Discounted cash-pay options for GLP-1 weight loss medications keep expanding — most recently, to Walmart.
Self-pay customers of LillyDirect, the drugmaker Eli Lilly’s online GLP-1 platform, can now choose to pick up discounted vials of Zepbound (tirzepatide) in person at a Walmart pharmacy rather than opting for free home delivery.
Customers must have a valid prescription to participate in the program.
Sam’s Club, Costco, and CVS Are Offering Discounted GLP-1s, Too
Other retailers are also offering deals on GLP-1s for people who don’t have prescription insurance coverage or who have been denied coverage for the drugs.
GLP-1s Are Lowering the Percentage of Americans With Obesity
According to the same poll, the percentage of adults with obesity has also dropped to 37 percent, down from a record high of 39.9 percent in 2022. Although that may not seem like a lot, it translates to about 7.6 million fewer adults with obesity.
Cash-Pay Is Still the Only Way Many People Can Get GLP-1s
Insurance issues mean that even people with obesity who could see a significant health boost from GLP-1s may find they have to pay out of pocket.
For people with insurance coverage, there are usually multiple hoops to jump through, and each insurance company’s prior authorization requirements are different, says Allison Rhodes, MD, an internal medicine and obesity medicine physician at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus.
“Some insurance companies list GLP-1 medications used ‘for weight loss’ as a coverage exclusion, which means that even if a patient meets FDA-approved criteria and would benefit from using the medication, the plan will not pay for the medication,” she says.
That means that even with an obesity diagnosis and a prescription, people will have to pay for the GLP-1 out of pocket.
“There are many insurances that have moved toward not having weight loss management as part of their coverage,” leaving many patients to cover the costs out of pocket, says Ackah.
GLP-1s Are More Affordable Now — but Is It Enough?
The ability to buy or pick up discounted GLP-1s at outlets like Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club, and CVS could make GLP-1s more affordable for some people who don’t have insurance coverage, says Sarah Ackah, MD, MPH, an endocrinologist also at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
“Having the program run directly through the pharmacy is also more convenient and efficient, as individuals can talk to their pharmacist and find out the cheapest cost for them,” says Dr. Ackah.
While $349 to $499 a month is an improvement on the previous list prices, affordability remains a barrier for many patients, she says. For a person taking the standard dose, a year’s supply would cost $6,000.
Discount GLP-1 Prices: Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club, CVS
Keep in mind you still need a prescription for any GLP-1 medication.
Walmart
- Zepbound vials via LillyDirect pickup: $349 a month for the 2.5 mg starting dose; $499 a month for higher doses when program criteria are met. This form of Zepbound comes in a vial, which means patients must use a disposable syringe to inject it, rather than a self-injectable pen.
Costco
- Wegovy and Ozempic self-injectable pens: $499 a month at out-of-pocket pricing. (Membership perks may add cash-back rewards through some plans.)
Sam’s Club
- Wegovy or Ozempic self-injectable pens: $499 a month for a one-month supply at out-of-pocket pricing.
CVS
- Wegovy or Ozempic self-injectable pens: $499 a month for a one-month supply at out-of-pocket pricing.
