Nancy Glick

New Options, Lower Costs, and Advice for Consumers Taking GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs

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By Nancy Glick, NCL Director of Food and Nutrition Policy

As 2026 gets underway, findings from the Pew Research Center estimate that three in ten Americans – more than 100 million people – started January with resolutions to save more money, get healthier, lose weight, spend more time with family and friends, and quit smoking.  Yet, only about 9 percent of Americans will ultimately keep their resolutions, according to the Pew findings. In fact, studies project that 23 percent of people quit their resolution by the end of the first week, and 43 percent quit by the end of January.  

Usually, resolutions to lose weight are where many Americans fail. But this year, the goal of achieving a healthier weight is increasingly possible. Here are some reasons why: 

    • Americans with obesity now have the option of being treated with the first GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) weight loss weight pill. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2025, the so-called Wegovy© pill is indicated for people with obesity (BMI 30+) and those with overweight (BMI 27+) and at least one weight-related chronic condition. Containing the same active ingredient, semaglutide, as the widely used weekly GLP-1 injectable weight-loss treatment, the pill is taken once daily on an empty stomach, has comparable side effects (such as nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting) to injectable semaglutide, and also achieves similar weight-loss results. Specifically, in clinical trials, the pill achieved an average loss of 14 percent of a person’s body weight over 64 weeks when combined with diet and exercise. 
    • The FDA-approved weight loss pill is more affordable for consumers whose insurance does not cover obesity medication. Although pill prices vary depending on insurance coverage and dosage, for self-pay patients (without insurance), the cash prices range from $149 to $299 per month. This is because the pill form of semaglutide is cheaper to produce and does not require refrigeration. Moreover, the pill is widely available with a prescription from a qualified medical professional at over 70,000 U.S. pharmacies and via telehealth providers working with the manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, such as GoodRx and WeightWatchers.
    • The cost of injectable weight-loss drugs has dropped significantly. In May 2025, manufacturers of the popular GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, Wegovy© (semaglutide) and Zepbound© (tirzepatide), announced large price reductions for their injectable GLP-1 drugs, making it possible for “self-pay” consumers to access these FDA-approved medicines. Then, in November 2025, the drugmakers reached an agreement with the Trump Administration to set Medicare and Medicaid prices at $245 a month, including a $50 copay for many Medicare patients, significantly expanding access to these weight-loss and diabetes drugs for millions. 
    • The federal government is working on a pathway for Medicare and Medicaid to cover GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. On December 23, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the BALANCE ( Better Approaches to Lifestyles and Nutrition for Comprehensive Health) Model, a voluntary program where CMS will work with Medicaid programs, Medicare insurance plans (Part D plans), and drugmakers to determine the best way to reduce net prices for GLP-1 medications, cap out-of-pocket costs, and standardize coverage criteria so people with Medicare and Medicaid coverage will have access to these treatments in the future. Under the program, CMS will waive the current Part D coverage exclusion for weight-loss medications, meaning GLP-1s will be included as a basic benefit of participating plans, and CMS will test different prices negotiated with manufacturers, the use of rebates to keep costs aligned with coverage terms, and cost-sharing options. CMS will begin testing different payment systems for Medicaid plans as early as May 2026 and for Medicare Part D starting in January 2027. Related to the BALANCE model, CMS will also conduct a payment demonstration starting in July 2026 that will allow eligible Medicare Part D beneficiaries to have coverage for GLP-1 drugs with an out-of-pocket cost of $50 a month.  

Because these developments translate into greater access to safe and effective FDA-approved GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, NCL recommends that consumers rethink their treatment decisions with a focus on drug safety. In February 2025, NCL issued a consumer alert with guidance from the FDA and obesity medicine specialists regarding the use of untested compounded GLP-1 drugs, possible counterfeits and fakes, and products sold online that the FDA warned could cause harm. Now that more FDA-approved GLP-1 drugs are readily available, NCL offers this updated advice:  

    • Before seeking treatment with a GLP-1 drug, talk to your doctor or health provider to determine if you are a candidate for treatment based on your risk factors and degree of obesity. 
    • When possible, the FDA recommends that patients opt for FDA-approved GLP-1 medications and fill prescriptions at a state-licensed pharmacy.
    • Because GLP-1 drugs are serious medicines that carry risks as well as benefits, it is best to obtain a prescription from your doctor or a health professional you know.
    • Be aware of the differences between FDA-approved GLP-1 drugs and products sold online that claim to be “the same” as these medicines, only cheaper and more convenient. Unlike FDA-approved medicines, compounded GLP-1 drugs and products promoted as alternatives to FDA-approved versions – such as oral supplements and patches – do not go through the FDA’s rigorous review process to ensure safety, effectiveness, and quality. Moreover, there are differences in how these products are manufactured, and their ingredients may come from undisclosed sources. The FDA warns that taking these products increases the risk of dosing errors and exposure to contaminants.  
    • Medical organizations warn that microdosing GLP-1s – meaning intentionally taking a smaller dose than the FDA-approved, on-label regimen – is an experimental practice that raises significant safety and effectiveness concerns. Although some telehealth companies claim that microdosing is a healthy way to lose weight and reduce metabolic risk, FDA does not approve or provide guidelines for “microdosing” GLP-1 medications and there is no clinical evidence from large-scale trials to support the safety or effectiveness of microdosing as a standard practice for weight loss or other claimed benefits.
    • In situations where you choose a telehealth option, beware of prescribing practitioners who do not take your personal history, do not diagnose the degree of obesity with appropriate evaluation measures, or prescribe a GLP-1 drug without ongoing monitoring.
    • Before ordering a GLP-1 drug through an online pharmacy, follow the FDA’s tips to spot the warning signs that the website may be unsafe, such as the online pharmacy is not licensed in the US or by a state board of pharmacy, or it offers deep discounts that seem too good to be true.