Wegovy (the weight loss medication you can only get with an Rx from a licensed healthcare professional) may intrigue you. See the best places to get a prescription for Wegovy online that our PharmD says measure up.
You may have done your research and settled on Wegovy for weight management or cardiovascular health. Now what?
Telemedicine options might be your ticket to fulfill the prescription, deliver it discreetly to your doorstep, and offer guidance and support along the way.
If you want to take Wegovy, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, here are some things to keep in mind about getting it online. We also provide some accredited and trusted online platforms that offer brand-name Wegovy.
Expert take on Wegovy, availability, and safety
| Philip Ngo, PharmD
All the options above offer Wegovy to eligible individuals. It’s ultimately up to a qualified healthcare professional to determine whether Wegovy is right for you.
Ngo mentions that availability of Wegovy could be difficult because the drug is so popular. “Supply chain issues may arise from time to time. Novo Nordisk is actively working to ramp up production,” but there may be difficulty in getting a prescription.
As a result, a healthcare professional may recommend an alternative to Wegovy. These alternatives may include compounded versions of injectable GLP-1 receptor agonist medications, including tirzepatide and semaglutide.
Because of
It’s important to talk with a healthcare professional to make sure you’re being prescribed FDA-approved, non-compounded GLP-1 medications.
• behavior change weight loss program
• ongoing support
• ongoing support
• behavior change weight loss program
• food tracking app
• ongoing support
• discounts on lab tests
• behavior change weight loss program
• ongoing support
* Medication costs may be covered by insurance depending on your insurance plan and whether you meet the eligibility criteria for Wegovy.
In-person option
The best way to get a prescription for Wegovy in person is by making an appointment with a licensed doctor, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner. In addition to a better chance of insurance coverage, compared with online programs, in-person visits allow you to establish a relationship with a professional who can support your weight loss efforts long term.
During your visit, a healthcare professional will likely review your medical history, perform a physical exam, and discuss your current lifestyle to determine whether Wegovy is right for you.
In addition to potentially writing a prescription, they can also discuss other resources to support your weight loss journey, such as a referral to a registered dietitian.
“I found a GLP-1 clinic that’s way cheaper!”
Due to Wegovy’s incredible rise in popularity and high price point, many other companies have started producing their own compounded medications that include semaglutide.
You may have heard hype about how you can get “$25 Wegovy.”
But it’s wise to steer clear of pop-up GLP-1 clinics or “custom-compounded” clinics. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received many reports of hospitalizations and adverse effects that are likely related to
Ngo recommends researching the healthcare professionals and their areas of expertise, especially if you’re meeting online. “I would shy away from an online platform that only lists the board members and none of the actual [clinicians],” he said.
Want more details on shady GLP-1 providers?
Our Medical Standards and Insights team has carefully researched and vetted over 11,000 products and services. We evaluate services for consistency with standards of care and best practices, and we look into each brand’s reputation before sharing products and services on Healthline.
To choose the services on this page, we considered all the GLP-1 services that passed our vetting process. Then, we looked at availability, cost, and the additional resources each service provides to narrow down our list even further.
If you’re looking to get a prescription for Wegovy online, it’s essential that you select a reputable telehealth provider.
All the brands and services on our list were vetted by our Content Integrity Team to ensure that their business practices and medical-related claims align with Healthline’s brand integrity standards and approach to well-being.
Additional factors we considered include:
- Ongoing support: Once you’re prescribed Wegovy, it’s important that you’re in regular contact with your healthcare professional. In addition to making sure that you’re tolerating the medication, your medical professional will also adjust your dose as needed. All the options on our list include access to unlimited messaging with your care team.
- Additional resources: Wegovy has been shown to be effective when paired with dietary changes and physical activity, such as exercise. When compiling our list, we considered whether these online platforms offer additional resources to support your weight loss efforts, such as one-on-one coaching and community support.
- Availability: All the options on our list offer Wegovy to eligible individuals. Still, keep in mind that drug shortages may affect whether you can get the medication.
- Cost and insurance coverage: We considered the monthly cost of each service, taking into account the additional tools and resources each provides. We also looked for online telehealth providers that are in-network with most major insurance plans to find you the best places to get Wegovy online with insurance.
- Online review: We read through countless online reviews to better understand the pros and cons of each service. We paid particular attention to whether customers feel well supported after the initial signup period.
Pros
- Online options may be more convenient than making and attending an in-person appointment.
- Online options are more accessible to people living in remote areas or those who are not easily able to leave their house.
- Some online programs offer more extensive support than what you might get through your doctor’s office alone.
Cons
- There is a potential for counterfeit medications and financial scams.
- Some online programs may not be as thorough as an in-person exam or may bypass crucial consultations altogether, leading to potential health risks.
- There is a potential for delivery issues, including delays or errors, affecting your treatment schedule.
- Many online programs are not covered by insurance and can be costly.
While online platforms offer a convenient alternative to making an in-person appointment with a licensed healthcare professional, it’s important to be aware of potential issues that can have serious consequences:
- Compounding pharmacies: Compounded injectable medications like GLP-1 medications are not always safe and can have life threatening side effects. Because of these and other safety concerns, the FDA does not approve of compounded drugs and warns against taking compounded semaglutide.
- Counterfeit medications: Only take medications that are prescribed and filled by reputable medical professionals and pharmacies, respectively, to reduce the risk of being given counterfeit medications, which can contain harmful substances or incorrect doses.
- Financial scams: If Wegovy is being offered at a very low price, there’s a real possibility that it might be a scam and should be avoided.
- Privacy and data security: It’s important to use online platforms that take measures to keep your medical and personal information safe.
The cost of a Wegovy prescription depends on a number of factors, including whether you have insurance coverage, as well as your treatment plan and preferred pharmacy. The list price for Wegovy before insurance or discounts is $1,349.02 for a box of four pens, which is a 1-month supply.
Cost | Monthly cost |
---|---|
without insurance | just under $1,350 |
Wegovy savings offer with insurance | from $0 |
Wegovy savings offer without insurance | from $650 |
You can apply for savings via NovoCare. Those with private or commercial insurance plans that cover Wegovy can save up to $225 per box for 12 refills, plus whatever your insurance covers.
If you pay cash or do not have insurance, you may be able to save up to $500 per box with this offer. You’re not eligible for this offer if you use Medicare, Medicaid, or Tricare for insurance.
Using the WeGoTogether savings offer from Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Wegovy, people with health insurance coverage may pay as little as $0 per 28-day supply of Wegovy, and people paying out-of-pocket can save up to $500 per 28-day supply of Wegovy.
However, you’re not eligible for these savings offers if your insurance coverage comes from Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, or another government-affiliated healthcare plan.
Refresh on Wegovy
Wegovy was Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for weight loss in
It contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic, semaglutide, which is a synthetic version of a hormone called GLP-1. By mimicking GLP-1, semaglutide can
Semaglutide can even help reduce blood sugar levels, further positively affecting your heart health.
Learn more about Wegovy, including dosing, side effects, and administration.
Ngo recommends researching the healthcare professionals and their areas of expertise, especially if you’re meeting online. “I would shy away from an online platform that only lists the board members and none of the actual [clinicians].”
Wegovy is prescribed along with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
Typically, adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with at least one weight-related medical condition, are candidates for a Wegovy prescription.
Children over 12 years old with a BMI in the 95th percentile may also be eligible.
As of March 2024, Wegovy is also approved to help reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death in people with heart disease and obesity or overweight.
The ease of getting a Wegovy prescription depends on your medical history and current health status. A thorough consultation is usually required.
Consult your insurance provider to see if Wegovy is covered under your prescription medication benefits.
Some insurance plans may require prior authorization, which means your healthcare professional will need to complete a form that your insurance provider has to approve before Wegovy is covered.
There are currently no over-the-counter (OTC) GLP-1 medications.
The only FDA-approved OTC weight loss drug is Alli, which contains the active ingredient orlistat. However, Alli works differently than GLP-1 agonists like Wegovy and may not be appropriate for everyone.
The main difference between the two are what the FDA has approved them for. “While Wegovy and Ozempic both contain semaglutide, Wegovy is FDA-approved for weight loss whereas Ozempic is approved for blood sugar control,” Ngo said.
“The reason for differences in approvals ultimately comes down to the clinical trials done on these drugs and their different strengths. Wegovy comes in 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.7, and 2.4 mg. Meanwhile, Ozempic can give a 0.25, 0.5, 1, or 2 mg dosage.
“When trials were done on these drugs, researchers used the dosages unique to each drug and were looking for different results (Wegovy trials looked at extent of weight loss whereas Ozempic trials looked at extent of glycemic control).”
Choosing the right online telehealth provider for your Wegovy prescription depends on various factors, such as cost, insurance acceptance, and the type of consultation you prefer.
It’s also important to be aware of compounded or counterfeit medications and understand the resources provided before selecting the company.
Whether you choose to get Wegovy online or in person, it’s important that you have ongoing support from a team of healthcare professionals for long-term weight loss success.