“The numbers are truly staggering,” saidDhruv S. Kazi, MD, MSc, MS, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and senior author of the research letter.

However, this doesn’t mean every eligible adult can access semaglutide easily. An estimated 15 million Americans currently use GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy (brand names for semaglutide)—far fewer than the number of people who would benefit from the drug.

“Some people may not be ‘eligible’ but have access and are using it off-label. Many others have the indications yet do not have access—whether it’s because it’s not affordable or insurance doesn’t cover it or it isn’t being prescribed,”Dima Mazen Qato, PharmD, MPH, PhD, an associate professor of clinical pharmacy and spatial sciences at the University of Southern California, told Verywell in an email.

Wegovy vs. Ozempic: How Are They Different?

Insurance Doesn’t Always Cover GLP-1s

Many people eligible for GLP-1 medications struggle to afford them. A recentKFFreport found that more than half of U.S. adults who have taken GLP-1s said that these drugs were not affordable, even with partial insurance coverage.Out-of-pocket costs for a month’s supply are steep—$968.52 for Ozempic and $1,349.02 for Wegovy.

“As with many things in the U.S. healthcare system, access to GLP-1s today remains very patchy based on where you live, what insurance you have, and how much you can afford to pay,“ Kazi said.

“People who are already at higher risk for adverse health events because they have a lower socioeconomic status, they’re the ones that probably need it the most, and they’re the least likely to get it. So this is just creating further health disparities,”Jamie Alan, RPh, PharmD, PhD, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University, told Verywell.

How to Get Ozempic Prescribed

Accessibility Remains a Challenge

Although the FDA recently reclassified Wegovy and Ozempic as “available” instead of “currently in shortage,” these remain on the agency’s drug shortage list.

“All doses of these products are being shipped regularly to wholesalers,” a Novo Nordisk spokesperson told Verywell in an email. “It is important to note that even when a medication is available, patients may not always be able to immediately fill their prescription at a particular pharmacy.”

Compounding pharmacies can make generic versions of the drugs that are on the FDA’s shortage list to help meet public demand.However, the compounding option goes away once a drug comes off the shortage list.

If the FDA takes semaglutide off the shortage list, people could have a harder time accessing the medication, according to Alan.

At that point, “the only option is going through the drug companies, and generally that costs more than compounding,” she added.

GLP-1 Drug Shortage Is Over. Why Might These Drugs Soon Be Costlier and Harder to Access?

How Eligible Adults Can Access Semaglutide

Eligible adults may struggle to access semaglutide medications or choose not to take them for various reasons, including stigma, concerns about potential side effects, and costs.

Policy changes to improve insurance coverage could help make these medications more accessible. In the meantime, you can talk to your healthcare providers about available options if you’re eligible for semaglutide.

“You can always ask your healthcare provider if they are willing to work with a compounding pharmacy to get you a compounded version,” Alan said.

If you decide to get semaglutide from a compounding pharmacy, make sure it has certification and a pharmacist on site, Alan added.

Novo Nordisk also offers savings programs to help offset the cost of Ozempic and Wegovy for certain individuals.And if these prices still feel too high, consider exploring other treatment options.

“If you’re interested in the weight loss piece, there are other medications that help us. They are not as effective, but they are certainly cheaper, so that is something you could also ask your healthcare provider about,” Alan said.

Why Is Ozempic So Expensive? Novo Nordisk Blames Prescription Drug Middlemen

What This Means For YouSemaglutide is approved for type 2 diabetes, weight loss, and heart disease prevention. Millions of Americans are eligible for this drug, but access remains a challenge due to high costs, limited insurance coverage, and shortages.

What This Means For You

Semaglutide is approved for type 2 diabetes, weight loss, and heart disease prevention. Millions of Americans are eligible for this drug, but access remains a challenge due to high costs, limited insurance coverage, and shortages.

9 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Shi I, Khan SS, Yeh RW, Ho JE, Dahabreh IJ, Kazi DS.Semaglutide eligibility across all current indications for us adults.JAMA Cardiol. Published online November 18, 2024. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2024.4657

KFF.KFF health tracking poll May 2024: the public’s use and views of GLP-1 drugs.

Novo Nordisk.Ozempic—find out the cost for Ozempic.

Novo Nordisk.What is the list price for Wegovy and will it impact me?.

KFF.Medicaid coverage of and spending on GLP-1s.

Food and Drug Administration.FDA drug shortages.

Food and Drug Administration.Compounding when drugs are on FDA’s drug shortages list.

NovoCare.Novo Nordisk patient assistance program (PAP).

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