Tejal Somvanshi
Costco has partnered with Novo Nordisk to offer popular weight loss medications at reduced prices for members without insurance coverage. Starting October 4, Costco pharmacies nationwide will sell Wegovy and Ozempic for $499 per month, which provides a four-week supply consisting of four injectable pens.
The warehouse retailer joins CVS and Walmart in offering the same $499 price point, matching Novo Nordisk’s own direct-to-consumer website rate. For customers with insurance, prices will vary based on their specific plan coverage.
“We want to make sure we offer the real, authentic Wegovy and Ozempic where patients seek care,” said David Moore, president of Novo Nordisk U.S. “We know that Costco is a trusted brand.”
The move comes as pharmaceutical companies face competition from compounding pharmacies and medical spas selling less expensive versions of these medications. The $499 price tag represents roughly half the typical retail cost, which can exceed $1,000-$1,350 monthly without insurance coverage.
Costco executive members and those with Costco Citibank Visa cards receive additional benefits through cash-back rewards as part of the chain’s prescription program. The discounted medications will be available at over 600 Costco pharmacy locations.
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Despite this discount, health experts note significant barriers remain. “This will definitely improve one of the issues with access,” said Dr. Rekha Kumar, an endocrinologist at Weill Cornell Medicine, though she acknowledged it won’t “solve the issues of insurance coverage and cost” for many patients.
According to KFF, a nonpartisan health policy research group, only 13 states cover GLP-1 drugs for obesity treatment in 2024. Medicare and Medicaid typically cover these medications only when prescribed for diabetes, not weight management. Patients with private insurance coverage typically pay around $25 per month.
Dr. Harlan Krumholz, cardiologist and professor at Yale School of Medicine, expressed concerns about ongoing access inequities: “The people who have the greatest need for these medications are precisely the people who are in lower socioeconomic strata who have either poor insurance or no insurance, and don’t have the discretionary funds to be spending on medications.”
Both Wegovy and Ozempic contain semaglutide, but they’re FDA-approved for different uses. Wegovy is approved for obesity treatment, while Ozempic is specifically for Type 2 diabetes, though both can lead to weight loss.
Recent research shows semaglutide may reduce stroke risk and improve liver disease outcomes, though these uses are still under study. Wegovy is FDA-approved to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with obesity and heart disease
Patients need a valid prescription to purchase these medications through Costco’s program. There is no specific timeframe for how long patients should take these medications, though GoodRx reports it typically takes 4-5 weeks for Ozempic to reach steady levels in the body and at least 8 weeks to significantly reduce glucose levels.
The $499 monthly cost translates to nearly $6,000 annually for those paying out of pocket, highlighting why coverage remains a critical factor in accessibility for many patients.
