Novo Nordisk launched a new subscription cost-saving program for Wegovy (semaglutide), available through telehealth platforms for eligible self-paying patients.
Patients can choose 3-, 6-, or 12-month subscriptions, with lower costs for longer program duration. For Wegovy pen (0.25 mg-2.4 mg), the monthly costs are $329, $299, and $249, respectively. For Wegovy pill (9 mg or 25 mg), the costs are $289, $269, and $249, respectively. Wegovy high-dose injection (7.2 mg) will be added later.
These prices represent annual savings of $240-$1200 for Wegovy pen and $120-$600 for Wegovy pill, Novo Nordisk said in a statement.
On March 31, 2026, the program was offered through the Ro, Weight Watchers, and LifeMD platforms. Other telehealth providers will be added soon, including Hims & Hers and Sesame.
“We continue to implement programs that improve access and affordability for patients in the places they seek care, including telehealth platforms, where many people today access obesity treatment and ongoing support that fit their lifestyle…Patients should contact their telehealth provider directly for specific eligibility criteria, enrollment details and complete program terms, as these vary by platform,” a Novo Nordisk spokesperson told Medscape Medical News.
Asked for comment, obesity policy expert Theodore K. Kyle, RPh, founder and CEO of ConscienHealth, Pittsburgh, told Medscape Medical News, “It’s an interesting part of a broader trend toward lower costs for these drugs. But the devil is in the details and this is almost certainly not the end of the story, just a step along the way.”
Regarding the program’s impact on patient access, Kyle said, “For some patients, it might help with affordability. But that really depends upon their specific circumstances and some of the nitty gritty details of the program. To date, the programs from Novo and Lilly each have very specific and sometimes problematic rules that make it difficult for at least some patients to remain enrolled. So again, the details really matter.”
Marsha Novick, MD, medical director and CEO of Weight Management & Wellness Online and spokesperson for The Obesity Society, told Medscape Medical News that the program will improve Wegovy access for people without insurance, have poor insurance, or do not have access to a primary care provider. However, she noted, “at $250-$330 per month, the cost of these medications will still be out of reach for many Americans who qualify and would like to use them.”
Novick also expressed several concerns about the care itself provided by these platforms, noting that primary care providers (PCPs) are excluded, thereby “fragmenting crucial health care needs.”
Moreover, “we have no idea of the qualifications of the clinicians on these platforms. These medications cause side effects, such as a reduction of birth control pill efficacy. My concern is that these clinicians, unlike a PCP, will just treat the obesity and not care for the whole patient.”
Indeed, Novick noted that since the programs only involve Wegovy, patients will not be offered other weight management options or lifestyle interventions, when “taking weight loss medication should only be part of the treatment program.”
And by locking patients into a minimum of 3 months of medication, there is no provision for early discontinuation due to lack of tolerability. “Therefore, there will be many people who will waste their money,” she pointed out.
Fundamentally, she said, “the issue continues to be a lack of coverage that results in self-pay…Subscription programs will continue to create inequity. What we really need is inclusion in the healthcare system that provides access across all sectors.”
Novick advised that clinicians discuss weight loss options with patients, including the fact that generic alternatives may be available and covered by insurance based on other medical conditions such as coronary artery disease and sleep apnea. To save time, clinicians can use AI to create prior authorization appeal letters.
She also advised, “Give your patients hope. There will be additional FDA-approved medications on the market in a few years, and the competition will reduce pricing.”
Novick reported no conflicts of interest. Kyle received consulting fees from Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Emerald Lake Safety, Novo Nordisk, Nutrisystem, and Roman Health Ventures.
Miriam E. Tucker is a freelance journalist based in the Washington DC area. She is a regular contributor to Medscape, with other work appearing in the Washington Post, NPR’s Shots blog, and Diatribe. She is on X (formerly Twitter) @MiriamETucker and BlueSky @miriametucker.bsky.social