May 3, 2023: With the hit drug for type 2 diabetes Ozempic as popular as ever, people with diabetes and those who want to use it for weight loss have been struggling get it in the midst of widespread shortages. There are more than 4 million patients who have been prescribed Ozempic worldaccording to the manufacturer Novo Nordisk website. Americans are being prescribed the drug at an extraordinary rate, reportedly recovering in around 10% of global prescriptions.
In addition to supply problems, the cost de Ozempic could also be a big obstacle. Some Americans have even attempted to flock to Canada to try to get the drug at a discounted price. Canada sells Ozempic for a whopping $700 less than in the US, where it can cost upwards of $1,000 per month. The British Columbia Ministry of Health published a report saying that thousands of US residents have been filling their Ozempic prescriptions in their region. Of all doses dispensed in British Columbia, 15% (15,798 doses) were sold to Americans in January and February.
So exactly how much money will you have to shell out for the so-called miracle drug? Continue reading for more information.
How much does Ozempic cost?
A lot, to put it simply. A box or pen, which could last you 30 days, can cost nearly $1,200 ($1,122.92), depending on your pharmacy, said Walter Oronsaye, PharmD, a Houston-based pharmacist who creates online content with prescription drug information, including the shortage of medicines. .
But if you’re one of the lucky ones whose insurance covers the drug, it can be much cheaper. In fact, the difference could be “hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars per month for two different patients, each on the same prescription,” said Mark Decerbo, PharmD, a Las Vegas-based pharmacist.
Carol Sortore, 44, says she pays just $25 a month for her Ozempic prescription. She has prediabetes and her insurance covers the cost of the medications. Without insurance, her out-of-pocket cost would have been $1,200, said Sortore, a Kansas City-based information security analyst.
Things are different for Annie Brown, 33, whose pharmacy charges her $1,000 a month because her insurance doesn’t cover her prescription.
How to get it for less
Getting Ozempic at a reduced price depends on several things. People with private insurance will finally get Ozempic at a cheaper price. This could be as low as $25 per month for a 1-, 2- or 3-month supply, Oronsaye said.
If you pay out of pocket, you may be able to get it cheaper if your pharmacy accepts discount cards, similar like GoodRx. With this option, you could save a few hundred dollars. For example, you could pay about $850 to $900 with these cards instead of paying the full $1,200 cost out of pocket, Oronsaye said. With his GoodRx discount, Brown pays $500 for Ozempic against his $1,000 out-of-pocket cost.
If you have private insurance, you can text the word “BEGIN” to 21848 to receive an Ozempic savings card from the drug maker, according to Decerbo. “You will see [patients] Pay as little as $25 per month copay for the drug, with maximum savings of up to $150 for a 1-month prescription, $300 for a 2-month prescription, and $450 for a 3-month prescription up to a total of 2 years.”
How do you get a prescription?
First, you should make an in-person appointment with your doctor to see if Ozempic might be right for you. But there are other options to have the medication shipped directly to your home, without the need for an in-person appointment, Decerbo said.
“In today’s post-COVID era, unique new models for prescribing have evolved,” he said. “Many providers, including nurse practitioners, have now adopted telemedicinewhere an interested patient can be assessed online for suitability for Ozempic, with an electronic prescription for the medication, which is then sent to the patient’s pharmacy.
Remember: your insurance company could decline to cover the drug if you take Ozempic for weight loss purposes only, if you do not have diabetes.
—————————————————-
Source link