How much do GLP-1 medications cost?

Brand GLP-1 prices without insurance

Novo Nordisk (semaglutide) and Eli Lilly (tirzepatide and orforglipron) now sell their GLP-1 medications directly to people paying cash, through NovoCare Pharmacy and LillyDirect. These are their posted self-pay prices for one month, as of October 2026:

Brand list prices, before any discount, are higher. Few people pay list price: most use insurance or a manufacturer cash program.

What's the cheapest GLP-1?

By sticker price, the lowest brand options as of October 2026 are the starting doses of the daily pills (Wegovy pill, Ozempic pill and Foundayo), at $149 a month. Those prices rise at higher doses. For the weekly injections, the Zepbound 2.5 mg vial or KwikPen at $299 is the lowest regular starting price, and the new-patient Wegovy and Ozempic offers are $199 a month for the first two months.

The cheapest option for you depends on the dose you end up needing, not the starting price. A medication that is cheap at the first dose can cost two or three times as much at a maintenance dose. Your coverage matters most of all: with insurance that covers a GLP-1, your copay can be far lower than any cash price.

Insurance and Medicare basics

• Type 2 diabetes. Many commercial plans and Medicare Part D plans cover GLP-1s for type 2 diabetes, such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, often with prior authorization. Manufacturer savings cards can lower commercial copays to as little as $25 a month.
• Weight management. Coverage is less common and varies by plan. In KFF's 2025 employer survey, 43% of firms with 5,000 or more workers covered GLP-1s for weight loss; smaller employers covered them less often.
• Medicare GLP-1 Bridge. From July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027, eligible Medicare Part D members can get Wegovy (injection or pill), Zepbound KwikPen or Foundayo for weight management for a $50 copay per month. Eligibility is based on BMI and certain health conditions, and your prescriber must request prior authorization. Check eligibility at Medicare.gov.
• Sleep apnea and fatty liver disease. Medicare.gov says your Part D plan might cover a GLP-1 for these conditions; check with your plan.

To check your coverage, call the number on your insurance card and ask whether the medication is on the formulary for your diagnosis, whether prior authorization is needed, and what you'd pay. People on Medicare, Medicaid or other government plans can't use manufacturer savings cards.

Gabriel membership is not health insurance.

Compounded GLP-1s through Gabriel

Gabriel offers compounded semaglutide and compounded tirzepatide by prescription. Compounded medications are prepared by a licensed pharmacy for an individual prescription. The FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness or quality the way it reviews brand drugs.

Compounded medications aren't FDA-approved. A licensed clinician decides what's right for you.

You send a prescription request, a licensed clinician reviews it and decides whether a GLP-1 is appropriate and which one. If a brand medication fits better, it goes through the manufacturer's self-pay pharmacy. See tirzepatide vs semaglutide for how the two compare.

What affects what you pay

• Dose. Most self-pay prices rise with the dose, and so do compounded GLP-1s through Gabriel.
• Refill timing. Some Lilly prices for higher doses apply only if you refill within 45 days.
• Introductory offers. Several brand prices are limited-time or new-patient offers that end December 31, 2026.
• Form. Pills, pens and vials are priced differently, and some forms aren't sold for cash.
• HSA and FSA. Prescription medications are generally eligible expenses. Check with your plan administrator or a tax advisor.