Costco Now Sells Ozempic and Wegovy at a Discounted Price of $499—What You Need Know
Plus, learn how to save on semaglutide and discover natural alternatives
Pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk announced on October 3 that it would begin selling its popular weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy at over 500 Costco pharmacies throughout the United States. And as exciting as that sounds for people interested in GLP-1 drugs, there are a few things that have both medical professionals and consumers worried. This includes the fact that Costco will not accept insurance, meaning that store members will have to pay out of pocket for the injectable pens.
“Our collaboration with Costco is another step forward by Novo Nordisk in making real Wegovy and Ozempic easier to access and afford—right where people already shop,” Dave Moore, Executive Vice President, U.S. Operations of Novo Nordisk Inc, told People in a statement. “Everyone deserves care that’s simple, reliable and within reach.”
Here’s everything you need to know about getting authentic Wegovy and Ozempic from Costco, including how much it costs, how some shoppers can save and alternative options.
Woman's World Answers
What does Ozempic cost at Costco?
The list price for the GLP-1 drugs will be $499 each for a one-month supply. This is the same amount that CVS and Walmart charge, and is roughly half the list price of Ozempic ($997.57) and a third of the list price of Wegovy ($1,349.02) without insurance. You still need a prescription for the drugs. Worth noting: Costco executive members and Costco Citibank Visa credit card holders are eligible for a cashback reward with the purchase of Ozempic or Wegovy.
“By partnering with one of the country’s most trusted retailers, we are meeting people where they are and connecting them to real, FDA-approved medicines in our premium pen devices with our $499 self-pay offer,” Moore said.
What doctors think about Costco selling Ozempic
Following the announcement Friday, medical professionals started to weigh in. “I support greater access to GLP-1 medications through places like Costco because these drugs have the potential to help so many people and access is critical,” says Holly Wyatt, MD, physician, endocrinologist and co-author of Losing The Weight Loss Meds. “For many individuals, they can be worth the price because of the impact on health and quality of life and expanding access may even help bring costs down.”
However, Dr. Wyatt also noted some concerns. “What I worry about is that people may focus on access alone. To truly get the most out of these medications, and make the investment worth it, people also need a plan for safe use, managing side effects and knowing what to do if they decide to come off them.”
Others feel the news isn’t all that groundbreaking, noting that the GLP-1s are already available elsewhere for $499. “There is really nothing new about Costco offering semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) at a discounted cost,” says Jennifer Brown, MD, a Board-certified Obesity Medicine doctor at MyObesityTeam.
“Anyone with a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider can access semaglutide at the discounted cash price of $499 either directly from Novo Nordisk or from Walmart or CVS” Dr. Brown continued. “Costco’s inclusion on the list of pharmacies offering discounted semaglutide may help improve access to more affordable semaglutide. However, I would not recommend that a patient pay a membership fee at Costco solely to obtain a better price on semaglutide.”
How to get GLP-1s for less and alternative options
While increased availability is a plus, Costco’s $499 price tag is still out of reach for many consumers whose insurance won’t cover the meds. Fortunately, there are other options. Several direct-to-consumer pharmacy sites, such as Hers, Ro, Eden, Fridays and Sprout, offer a compounded semaglutide for less. There are also Ozempic alternatives that quiet food noise naturally, and some patients are having success with microdosing Ozempic to cut down on costs (and side effects).
As Dr. Wyatt notes, “It is also important to remember that GLP-1s are just one option. We have proven strategies with nutrition, physical activity and behavioral approaches that can reset appetite and metabolism and support long-term weight management, with or without medication.”
Conversation
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. Woman's World does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. Our comments section is a place where readers can engage in healthy, productive, lively, and respectful discussions. Offensive language, hate speech, personal attacks, and/or defamatory statements are not permitted. Advertising or spam is also prohibited.
