The real answer — and 6 ways to pay much less than the $935/month list price.
The list price of $935 is what you'd pay at a pharmacy with no insurance and no discount programs. Very few people actually pay this. Read on for every option available to you.
| Dose | Pen | List Price | Per Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25 mg / 0.5 mg | 2mg/1.5mL pen (4 doses) | ~$935/mo | ~$11,220 |
| 1 mg | 4mg/3mL pen (4 doses) | ~$935/mo | ~$11,220 |
| 2 mg | 8mg/3mL pen (4 doses) | ~$935/mo | ~$11,220 |
Prices are manufacturer suggested retail prices as of early 2026. Pharmacy prices vary. Source: Novo Nordisk.
Most people have at least 1–2 of these options available to them.
Novo Nordisk offers an official savings card for commercially insured patients in the US. Eligible patients pay as little as $0–$99/month. You must have commercial insurance (not Medicare/Medicaid) and meet income eligibility.
The NovoCare Patient Assistance Program provides free Ozempic to patients who meet income and insurance eligibility criteria. This is for uninsured or underinsured patients who cannot afford their medication.
GoodRx negotiates pharmacy discounts and provides coupons you can use without insurance. For Ozempic, GoodRx typically saves 5–15% off list price — helpful, but not dramatic. Prices vary by pharmacy and location.
Cost Plus Drugs (costplusdrugs.com) sells medications at transparent, low-markup prices. Ozempic availability varies — check the site for current pricing. They don't carry every drug or every dose.
Eli Lilly sells Zepbound (tirzepatide) in single-dose vials directly through LillyDirect at $399–$549/month for self-pay patients — significantly cheaper than Ozempic without insurance. Tirzepatide also produces more weight loss than semaglutide on average.
Several telehealth companies (Ro, Hims & Hers, Found, Calibrate) offer GLP-1 programs that include the prescription, medication, and ongoing medical support in one monthly fee. These typically use tirzepatide (Zepbound) now that compounded semaglutide is restricted.
No. Ozempic has no generic equivalent as of 2026. Novo Nordisk holds patents on semaglutide. Generic semaglutide is not expected until patent expiration — potentially 2031 or later depending on patent challenges.
Compounded semaglutide became widely available during the FDA shortage period (2022–2025). Now that Ozempic and Wegovy are off the FDA shortage list, compounded versions are no longer allowed under the shortage exception. Some 503A compounding pharmacies may still prepare patient-specific formulations. Always verify current FDA guidance and ensure any compounded medication comes from a licensed 503A or 503B compounding pharmacy with a valid prescription.
Possibly — the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) gives Medicare new negotiating power over drug prices. Semaglutide has been discussed as a candidate for Medicare price negotiation. However, even if Medicare negotiates a lower price, that may not directly reduce prices for uninsured or commercially insured patients. Competition from tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound) may also put downward pressure on semaglutide pricing over time.
Ozempic costs approximately $900-$1,000 per month without insurance. With the Novo Nordisk savings card, eligible patients may pay as little as $25/month.
Yes - oral semaglutide (Rybelsus) and manufacturer savings cards can significantly reduce costs. GoodRx rarely provides significant discounts on brand-name GLP-1 drugs.
GoodRx rarely provides significant discounts on brand-name GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic. Manufacturer savings cards (Novo Nordisk's NovoCare) are usually the better option.