There’s More Than One Way To Skin A Cat
Beats average PBM price of +$1,000. Plan sponsors can drop PBM coverage, establish a HRA with fund access through a virtual debit card turning plan members into cash paying customers without insurance. They can shop at Costco, CVS or Walmart and get the same high price of $499…………or their employer can continue to pay a higher, high price through their PBM………….
Costco to sell Ozempic and Wegovy at a large discount for people without insurance
At $499 a month, the deal will help expand access to Novo Nordisk’s weight loss drugs, but doctors say the hugely popular medications will still be out of reach for many who need them.
Oct. 3, 2025, 12:42 PM CDT
By Kaan Ozcan, Marina Kopf and Anne Thompson
Ozempic and Wegovy are coming to a Costco near you.
Novo Nordisk, the company that makes Ozempic and Wegovy, announced Friday it will be selling the prescription injectable pens at the warehouse chain’s pharmacies. A four-week supply of the weight loss drug will cost $499 out of pocket.
Novo Nordisk already sells the monthly supply for $499 at its direct-to-consumer website, and it offers the same discount through CVS and Walmart.
Novo Nordisk and other manufacturers of the hugely popular weight loss drugs have been competing against compounding pharmacies, some clinics and medical spas who sell cheaper versions of the branded medications.
“We want to make sure we offer the real, authentic Wegovy and Ozempic where patients seek care,” David Moore, president of Novo Nordisk U.S., told NBC News. “We know that Costco is a trusted brand.”
Costco members with a prescription will pay $499 for a one-month supply. Executive members and those with Costco Citibank credit cards also get a cash back reward as part of the chain’s prescription program.
For members who have insurance, the price will depend on their plan.
The discounted prescriptions will be available at over 600 Costco pharmacies nationwide starting Friday.
Recent research on the drugs has shown their potential to reduce stroke risk, treat liver disease and protect heart health.
Dr. Rekha Kumar, an endocrinologist at Weill Cornell Medicine and senior medical adviser at Found Health, said the drugs have been a big breakthrough in the treatment of diabetes, but they’re still out of reach for many people who are uninsured, or whose insurance won’t cover the prescriptions.
“This will definitely improve one of the issues with access, meaning that there is another place that people can get the medicine that you know isn’t their retail pharmacy, isn’t an online telehealth pharmacy, but a large store that many people in the United States go to,” she said, even if it will not “solve the issues of insurance coverage and cost.”
In 2024, 13 states cover GLP-1 drugs for obesity treatment, according to KFF, a nonpartisan health policy research group. Around 1 in 8 adults say they have used a GLP-1 agonist.
“Those patients that have coverage will receive the medicine on average for $25 a month,” Novo Nordisk’s Moore said. “But that doesn’t cover everyone, so we wanted to make sure there’s a self-pay option available as well.”
Around 1 in 5 people with private insurance don’t have coverage for at least one brand-name GLP-1 medication prescribed for weight loss, according to GoodRX.
Dr. Harlan Krumholz, cardiologist and professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine said that he’s happy to see greater accessibility for the medications, but they won’t reach the people that need them the most if they can’t pay $499 a month.
“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,” he said.
“If we really want to make the biggest difference on the health of the nation, we have to make sure that the people who would benefit the most have access to medications that are being shown to be beneficial.”
CLARIFICATION (Oct. 3, 2025, p.m. ET): This article has been updated to clarify that executive members and Costco Citibank credit card holders are also eligible for a cash back reward, not a 2% discount, when purchasing weight loss drugs.
SOURCE: Costco to sell Ozempic and Wegovy at a large discount for people without insurance
GLP-1 Medication Support Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)
Here’s a free sample HRA plan document an employer may use as a means to fund Ozempic and Wygovy outside the core medical plan. There are certain advantages in doing so including, among other things, no ACA out-of-pocket maximums to worry about:
Section 1: Plan Name and Effective Date
Plan Name: GLP-1 Medication Support Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)
Effective Date: [Insert Effective Date]
Plan Year: [Insert Plan Year, e.g., January 1 – December 31]
Section 2: Plan Purpose
This HRA is designed to reimburse employees for out-of-pocket costs related to GLP-1 receptor agonist medications prescribed for Type 2 diabetes or obesity/weight-related health risks. It supports access to effective, medically necessary therapies not always covered by standard health insurance plans.
Section 3: Eligibility
Eligible Employees:
– Full-time employees enrolled in the employer-sponsored health insurance plan.
– Must have a valid prescription for an FDA-approved GLP-1 medication for a medically necessary condition.
Eligible Dependents:
– Legally covered dependents of eligible employees (optional—insert employer policy here).
Section 4: Covered Expenses
The HRA will reimburse the following expenses:
– Prescription co-pays and coinsurance for: Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro, Saxenda, Trulicity
– Costs of medically necessary GLP-1 prescriptions not fully covered by insurance.
– Required lab work or follow-up visits directly related to GLP-1 therapy (optional).
Non-Covered Expenses Include:
– Use of GLP-1 drugs for cosmetic purposes or unapproved use without a medical necessity.
– Weight loss supplements or meal plans.
– Over-the-counter medications not prescribed by a provider.
Section 5: Annual Reimbursement Limit
– Up to $3,600 per plan year (maximum of $300/month).
– Claims must be submitted within 90 days of the date of service.
– Unused funds do not roll over into the next plan year.
Section 6: Claims Process
To receive reimbursement, employees must submit:
– A completed claim form
– A copy of the prescription or proof of medical necessity
– Receipts or EOBs showing proof of out-of-pocket costs
Claims should be submitted to:
[Insert contact/TPA information or HR email]
Section 7: Tax and Compliance
– Benefits received are not taxable to the employee if used for qualified medical expenses.
– The plan complies with IRS Section 105, HIPAA, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
– A Privacy Notice and Summary Plan Description (SPD) are available upon request.
Section 8: Employer Rights
The employer reserves the right to amend or terminate the plan at any time, subject to applicable laws and regulations.
