GLP‑1 questions, answered
One question per page, answered in a few hundred words from published sources. Each answer links to the guide with the full picture.
Written for the US: makers’ list and self-pay prices in $, Medicare and Medicaid rules, FDA approvals and warnings, and 911 for emergencies.
All answers
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How much is Wegovy without insurance?
Without insurance, Novo Nordisk’s US self-pay price for Wegovy (semaglutide) pens is $349 a month for any dose up to 2.4 mg, and $399 for the 7.2 mg Wegovy HD pen.
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How much is Zepbound without insurance?
Without insurance, Eli Lilly’s US self-pay price for Zepbound (tirzepatide) vials and KwikPens is $299 a month for 2.5 mg, $399 for 5 mg and $449 for 7.5 mg to 15 mg, if you refill within 45 days.
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Does Medicare cover Zepbound or Wegovy?
Not for weight loss through a normal Part D drug plan, because federal law bars Medicare from covering weight-loss drugs.
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Who qualifies for the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge?
Medicare Part D enrollees aged 18 or older are eligible, says CMS, if when they start they have a BMI of at least 35; or at least 30 with certain heart, blood-pressure or kidney conditions; or at least 27 with prediabetes or a past heart attack, stroke or artery disease.
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Is compounded semaglutide the same as Ozempic?
No. Compounded semaglutide is not FDA-approved, so the FDA has not reviewed its safety, effectiveness or quality, while Ozempic (semaglutide) is an FDA-approved medicine.
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Is compounded tirzepatide legal?
Only in narrow cases. Since the FDA confirmed in December 2024 that the tirzepatide shortage was over, pharmacies may not regularly make copies of Zepbound or Mounjaro (tirzepatide) unless a prescriber documents a significant difference needed by a specific patient.
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How much is the Wegovy pill?
Without insurance, the Wegovy pill (oral semaglutide) costs $149 a month for the 1.5 mg starting dose, $199 for 4 mg and $299 for the 9 mg and 25 mg doses, per Novo Nordisk’s April 2026 US self-pay price guide.
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What is Foundayo?
Foundayo (orforglipron) is Eli Lilly’s once-daily GLP-1 pill for weight management in adults, FDA-approved on April 1, 2026 and taken with or without food.
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Does Medicaid cover Wegovy in my state?
It depends on your state. State Medicaid programs must cover Wegovy (semaglutide) to lower heart risk in adults with heart disease, but covering it for weight loss is each state’s choice.
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What is TrumpRx?
TrumpRx.gov is a US government website, launched on February 5, 2026, that lists discounted cash prices for brand-name drugs, and now generics, and sends you to the maker or a pharmacy to buy them.
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Does insurance cover Zepbound for sleep apnea?
It can, because treating sleep apnea is a medical use, not weight loss.
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Can I get Ozempic online legally?
Yes, if a clinician licensed in your state prescribes it after assessing you and a state-licensed US pharmacy fills it.
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Mounjaro vs Zepbound: what’s the difference?
Mounjaro and Zepbound are the same medicine, tirzepatide, made by Eli Lilly.
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Can I get Ozempic over the counter?
No. Ozempic (semaglutide) is a prescription medicine in the US, so you need a prescription from a licensed clinician and a licensed pharmacy to fill it.
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How long can Zepbound stay out of the fridge?
A Zepbound (tirzepatide) single-dose pen or vial can stay out of the fridge for up to 21 days in total at up to 86°F (30°C), says the US label; then throw it away.
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What BMI do you need for Wegovy?
The US label for Wegovy (semaglutide) covers adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure.
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Does the Wegovy or Zepbound savings card work with Medicare?
No. The makers’ own terms exclude government insurance: the Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide) savings cards can’t be used by anyone enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, the VA or another government health program.
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Can I fly with my GLP-1 pen?
Yes. TSA allows injectable medicines such as GLP-1 pens in carry-on bags, along with the unused needles or syringes that go with them, but you must declare them at the checkpoint.
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When should I call 911 on a GLP-1?
Call 911 on Wegovy, Ozempic (semaglutide), Zepbound or Mounjaro (tirzepatide) for signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as a swelling face, lips or throat or trouble breathing, and for severe stomach pain, vomiting blood, fainting or chest pain.
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How do I report a side effect to the FDA?
Report a suspected side effect of a GLP-1 such as Wegovy, Ozempic (semaglutide), Zepbound or Mounjaro (tirzepatide) to the FDA’s MedWatch program, online through its Report a Problem form or on 1-800-FDA-1088, the number in each US Medication Guide.
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How these answers work
Each answer opens with a short reply of 40 to 60 words, then 2 to 4 short sections with a source on every fact. We edit an answer when the fact changes, and the date at the top moves only then. How we write
Want the full picture? Start with the 9 guides
- 01Weight and healthUnderstand
- 02What GLP‑1 medicines doUnderstand
- 03Your options, and where medicines fitDecide
- 04Should I consider a GLP‑1?Decide
- 05Side effects and risksDecide
- 06Seeing a doctor, and the medicinesDo it safely
- 07Choosing a provider safelyDo it safely
- 08Life on a GLP‑1Live with it
- 09Stopping and the long termLive with it