behind the price tag
You might wonder why semaglutide doesn’t have a generic version yet. That’s because of Novo Nordisk’s patent on the drug which is in effect until December 5, 2031.
The patent also temporarily allows them to charge how much they want for semaglutide. This allows them to recover the costs of running clinical trials, among other semaglutide-related expenditures.
When Novo Nordisk’s patent lapses in 2031, other drug-making companies can start manufacturing their generic versions of semaglutide. These are expected to be priced more competitively.
The supply problem
Because many healthcare providers can prescribe Ozempic or Rybelsus off-label for weight loss instead of Wegovy, demand has skyrocketed for the drug. As such, patients who are not diabetic can avail of the medicine, affecting the supply for type 2 diabetes patients. Some countries have even banned semaglutide exports to maintain a local supply for type 2 diabetics.
The demand for semaglutide has led to a massive shortage issue, which will likely persist for several more years. Furthermore, Wall Street predicted the demand for the drugs will slow down in 2024 with more treatments becoming available in the market.
As consumers grapple with the problem, healthcare providers have been turning to alternatives to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. These include Trulicity (dulaglutide), Victoza (liraglutide), Bydureon (exenatide), Rybelsus (semaglutide), Adlyxin (lixisenatide), and Byetta (exenatide).
Over 650 million people are suffering from obesity worldwide, and around 480 million, meanwhile, have type 2 diabetes.
Conclusion
Among the semaglutide brands Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus, Rybelsus is the cheapest with insurance. The cost of semaglutide with insurance will vary depending on the coverage terms of insurance providers and a patient’s treatment plan.
Factors such as Novo Nordisk’s patent affect the ability of other drugmakers to produce a generic version of the drug. Until December 2031, consumers will have to find ways to afford semaglutide products or find more affordable alternatives.
The demand for weight loss products has impacted the market for such medicines worldwide. The supply issue will likely persist for a few more years, although experts predict demand will slow down in 2024.
As with any drug, make sure you are buying semaglutide from an FDA-regulated source such as a healthcare professional, a state-licensed pharmacy, or an FDA-registered outsourcing facility.
*Prices subject to change
Glossary of terms:
- GLP-1: Glucagon-like peptide-1 is a gut-based hormone involved in the secretion of insulin to lower blood sugar levels typically elevated after meals.
- GLP-1 Ra: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist. It mimics the actions of GLP-1.
