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SANTA MONICA, Calif. — GoodRx has released a new Weight Loss Medications Tracker that offers an inside look at fill trends and spending patterns for weight loss medications across the U.S.
The company revealed that limited insurance coverage and high out-of-pocket costs aren’t slowing down interest in popular drugs used for weight loss such as Mounjaro, Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound. In fact, some of these popular drugs have seen fills more than double in just the past year. In addition, GoodRx’s research shows that Americans overspent by at least $200 million in 2024 by paying the full retail price for their weight loss medications and not leveraging savings available on GoodRx, showcasing an astounding willingness to access these medications at any cost.
“GLP-1 and GIP medications have proven extremely effective in helping reduce and manage weight in overweight individuals, yet many health insurance plans lack necessary coverage and create cost barriers for many people in need,” said Tori Marsh, director of Research at GoodRx. “Our latest findings reveal that Americans overspent by hundreds of millions on these essential treatments in 2024 alone. At GoodRx, we’re committed to bridging this gap by offering significant savings, ensuring that more people can afford their necessary medications.”
Highlights from the new research include:
- Surging fill rates: Even as patients grapple with high costs and limited insurance coverage, demand for weight loss medications is skyrocketing. Since the start of 2024, fills for Wegovy and Zepbound increased by 100% and 300%, respectively.
- Limited insurance coverage: Despite growing interest and proven health benefits, GIP and GLP-1 agonists are still not widely covered by insurance when prescribed specifically for weight loss. In fact, nearly 1 in 5 people with commercial insurance have no coverage of GIP and GLP-1 agonists prescribed for weight loss at all. For example, only 9% of people with commercial insurance have unrestricted coverage of Zepbound and just 14% have unrestricted coverage of Wegovy. Even with insurance coverage, out-of-pocket costs are still high with the average person taking Zepbound paying over $2,500 a year in insurance copays.
- Regional disparities: Some states see higher use of weight loss medications than others. Surprisingly, Alaska leads the nation with the highest overall fill rate for weight loss medications. Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Delaware see higher rates for medications specifically targeting weight loss, such as Wegovy, Zepbound, Saxenda, Qsymia, and phentermine.
"Before spending money out of pocket, consumers should check GoodRx to find ways to save on popular weight loss medications. Patients can save an average of $250 per month, or $3,000 annually, on commonly prescribed GLP-1 and GIP medications," Marsh added.
In addition to GLP-1’s, GoodRx recently announced a deal with VIVUS for its oral weight-loss medication QSYMIA® to offer consumers an exclusive low cash price at more than 70,000 retail pharmacy locations nationwide.
Weight loss medications can be expensive and hard to understand. To help support consumers on their weight loss journeys, GoodRx offers credible, timely and actionable information to help people learn more about the process, get information about common concerns, uncover treatment options, and access significant savings. Each article is researched and written by a team of editorial experts, and clinical content is written and reviewed by a team of medical experts that includes physicians, pharmacists, and more.
