Getting Wegovy requires a prescription, and the process involves meeting specific weight-based criteria, seeing a healthcare provider (in person or online), and navigating insurance coverage or out-of-pocket costs. The steps are straightforward, but the details around eligibility, prior authorization, and cost can make it feel more complicated than it needs to be. Here’s how it actually works.
Who Qualifies for Wegovy
The FDA approves Wegovy for three groups of people. Adults with a BMI of 30 or higher qualify based on weight alone. Adults with a BMI of 27 or higher qualify if they also have at least one weight-related health condition, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol. And children aged 12 and older qualify if their BMI falls at or above the 95th percentile for their age and sex.
There are a few conditions that disqualify you entirely. You cannot take Wegovy if you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or a condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2). These restrictions come from early animal studies that showed thyroid tumor growth, and while newer research suggests this risk may not translate directly to humans, the FDA warning remains in place.
What Happens at Your Appointment
Whether you see a provider in person or through a telehealth platform, the visit follows a similar pattern. Your provider will review your medical history, perform a physical exam or health assessment, and discuss your current diet, exercise habits, and weight loss goals. You’ll likely need blood work, including a metabolic panel, either before or shortly after the consultation. These labs help your provider check for conditions that could affect your treatment plan or reveal underlying causes of weight gain.
If your provider determines you’re a good candidate, they’ll write a prescription and start you on the lowest dose. Wegovy uses a gradual dose-escalation schedule, starting small and increasing over several months to reduce side effects like nausea. Your provider will monitor your progress and adjust as needed.
In-Person Versus Telehealth
You don’t need to visit a doctor’s office to get Wegovy. Several telehealth platforms now prescribe it, including Ro, WeightWatchers, LifeMD, and GoodRx’s weight loss program. The process typically starts with an online questionnaire, followed by a video consultation with a licensed provider. Most platforms require you to complete lab work at a local lab before your appointment.
Telehealth costs vary. Some platforms offer subscription models that bundle the consultation with the medication itself. For injectable Wegovy, monthly prices through these services range from about $249 on a 12-month plan to $329 on a 3-month plan. GoodRx’s telehealth program has offered the lower starter doses at $149 per month, with higher doses priced at $299 monthly. These subscription prices are separate from what you’d pay if you fill a standard prescription at a pharmacy with insurance.
Dealing With Insurance and Prior Authorization
This is where most people hit a wall. Wegovy’s retail price is $1,349 per month without insurance, so coverage matters. Many commercial insurance plans do cover it, but almost all require prior authorization before they’ll approve a claim. That means your doctor has to submit documentation proving you meet certain criteria.
What insurers typically ask for varies by plan, but common requirements include:
- Documented BMI from within the last 90 days, using a current height and weight measurement
- Medical records showing weight-related conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or sleep apnea
- Confirmation from your prescriber that the medication is being used in line with FDA-approved indications, including screening for contraindications
Some plans also require that a specialist, such as a cardiologist or endocrinologist, be involved in the prescribing decision. Others may want evidence that you’ve tried lifestyle changes or other treatments first. Your doctor’s office typically handles the prior authorization paperwork, but the process can take days to weeks. If your initial request is denied, you can appeal, and many denials are overturned with additional documentation.
What You’ll Actually Pay
If you have commercial insurance that covers Wegovy, the manufacturer offers a savings card that drops your cost to $25 per month for a 28-day supply of injections or a 30-day supply of the oral version. This is the lowest price most people will find.
If you don’t have insurance coverage, Novo Nordisk (Wegovy’s manufacturer) offers a separate pricing structure. For the injectable form, the first two months at the starter doses cost $199 per month, then $349 per month after that. The oral formulation has been priced at $149 per month for the lower doses, rising to $199 per month for the maintenance dose. These promotional prices have specific end dates, so check the current terms when you apply.
For people whose insurance flat-out refuses to cover anti-obesity medications, the telehealth subscription models mentioned above can be more affordable than paying the full retail price at a pharmacy, since they negotiate their own pricing directly with the manufacturer.
Where to Fill Your Prescription
Wegovy is available at most major retail pharmacies, but availability at your local location isn’t always guaranteed. The FDA officially resolved the semaglutide injection shortage in February 2025, meaning all five dose strengths are back in production. However, the FDA has acknowledged that localized, intermittent supply disruptions can still happen as products move through the distribution chain.
If your local pharmacy doesn’t have your dose in stock, you have a few options. Novo Nordisk operates NovoCare Pharmacy, a mail-order service that ships Wegovy directly to your home at no delivery cost. Your prescriber can send the prescription to NovoCare Pharmacy directly. Specialty pharmacies and hospital-based pharmacies sometimes have better access to inventory than retail chains, so those are worth checking as well. If you’re on a telehealth subscription plan, many of those services handle pharmacy fulfillment for you and ship the medication as part of the subscription.
The Dose Schedule
Wegovy comes as a prefilled, single-dose pen injector with a built-in needle. You inject it once a week, on the same day each week, in your stomach, thigh, or upper arm. The dose increases gradually over about 16 to 20 weeks: you start at the lowest strength and step up roughly once a month until you reach the maintenance dose. This slow ramp-up is designed to let your body adjust and minimize gastrointestinal side effects. Your provider will walk you through the injection technique at your first visit or send instructional materials if you’re using a telehealth service. An oral tablet form is also now available, which follows its own dosing schedule.