Costco Ozempic pricing is making one of the most in-demand GLP-1 drugs more affordable for uninsured shoppers: starting Oct. 3, 2025, Costco pharmacies are offering four-week supplies of Ozempic and Wegovy at a flat $499 out-of-pocket price for members enrolled in the Costco Member Prescription Program, with prescriptions required. Executive Members get an extra 2% off, and Citi cardholders receive a separate 2% discount, according to the company’s partners. The move aligns with a growing list of retailers and platforms standardizing $499 cash pricing for eligible patients. [1][3][5]

Key Takeaways

– shows Costco pharmacies began $499 four-week Ozempic and Wegovy pricing for uninsured members on Oct. 3, 2025, via the Costco Member Prescription Program. [3] – reveals Executive Members and Citi cardholders each receive an extra 2% discount, shaving about $9.98 per eligible discount from the $499 price. [1] – demonstrates nationwide parity as GoodRx’s Kroger tie-up also prices Ozempic and Wegovy at $499 across nearly 2,200 pharmacies for self-pay patients. [2] – indicates potential monthly savings up to $801 versus uninsured prices that can exceed $1,300, with actual discounts varying by market and dosage. [5] – suggests expanded access routes as LifeMD offers Ozempic at $499 including virtual visits, testing, and prescription delivery for eligible cash patients. [4]

How the Costco Ozempic price works

Costco’s $499 sticker applies to a four-week supply of either Ozempic or Wegovy when purchased out-of-pocket by uninsured members who enroll in the Costco Member Prescription Program; a valid prescription is required at pickup. The program began Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, in Costco pharmacies, according to the retailer’s partner Novo Nordisk and local broadcast reporting. This cash price is designed to simplify access for people whose insurance doesn’t cover GLP-1 therapies or who face prohibitively high deductibles. [3]

Costco further sweetens the deal with small but meaningful member incentives. Executive Members receive an additional 2% discount, and Citi cardholders receive a separate 2% discount on eligible pharmacy purchases. On the $499 four-week supply, each 2% discount is roughly $9.98. Depending on payment method and membership tier, that can trim the net cost slightly below the $499 headline price. Prescriptions remain mandatory, ensuring clinical oversight for these chronic-care medications. [1]

People magazine describes the $499 figure as “half price” compared with prevailing cash prices, underscoring the size of the cut for many self-pay patients. Costco emphasized the program is meant to be “simple, reliable, and within reach,” echoing Novo Nordisk’s message about increasing access while standardizing cash pricing at the pharmacy counter. [1][3]

What the deal includes and who is eligible

The $499 Costco Ozempic offer targets patients who are uninsured or otherwise paying cash and who meet medical eligibility determined by a licensed clinician. Enrollment in the Costco Member Prescription Program is required, and patients must present a prescription at a Costco pharmacy to purchase a four-week supply at the advertised price. The pricing applies to both Ozempic (semaglutide) and Wegovy, allowing clinicians and patients to consider therapeutic fit while maintaining a predictable out-of-pocket cost. [3][1]

While Costco handles in-person dispensing, other partners are using a $499 price point with telehealth layers. LifeMD, for instance, offers Ozempic at $499 per month for eligible U.S. cash-paying customers, bundling virtual consultations, required testing, and prescription delivery. That route may appeal to patients who prefer end-to-end virtual care and home delivery, though fees and care steps can differ by platform. The pricing alignment across channels suggests manufacturers are supporting a common self-pay benchmark. [4]

How the Costco Ozempic offer compares nationwide

Costco’s move lands amid a broader retail convergence on $499 cash pricing for GLP-1s. GoodRx’s expanded partnership with Kroger brings a similar $499 monthly price for Ozempic and Wegovy to nearly 2,200 pharmacy locations nationwide, targeting self-pay patients at the counter. Taken together, these programs indicate a sizable footprint of brick-and-mortar outlets where eligible shoppers can secure a consistent out-of-pocket price. [2]

Multiple outlets estimate the $499 price equates to steep relief off typical uninsured costs. iHeartRadio reported the new Costco pricing is about 40% below typical uninsured prices, which can exceed $1,300. That implies potential monthly savings of several hundred dollars, depending on geography and dispensing. People framed the new cost as “half price,” highlighting that while cash prices vary widely by market and dosage, the floor established by $499 represents a dramatic reduction. [5][1]

This retail harmonization also narrows price dispersion at the pharmacy counter. By anchoring Ozempic and Wegovy cash prices at $499 across different chains and care models, patients gain clearer expectations around affordability and budgeting, and providers can counsel patients more confidently on likely out-of-pocket costs if they lack coverage. [2][4]

Why $499 matters for uninsured patients’ budgets

Even small percentage discounts on top of the $499 baseline can add up across chronic therapy. Costco’s 2% Executive Member reward is about $9.98 per four-week fill; the Citi 2% cardholder benefit adds another $9.98 on eligible transactions. While these incremental savings don’t approach the headline discount versus typical cash prices, they help lower recurring out-of-pocket costs and can reduce marginal barriers to adherence for budget-sensitive patients. [1]

Compared with uninsured costs that can exceed $1,300 per month for GLP-1 therapies, a $499 outlay reduces monthly burden by as much as $801 in some markets. Over a 12‑month horizon, that potential reduction can mean thousands in savings for a patient paying entirely out-of-pocket. Actual savings will vary with local pricing, availability, and clinical dosing, but standardizing a sub‑$500 baseline significantly compresses cost uncertainty for self-pay users. [5]

The Costco Ozempic experience: steps to get started

For members considering the Costco Ozempic program, the process is straightforward. First, confirm a valid Costco membership and enroll in the Costco Member Prescription Program. Second, obtain a prescription from a licensed clinician; prescriptions are mandatory and are verified at the pharmacy counter. Third, present your membership details and prescription at a Costco pharmacy to purchase a four-week supply at $499, applying any eligible 2% Executive Member or Citi cardholder savings at checkout. [3][1]

Patients who prefer a remote care path can opt for telehealth-driven programs aligned to the same $499 price point. LifeMD, for example, includes virtual visits, required testing, and prescription delivery for eligible cash-pay patients. This model may suit those who cannot easily access a physical pharmacy or prefer at-home care, though program steps and timelines may differ from in-store pickup. [4]

Market implications and retail partnerships

The synchronized $499 price emerging across retailers and telehealth platforms signals closer collaboration between manufacturers and pharmacy networks to expand access for self-pay patients. GoodRx’s arrangement with Kroger and Costco’s partnership suggest that large-scale retail chains can operationalize consistent cash pricing rapidly across hundreds or thousands of locations, which could, in turn, reduce shopping frictions for patients and prescribing frictions for clinicians. [2][3]

Novo Nordisk’s participation across these efforts reflects a manufacturer strategy to simplify patient access where insurance coverage is limited or nonexistent. Executives involved have characterized the retail collaborations as steps to make care “simple, reliable, and within reach,” language that underscores the emphasis on predictability and patient experience at the point of purchase. Aligning on one cash number—$499—reduces ambiguity and helps patients plan for recurring monthly expenses. [3]

How the Costco Ozempic offer intersects with ongoing affordability challenges

Despite the meaningful drop, affordability remains a challenge for many households, especially over long treatment durations. For a patient paying $499 monthly, the annual outlay approaches $5,988 before any incremental 2% perks, which may still strain budgets. But versus cash prices that can exceed $1,300, the standardized price can materially improve access, particularly for those stuck between inadequate coverage and high list prices. These parallel retail programs broaden the set of options for self-pay patients without altering clinical requirements. [5][2]

The existence of consistent cash pricing across brick-and-mortar pharmacies and telehealth channels could also introduce competitive pressure around service convenience—wait times, refill logistics, and digital pharmacy features—rather than purely around price, given the common $499 anchor. Patients may choose among Costco, Kroger pharmacies using GoodRx, or telehealth options based on factors like proximity, speed, and clinical support, not just the monthly cost. [2][4]

What to watch next

Key near-term watch items include pharmacy inventory dynamics and patient throughput as more uninsured shoppers test the $499 cash option, especially following the Oct. 3 launch at Costco. Additional retailers could join with similar pricing, expanding geographical reach and smoothing patient transitions if supply varies by location. Telehealth partners may refine virtual care workflows and testing requirements to accelerate time to fill while preserving clinical rigor. [3][2]

For consumers, consistent verification steps—membership enrollment where required, valid prescriptions, and awareness of eligible 2% perks—will determine actual checkout costs. For clinicians, more predictable cash pricing should simplify conversations with patients for whom coverage is uncertain, aligning selection of GLP-1 therapy with both medical appropriateness and the patient’s monthly budget constraints. [1][3]

Sources:

[1] People – Costco Will Sell Ozempic and Wegovy at Half Price: https://people.com/costco-sell-ozempic-and-wegovy-for-half-price-11824016

[2] Reuters – GoodRx expands tie-up with Kroger to offer branded drugs at discounted price: www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/goodrx-expands-tie-up-with-kroger-offer-branded-drugs-discounted-price-2025-10-01/” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/goodrx-expands-tie-up-with-kroger-offer-branded-drugs-discounted-price-2025-10-01/ [3] KIRO 7 (Cox Media Group) – Costco to sell Ozempic and Wegovy at discount without insurance: www.kiro7.com/news/local/costco-sell-ozempic-wegovy-discount-without-insurance/GZOFSWNDIFA5FNH5CX2SIWXQKU/” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/costco-sell-ozempic-wegovy-discount-without-insurance/GZOFSWNDIFA5FNH5CX2SIWXQKU/

[4] Reuters – LifeMD to offer Novo’s Ozempic at $499 a month to eligible US cash-paying customers: www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/lifemd-offer-novos-ozempic-499-per-month-eligible-us-cash-paying-customers-2025-09-30/” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/lifemd-offer-novos-ozempic-499-per-month-eligible-us-cash-paying-customers-2025-09-30/ [5] iHeartRadio – Costco To Sell Ozempic And Wegovy At Deep Discount To Uninsured Customers: www.iheart.com/content/2025-10-03-costco-to-sell-ozempic-and-wegovy-at-deep-discount-to-uninsured-customers/” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>https://www.iheart.com/content/2025-10-03-costco-to-sell-ozempic-and-wegovy-at-deep-discount-to-uninsured-customers/

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