President Donald Trump announced a new agreement on Thursday that aims to make weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound more affordable for Americans.
This deal with drug manufacturers Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly could reduce the price of GLP-1 medications to as low as $149 a month.
Currently, these popular injections start at around $350 per month through the administration’s new TrumpRX platform, but are expected to decline to $245 over the next two years, as noted by officials during the announcement.
Chris Klomp, director of Medicare and deputy administrator at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), mentioned at a press conference that this would be equivalent to about $500 in today’s market.
Medicare users will find that Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy, along with Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro and Zepbound, will be priced at $245. According to the White House, the pill version of the drug is anticipated to allow everyone to purchase it directly from manufacturers through TrumpRX, with a starting price of $149 per month available in January.
This announcement aims to broaden access to these medications, which many Americans currently find prohibitively expensive.
What are the costs associated with weight-loss drugs?
The prices of prescription drugs can be complicated, and two individuals may end up paying different rates for the same medication based on their insurance coverage.
Currently, Zepbound’s list price is $1,086 for one month, which, according to Eli Lilly, reflects the cost that wholesalers pay. Without insurance or any manufacturer discounts, the yearly expense could exceed $13,000.
Wegovy, made by Novo Nordisk, has a list price of approximately $1,350 for 28 days, translating to about $16,200 annually without insurance. Ozempic is listed around $1,000.
Given the recent increases in pharmacy prices, individuals paying out of pocket could see even higher costs. Many people find such prices unaffordable, which has prompted companies to introduce programs aimed at lowering these costs.
Eli Lilly offers a lower dose of Zepbound at $349 a month for those paying out of pocket, and has partnered with Walmart to facilitate pick-up at pharmacies. On the other hand, Novo Nordisk offers Ozempic and Wegovy at $499 per month to eligible self-paying patients through various partners.
These discounted rates are available to eligible cash-paying customers who are either uninsured or whose insurance plans do not cover the medication.
For insured individuals, the out-of-pocket costs for GLP-1 drugs can fluctuate significantly, with expenses ranging from minimal to several hundred dollars per month.
Do insurance plans cover weight-loss drugs?
About 19% of companies with over 200 employees plan to cover GLP-1 drugs for weight loss in 2025, as indicated by the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker.
For larger organizations with 5,000 or more employees, this percentage increased from 28% to 43% in 2024.
“Even with their high costs, a substantial number of large employers recognizing the need to cover these medications highlights their importance,” noted researchers from Peterson KFF in a recent report.
The rise in coverage aligns with a growing trend among Americans who are utilizing medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, which are primarily prescribed for type 2 diabetes, to assist in weight loss.
According to a Gallup poll, the percentage of adults using injectable weight-loss drugs has doubled in the past year, going from 6% in 2024 to over 12% now. This growth correlates with a reported decrease in adult obesity rates in the U.S., which have declined from around 40% in 2022 to 37% in 2025.
