Let’s be direct: GLP-1 medications are expensive. At list price, Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro each cost over $900 per month without insurance coverage — and coverage is inconsistent, confusing, and often denied on the first try. This hub brings together everything on Life on GLP about getting prescribed, understanding costs, navigating insurance, and finding the most affordable path forward.
How to Get Prescribed
The first step is easier than many people expect. GLP-1 medications are available through traditional providers and increasingly through telehealth platforms that can prescribe online after a brief consultation.
- How to Get Ozempic Prescribed Online — A complete walkthrough of the telehealth prescription process: which platforms offer it, eligibility requirements, and what to expect in terms of cost and timing
- What Is Ozempic? — If you’re still in the research phase, start here for a grounded overview
- Ozempic vs Wegovy vs Mounjaro — Understanding the differences will help you have a more informed conversation with your prescriber
Typical eligibility: BMI of 30+ (or BMI 27+ with a weight-related health condition such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, or sleep apnea). Requirements vary by medication and prescriber.
Understanding the Costs
- Ozempic Cost and Insurance Coverage — A detailed breakdown of what Ozempic actually costs at the pharmacy, what changes when insurance is involved, and all options when insurance won’t cover it
Key cost facts:
- List price without insurance: Ozempic ~$935–$1,000/month; Wegovy ~$1,350/month; Mounjaro ~$1,060/month
- With commercial insurance: Co-pays range from $25 to $500+/month depending on your plan and indication
- Manufacturer savings cards: Available from Novo Nordisk (Ozempic/Wegovy) and Eli Lilly (Mounjaro). Do not apply to Medicare or Medicaid.
- Compounded semaglutide: Available through licensed compounding pharmacies at $150–$400/month. Regulatory status has been changing — verify current availability before pursuing this route.
Insurance and Coverage
Insurance coverage for GLP-1 medications is one of the most complex and frustrating parts of access. Prior authorization denials are common — and frequently overturned on appeal.
- Ozempic Cost and Insurance Coverage — How to check your coverage before your appointment, how prior authorization works, tips for appealing a denial, and questions to ask your HR department
Insurance navigation tips:
- Check your formulary first. Look up your plan’s prescription drug formulary before your appointment to see if your target medication is listed and at what tier.
- Diagnosis matters. Coverage often depends on which condition is being treated. Ozempic is FDA-approved for T2D; Wegovy for chronic weight management. Your prescriber’s documentation needs to match.
- Don’t accept the first denial. Prior authorization denials are routinely overturned with a letter of medical necessity from your prescriber.
- Medicare/Medicaid users: As of 2026, coverage rules are evolving. Some Medicare Advantage plans now cover Wegovy for qualifying cardiovascular risk patients.
Comparing the Options
- Ozempic vs Wegovy vs Mounjaro: Full Comparison — Side-by-side comparison of efficacy, approved uses, dosing, side effect profiles, and typical costs
- What Is Ozempic? — Everything about semaglutide at diabetes dosing range
- What Is Wegovy? — Semaglutide at higher doses, FDA-approved for chronic weight management
- What Is Mounjaro? — Tirzepatide’s dual GIP/GLP-1 mechanism and the most impressive weight loss data of any approved medication to date
What to Expect After You Start
- How to Inject Ozempic for the First Time — Clear, reassuring instructions for your first self-injection
- Your First 8 Weeks on GLP-1 — Week-by-week guide to what your body goes through when you first start
- GLP-1 Side Effects Overview — Know what’s coming so you’re not caught off guard
Ready to Find a Provider?
The fastest way to get started is to connect with a qualified GLP-1 prescriber. Many offer telehealth consultations that can result in a prescription within days — and a good provider will also help you navigate insurance and savings programs.