Compare the total cost of GLP-1 self-pay options
Published by GLP-1 Coverage Guide · Updated · No clinician review is credited for this page.
Short answer: Compare the exact medication, formulation, dose and supply length, then add membership, visits, labs, shipping and supplies where charged. Check starter and refill terms separately. A low advertised starting price is not a complete treatment budget.
Sources for the coverage rules are listed below. An update date marks a revision; it does not imply a sitewide medical review.
Match the medication and supply before comparing
A weekly injectable supplied for 28 days and tablets supplied for 30 days do not cover the same number of calendar days. Record the quote date, formulation, strength, quantity and delivery route. Ask the prescriber which options are appropriate; do not substitute products based on price alone.
Current manufacturer examples, checked October 5, 2026
NovoCare lists Wegovy tablets at $149 for 1.5 mg, $199 for 4 mg and $299 for 9 mg or 25 mg per 30-tablet bottle. Its injection offer lists two qualifying starter fills at $199 through December 31, 2026, followed by $349 for listed standard strengths; Wegovy HD is $399. Eligibility and full offer terms apply and can change.
LillyDirect lists Zepbound KwikPen self-pay starting at $299 for 2.5 mg, $399 for 5 mg and $449 for higher listed strengths when the applicable refill occurs within 45 days. Its defined month is 28 days and one KwikPen; needles are extra. Check the full terms and current checkout quote. These prices are offer summaries, not personalized treatment schedules.
Check the specific offer’s insurance eligibility
A commercial-insurance copay offer and a self-pay offer are different. NovoCare’s current page says government-insurance members can use its self-pay price outside insurance, subject to terms. Do not assume that every manufacturer offer accepts or excludes Medicare members; check the exact offer.
If you may qualify for Medicare Bridge coverage, its drug copay is $50 per approved 28-day or 30-day fill. Provider or optional membership charges are separate. A paid membership is not required by CMS as an eligibility criterion; ask your existing prescriber whether they can handle the prescription and PA process.
Use a written cost worksheet
For each option, write down: medication cost for every planned fill, required service or membership fees, upfront prepayment, visits, labs, delivery and supplies. Also record cancellation and refund terms, what happens if treatment is not prescribed, and how ongoing prices differ from the introductory offer.
For a period with unchanged prices, total cost is drug price per fill multiplied by the number of fills, plus all added fees. Calculate starter and ongoing fills separately when prices differ. Do not turn a quote into a guarantee of authorization, supply or a clinical outcome.
Keep product identity and evidence clear
The manufacturer examples above describe FDA-approved branded products. Compounded drugs are different and have not undergone FDA review for safety, effectiveness and quality. Ask your clinician and pharmacist about any proposed product and use the FDA’s current guidance. No provider has been ranked or recommended here based on an affiliate payment.
| Cost item | Question to ask |
|---|---|
| Medication | Which drug, formulation, dose and days of supply? |
| Starter offer | How many fills qualify and when does the offer expire? |
| Ongoing refill | What is the refill price and are there timing conditions? |
| Service charges | What membership, visit or lab fees are required? |
| Supplies and delivery | Are needles, syringes, shipping or pickup charged? |
| Commitment | What prepayment, cancellation and refund terms apply? |
Compare a written self-pay quote
Bridge drug copay: $50 per covered 28-day or 30-day fill. Enter a quote for the same number of fills and supply length. This is a drug-cost comparison, not a coverage decision or a prediction of future prices.
Bridge drug copays: $600 (12 × $50). Provider visits, service fees and Zepbound needles can cost extra.
Record the quote date, product, dose, formulation, refill price and included services before deciding. Only authorized fills between July 1, 2026 and December 31, 2027 qualify for the Bridge; a calendar month is not necessarily a 28-day fill. These inputs remain on your device.
Check your insurance coverage first →
Common questions
Is a $149 starting price the ongoing price at every dose?
No. The NovoCare tablet offer varies by strength. Verify the prescribed dose and refill quote.
Are telehealth membership and drug costs the same bill?
They may be separate. Ask the service for an itemized quote and do not assume medication is included.
Next steps
Related
Sources: NovoCare: Wegovy current offers and dose-specific pricing · LillyDirect: Zepbound formulation-specific prices · LillyDirect: full self-pay terms · CMS: covered supplies and $50 copay · FDA: unapproved GLP-1 products