The most popular weight loss shots range from about $299 to $1,349 per month, depending on the brand, your dose, and whether you have insurance. That’s a wide gap, and the final number you pay depends heavily on which medication you use and how you access it. Here’s what each option actually costs in 2025 and 2026.
Zepbound: The Most Affordable Brand-Name Option
Zepbound (tirzepatide) from Eli Lilly has become the most price-competitive brand-name weight loss injection. The company sells single-dose vials directly to patients through its LillyDirect program, bypassing insurance entirely. A month’s supply of the starting dose (2.5 mg) costs $299, and the 5 mg dose runs $399. Higher maintenance doses of 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg cost $499 to $699 per month.
If you have commercial insurance that covers Zepbound, the price drops further. And if your insurance doesn’t cover the pen form specifically, a savings card can bring the cost to $499 per month through the end of 2026. For most people without insurance, Zepbound’s direct pricing makes it the cheapest way to get a brand-name weight loss shot.
Wegovy: List Price vs. What You Actually Pay
Wegovy (semaglutide) carries a list price of $1,349.02 per month for all injection doses. That’s the sticker price before any discounts, and it applies whether you’re on the lowest starting dose or the full 2.4 mg maintenance dose. Novo Nordisk also recently launched a higher-dose version called Wegovy HD (7.2 mg) and oral tablet forms at the same list price.
Almost nobody should pay the full list price, though. If you have commercial insurance that covers Wegovy, the manufacturer’s savings card brings your copay down to $25 per month. Without insurance coverage, a separate discount program currently offers the starting doses for $199 per month for the first two months, then $349 per month after that. Wegovy’s oral tablets have their own introductory pricing at $149 per month for lower doses.
These promotional prices have specific expiration dates and change periodically, so the exact amount depends on when you fill your prescription.
Saxenda: The Daily Injection Alternative
Saxenda (liraglutide) also has a list price of $1,349.02 per month. Unlike Wegovy and Zepbound, which are weekly injections, Saxenda requires a shot every day. The medication works through a similar mechanism but produces more modest weight loss on average. Because of the daily injection schedule and the availability of newer weekly options, Saxenda has become less popular, but it remains an option when other medications aren’t covered.
Compounded Semaglutide Injections
Compounded versions of semaglutide, made by specialty pharmacies rather than brand-name manufacturers, typically cost $200 to $500 per month. These are custom-mixed formulations that became widely available during brand-name drug shortages. They’re significantly cheaper than Wegovy, but the regulatory landscape around compounded weight loss drugs has been shifting. Quality varies between pharmacies, and these products don’t go through the same FDA approval process as brand-name medications.
What Insurance Typically Covers
Coverage for weight loss injections is inconsistent. Many commercial insurance plans cover Wegovy or Zepbound, but often require prior authorization, meaning your doctor needs to submit documentation proving you meet specific criteria (usually a BMI of 30 or higher, or 27 with a weight-related health condition). Some plans exclude weight management drugs entirely, and even those that cover them may impose step therapy requirements or limit which doses they’ll pay for.
Medicare has historically not covered weight loss medications at all. That changes on July 1, 2026, when a new CMS demonstration program called the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge begins covering Wegovy (both injections and tablets), Zepbound KwikPens, and a newer drug called Foundayo for eligible beneficiaries. To qualify, you’ll need a BMI of 35 or higher, or a BMI of 30 or higher with certain conditions like uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart failure, or chronic kidney disease. A lower BMI threshold of 27 applies if you have pre-diabetes, a history of heart attack or stroke, or peripheral artery disease. The copay under this program is $50 per fill.
Costs Beyond the Medication
The monthly drug price isn’t the only expense. Most providers require an initial consultation before prescribing, which runs $100 to $300 depending on the clinic. Baseline lab work to check your metabolic health and rule out contraindications can add another $100 to $400 if your insurance doesn’t cover it. Some clinics bundle these into a subscription model, while others bill them separately.
Telehealth weight loss clinics have driven consultation costs down in many cases, with some charging as little as $50 for a virtual visit. But be cautious of programs that fold inflated “membership fees” into the price. When comparing total costs, add up the medication, visits, and any required lab work over at least three to six months, since these drugs work gradually and the starting doses are intentionally low while your body adjusts.
Monthly Cost Comparison at a Glance
- Zepbound (self-pay vials): $299 to $699 per month depending on dose
- Wegovy (with commercial insurance + savings card): $25 per month
- Wegovy (without insurance, discount program): $199 to $349 per month
- Wegovy (list price, no discounts): $1,349 per month
- Saxenda (list price): $1,349 per month
- Compounded semaglutide: $200 to $500 per month
- Medicare GLP-1 Bridge (starting July 2026): $50 copay per fill
Your actual cost depends on which medication your provider recommends, what dose you eventually stabilize on, and how you access it. For someone paying entirely out of pocket, Zepbound’s direct-to-patient vial pricing currently offers the lowest entry point among brand-name options at $299 per month. For someone with good commercial insurance, Wegovy at $25 per month through the savings card is hard to beat.