How to Get Ozempic® Covered by Insurance

Updated on March 5, 2026 by Jordan Stachel, MS, RDN, CPT. To give you technically accurate, evidence-based information, content published on the Everlywell blog is reviewed by credentialed professionals with expertise in medical and bioscience fields.

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Table of contents

• How to Get Ozempic® Covered by Insurance
• How Much Does Ozempic® Cost?
• How Does Ozempic® Treat Medical Obesity?
• What to Try Before Starting Ozempic®
• Support Your Weight Management Via Everlywell
• Related Content

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Ozempic® is the brand name for semaglutide, a medication that has been approved for several years to help manage type 2 diabetes. [1] Healthcare providers may prescribe Ozempic® to help reduce the health risks associated with elevated blood sugar levels. When blood sugar remains uncontrolled—especially in people with conditions such as heart or blood vessel disease—it can increase the risk of complications including stroke, heart attack, and premature death. [2]

Ozempic® works by mimicking hormones involved in appetite and blood sugar regulation. This can increase feelings of fullness and help people eat less, which may lead to weight loss for some individuals. [1] In addition, Ozempic® stimulates the pancreas to release insulin, helping the body bring blood sugar levels back into a healthier range.

Because Ozempic® can be expensive, many people also wonder whether the medication is covered by insurance and what factors may affect their eligibility for coverage.

How to Get Ozempic® Covered by Insurance

Many people wonder whether Ozempic® is covered by insurance. The answer depends on several factors, including why the medication is prescribed, your health status, and the details of your specific insurance plan. In many cases, insurers are more likely to cover Ozempic® when it is prescribed for the management of type 2 diabetes rather than for weight loss.

For example, some Medicare Part D plans may cover Ozempic® when it is used to treat type 2 diabetes. [3] However, Medicare Part D generally does not cover medications prescribed solely for weight management. Because obesity can increase the risk of conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, some healthcare providers may prescribe Ozempic® to help address medical obesity. Even so, coverage for this use may vary by insurance plan.

If you have Medicare Part D or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription drug coverage, Ozempic® may be covered when it is filled through a retail pharmacy. [4] To understand whether Ozempic® is covered under your plan, it is best to check with your healthcare provider and insurance company. For individuals without Medicare coverage—or those seeking Ozempic® for reasons other than diabetes management—insurance coverage may be more limited.

How Much Does Ozempic® Cost?

For a once-weekly dose of Ozempic®, it is estimated that the daily cost is $6.97, with an annual cost of around $2,544.[5] This number represents the highest costs of all GLP-1 receptor agonists on the market.

If Ozempic® is used to help manage obesity and an individual does not have type 2 diabetes or other comorbidities putting their health at risk, the monthly cost of Ozempic® is estimated to be much higher.[6] Some estimate that, for the treatment of obesity, the cost of Ozempic® could be around $1,200 per month, which translates to a $14,400 annualized cost. As you can imagine, this is not always attainable for many people who are interested in trying Ozempic® to manage their weight.

How Does Ozempic® Treat Medical Obesity?

Healthcare providers may prescribe Ozempic® to individuals with medical obesity, though this diagnosis and treatment decision ultimately depends on a provider’s clinical judgment. In some cases, providers consider obesity a disease and may recommend medications like Ozempic® as part of treatment. However, not all providers take this approach, which can make the medication more difficult for some individuals to obtain. [6]

Research suggests that people taking Ozempic® may lose an average of about 20% of their starting body weight. [6] Still, the medication can cause side effects such as nausea and diarrhea, and obesity is a complex condition that often requires more than medication alone. [7] Many healthcare providers recommend combining treatment with broader support, such as guidance from dietitians, therapists, or other healthcare professionals.

What to Try Before Starting Ozempic®

If you believe Ozempic® may be right for you, consult a qualified healthcare provider. If you are struggling with your weight or health and have not tried dietary and lifestyle modifications first, these are a good starting point. Try some of these helpful tips if you are interested in taking small steps toward better health outcomes [8,9,10]:

• Assess your nutrition: Taking inventory of how you feed yourself can be a powerful tool in helping you improve your health. If you are unsure of where to start, consult a dietitian who can provide you with personalized guidance. It is important that you do not feel deprived and that you have a sustainable plan.
• Find a type of movement you enjoy: Finding types of movement that you enjoy allows you to be more successful with consistency in exercising. If you do not enjoy the movement, you are a lot less likely to be consistent. Try walking, biking, swimming, or hiking, and pencil movement windows into your schedule. For example, start by penciling in a time to walk for 15 minutes, two times a day. If you can walk for 15 minutes after you eat, this helps your body metabolize carbohydrates and brings blood sugar levels back down into a normal range.
• Aim to create one new habit: Many people set goals for their health and happiness. Maybe you want to be someone who walks more, reads more, spends more time with friends, or does more cooking. When taking the journey of improving your health, commit to forming one new health-enhancing habit. Research shows that it takes around 10 weeks for the habit to solidify, so be patient and choose a realistic goal that you feel you can be consistent with.

Next Steps for Exploring Treatment Options

If you’re considering Ozempic® as part of a treatment plan, speaking with a qualified healthcare provider is an important first step. A medical professional can review your health history, discuss potential benefits and risks, and determine whether medications like semaglutide may be appropriate for your needs.

Because insurance coverage and treatment eligibility can vary, some individuals choose to work with telehealth weight management programs that connect patients with licensed healthcare providers who can evaluate whether GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic® or semaglutide may be appropriate.

Related Content

How Long Does Ozempic® Stay in Your System?

Ozempic® Side Effects: How Long Do They Last?

Victoza® vs. Ozempic® Compared

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References

1. Ozempic helps weight loss by making you feel full. But certain foods can do the same thing – without the side-effects | Hunter Medical Research Institute. Published March 21, 2023. Accessed January 21, 2024. https://hmri.org.au/news-article/Ozempic-helps-weight-loss-making-you-feel-full-certain-foods-can-do-same-thing-%E2%80%93.
2. Semaglutide injection. National Library of Medicine. Last reviewed October 15, 2023. Accessed January 21, 2024. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a618008.html.
3. Lankford K. Medicare doesn’t cover popular drugs for weight loss. AARP. Published September 13, 2023. Accessed January 21, 2024. https://www.aarp.org/health/medicare-qa-tool/does-medicare-cover-Ozempic-weight-loss-drugs.html.
4. Moody C. Does Medicare cover Ozempic? Medicare.org. Published March 17, 2021. Accessed January 21, 2024. https://www.medicare.org/articles/does-medicare-cover-Ozempic/.
5. Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health. Cost comparison. Pharmacoeconomic Review Report: Semaglutide (Ozempic). National Library of Medicine. Published June 1, 2019. Accessed January 21, 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK543967/.
6. The Ozempic Effect: Everything you need to know about medical weight loss. Columbia Surgery. Published 2022. Accessed January 21, 2024. https://columbiasurgery.org/news/Ozempic-effect-everything-you-need-know-about-medical-weight-loss.
7. Semaglutide (Subcutaneous route) side effects. Mayo Clinic. Last reviewed December 1, 2023. Accessed January 21, 2024. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/semaglutide-subcutaneous-route/side-effects/drg-20406730?p=1.
8. 8 Ways to Lose belly fat and live a healthier Life. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Published November 3, 2021. Accessed January 21, 2024. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/8-ways-to-lose-belly-fat-and-live-a-healthier-life.
9. The benefits of walking. American Diabetes Association. Last reviewed 2024. Accessed January 21, 2024. https://diabetes.org/health-wellness/fitness/benefits-walking.
10. Gardner B, Lally P, Wardle J. Making health habitual: the psychology of ‘habit-formation’ and general practice. British Journal of General Practice. 2012;62(605):664-666. doi:10.3399/bjgp12x659466. Accessed January 21, 2024. https://bjgp.org/content/62/605/664.

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Jordan Stachel, MS, RDN, CPT is most fulfilled when guiding others towards making stepwise, sustainable changes that add up to big results over time. Jordan works with a wide variety of individuals, ranging in age from children to the elderly, with an assortment of concerns and clinical conditions, and has written for publications such as Innerbody. She helps individuals optimize overall health and/or manage disease states using personalized medical nutrition therapy techniques.