#insurance

Updated August 2026: SURMOUNT-5 head-to-head trial (NEJM): Zepbound 20.2% vs Wegovy 13.7% weight loss at 72 weeks. Wegovy HD (7.2mg, FDA-approved March 2026) closes the gap at 20.7%. NovoCare lists the Wegovy pen at $199/mo for the first two low-dose fills, then $349/mo at standard strengths ($399 for HD) and pill from $149/mo, prescription required and dose-dependent; LillyDirect lists Zepbound from $299/mo with higher-dose pricing. Both may be as low as $25/mo for eligible commercially insured patients using a savings card.

How much do GLP-1 medications cost in 2026? Wegovy, Zepbound, Ozempic, Mounjaro & Foundayo range from $25 to $1,350/month. With insurance + savings card: $25/mo. Without insurance: $146/mo compounded sema (Yucca Health), $149/mo Foundayo pill, $299 to 449/mo brand injectable (LillyDirect, NovoCare). Medicare: $50/mo, live as of July 2026. Prices verified July 2026 across 53 providers.

Updated July 2026: Medicare Part D now covers Foundayo, Wegovy, and Zepbound for weight loss (live since July 1, 2026) via the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program. Flat $50/month copay. About 3.8 million Part D enrollees are eligible (KFF, June 2026). Both oral pills (Foundayo and Wegovy tablet) are covered. Runs through Dec 31, 2027 (BALANCE Model Part D launch delayed indefinitely as of April 2026; Bridge extended to fill the gap).

Medicare GLP-1 coverage is NOW LIVE as of July 1, 2026. Here's who qualifies for the $50/month Bridge program, how to get prior auth, and whether the Bridge beats cash-pay (our 54-provider price audit).

Verified August 14, 2026: Ozempic and Wegovy are both semaglutide from Novo Nordisk. Ozempic ($1,027.51/mo list) is approved for type 2 diabetes at max 2mg. Wegovy ($1,349/mo list) is approved for weight loss at max 2.4mg (or 7.2mg HD). NovoCare lists each pen at $199/mo for the first two low-dose fills; Wegovy then costs $349/mo at standard strengths ($399 HD), while Ozempic costs $349/mo at 0.25-1mg or $499/mo at 2mg. Pills start at $149/mo and are dose-dependent.

GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy can help PCOS because the syndrome is driven by insulin resistance, and these drugs improve insulin sensitivity, drive weight loss, and in trials restored menstrual regularity and raised natural-pregnancy rates. But here is the catch almost no one explains: PCOS by itself is NOT an FDA-approved reason to prescribe any GLP-1, so insurance and brand savings cards hinge on your BMI and comorbidities, not your PCOS diagnosis. This guide covers the trial signal, why insurance denies PCOS-only requests, the BMI rules behind savings cards, and the cheaper cash-pay paths if you do not qualify.

Updated June 11, 2026: CMS released the official prior authorization request form (cms.gov/glp-1-bridge.pdf, June 8) revealing a key eligibility nuance, beneficiaries with OSA, MASH, T2D, or established CVD are NOT eligible for the Bridge (they route through regular Part D instead). The Bridge is for weight-management-only patients. Four drugs covered at a $50/month flat copay: Foundayo, Wegovy injection, Wegovy oral tablet, and Zepbound KwikPen. Prior auth via Humana/LI NET; requests not processed before July 1. Complete enrollment guide.

Verified July 2026: Zepbound and Mounjaro are the exact same drug (tirzepatide) at the same doses. Mounjaro was FDA-approved May 2022 for Type 2 diabetes. Zepbound was FDA-approved November 2023 for chronic weight management and December 2024 for obstructive sleep apnea. List price is ~$1,087/mo for both; with commercial insurance + savings cards both drop to $25/mo (max $1,950/yr). The real differences: which one your insurance covers, what the FDA label allows, and Zepbound's LillyDirect self-pay vials at $299-$449/mo, a program Mounjaro does not offer.

Verified August 2026: Tirzepatide prices include $149/mo via Gala on a yearly microdose plan ($169/mo for 3 months), $299/mo via LillyDirect (brand Zepbound 2.5mg vial), $399 for the 5mg vial, $449 for 7.5mg and higher doses when refill conditions are met, $25/mo with an eligible Zepbound savings card, or $1,086/mo retail list price. Full price breakdown with 54 tracked providers.

Verified July 2026: Zepbound savings card cuts copay to $25/fill ($1,300 max annual savings) with commercial insurance. Mounjaro savings card offers $25 copay for T2D. Both expire Dec 31, 2026. Activate in 2 minutes at zepbound.lilly.com/savings. Full eligibility + backup options.

Two of the biggest telehealth platforms now offer branded Wegovy and GLP-1 programs. We compare Ro and Hims on pricing, medications, insurance, clinical support, and what actually changed after the Novo Nordisk lawsuit.