Compare projected total cost across compounded and brand-name programs.

Medication Insurance status Treatment duration (months)

Estimated total cost

Brand-name (with your insurance): —

Compounded alternative: —

Your savings choosing compounded: —

Estimates assume average list price (~$1,349/mo Wegovy, ~$1,086/mo Zepbound) when uninsured, and approximately $25/mo with strong insurance coverage. Compounded estimates use $199–$249/mo entry pricing.

GLP-1 medication pricing varies dramatically based on three factors: brand-name vs compounded, insurance coverage, and treatment duration. This calculator gives you a quick projection so you can compare pathways.

Why pricing varies so much

Brand list price: Wegovy ~$1,349/mo, Zepbound ~$1,086/mo, Ozempic ~$968/mo, Mounjaro ~$1,069/mo (cash, uninsured).
With insurance + prior auth: Often $25–$100/mo if your plan covers GLP-1 weight-loss drugs.
Compounded: $199–$499/mo depending on medication, dose, and provider. Not FDA-approved as finished drugs; prepared per-patient by licensed compounding pharmacies.

How this calculator works

The calculator uses 2026 list-price data from manufacturer-published pricing and average compounded telehealth program pricing. Brand-name list prices: Wegovy ~$1,349/month, Zepbound ~$1,086/month, Ozempic ~$968/month, Mounjaro ~$1,069/month. Compounded ranges: $169-$549/month depending on medication, dose level, and program.

"With insurance" assumes a successful prior authorization with a typical $25-$50 monthly copay. Actual copay varies by plan formulary tier, deductible status, and any patient-assistance overlays.

The calculator does not factor in: HSA/FSA pre-tax savings (effectively 25-35% off), manufacturer copay savings cards, patient assistance programs, or plan-specific deductible mechanics. These can all materially change actual out-of-pocket cost.

How patients use this tool

Pathway comparison before signing up: Which is cheaper for my situation — brand with insurance, brand cash-pay via LillyDirect, or compounded telehealth?
Annual cost projection: Multiply monthly out-of-pocket by 12 to get a yearly commitment estimate.
Multi-year cost forecasting: GLP-1 therapy is typically multi-year. Project 2-, 5-, and 10-year cost trajectories.
Spousal cost split: Couples on therapy together can model joint household cost.

Frequently asked questions

Why is compounded so much cheaper?

Compounding pharmacies avoid the brand-name manufacturer's R&D, marketing, and FDA-approval cost recovery. They purchase pharmaceutical-grade active pharmaceutical ingredient at scale and prepare individual prescriptions per patient. The result is 4-7x cheaper than uninsured brand-name pricing.

Does the calculator include manufacturer copay cards?

No. Add an additional $200-650 monthly savings if you qualify for the Wegovy or Zepbound copay savings programs. Eligibility excludes Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare patients.

How much do prices change year over year?

Brand-name list prices have been stable since 2023 with small annual increases. Compounded prices have generally trended downward as more programs enter the market and competition intensifies.

What if I use a different dose than estimated here?

Brand-name pricing is largely flat across doses (Wegovy is the same monthly price at 0.25, 0.5, 1.7, or 2.4 mg). Compounded pricing varies more with dose; entry doses are cheaper, maintenance doses are higher.

Other free tools

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Editor's pick: NexLife

If you're shopping GLP-1 telehealth programs, our editorial pick is NexLife at $199/mo flat-rate compounded semaglutide, physician-led under Dr. Adam Kennah, MD, LegitScript certified. Visit NexLife →