10 Things to Know About Getting Ozempic at Costco

In the company's latest venture to help shoppers get the most from their membership, Costco has partnered with Sesame to make GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) weight-loss drugs, such as Ozempic, more accessible. 

Ozempic is traditionally used to manage type 2 diabetes. However, because it has helped some patients shed unwanted pounds, it has gained popularity as a weight-loss drug.

Obtaining access to Ozempic has been challenging for many weight-loss patients. That's partially because the drug hasn't been approved by the FDA for weight loss. Without insurance coverage, the drug can cost $1,000 or more per month.

Costco's new partnership offers members online weight-loss support and virtual access to healthcare providers. The providers can order lab work, diagnose healthcare problems, create treatment plans, and prescribe medications.

Costco members receive exclusive pricing and are billed every three months. Sesame estimates that members will lose approximately 5% of their body weight during the first three months.

A three-month subscription to Costco's weight-loss program costs $179. Subscriptions automatically renew unless members cancel. 

Although individual results will vary, Costco and Sesame typically strive for members to lose 10% of their body weight in the first six months and 15% by the end of their first year.

Costco's weight-loss program includes virtual support and virtual physician visits, but some members might still face high out-of-pocket costs. That's because lab work and the cost of prescriptions aren't included in the program.

Even though the Costco + Sesame program doesn't include the cost of the drugs themselves, a subscription to the program might make weight-loss drugs more accessible — and more affordable.

For example, members can see physicians and obtain prescriptions from the comfort of their own homes. This eliminates transportation and other barriers to receiving in-person care.

Because virtual physician visits are included in Costco's weight-loss program, members won't incur medical bills for any of their visits (excluding labs). These medical savings can make it easier for some people to afford weight-loss drugs.

Ozempic is only available by prescription, so not all members of Costco's new weight-loss program will qualify. Physicians must determine whether Ozempic is appropriate for patient weight loss on a case-to-case basis.

Wegovy is another prescription drug popular for weight loss, but unlike Ozempic, Wegovy has been FDA-approved for helping people lose weight. 

The cost of Wegovy isn't included in Costco's weight-loss program, but virtual physicians available to members can prescribe it to eligible patients.

Ozempic is sometimes covered by insurance. However, since it hasn't been approved by the FDA as a weight-loss drug, it's unlikely insurance companies will cover it for weight loss alone. Patients with type 2 diabetes might or might not get Ozempic covered by insurance.

Because Wegovy has been FDA-approved for weight loss, patients without type 2 diabetes may have an easier time getting this drug covered by their insurance company. 

However, there are no guarantees. Wegovy has not been approved by the FDA as a diabetes treatment.

Ozempic and Wegovy aren't the only weight-loss drugs available to Costco + Sesame members. Virtual physicians can also write prescriptions for other weight-loss drugs. 

So, while there are currently no FDA-approved generic versions of Ozempic or Wegovy, lower-cost medications may be available to those without insurance coverage.

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There has been an Ozempic shortage since 2022, partially due to its popularity as a weight-loss product. 

The shortage can create serious problems for type 2 diabetes patients who depend on the drug to manage their conditions. Wegovy has also been in short supply.

Costco's new weight-loss program can make Ozempic and Wegovy more accessible and affordable, but there are no guarantees that all members will qualify for the medications or that insurance companies will cover them.

The subscription-based program can help patients save money at Costco, even if they can't obtain GLP-1 weight loss drugs. Physicians working with Costco + Sesame can also prescribe other medications, like lower-cost weight loss drugs that aren't facing shortages.