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Hy-Vee is the latest grocery store to offer discounted weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.
WASHINGTON — Weight-loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy are now offered to non-insured customers at several stores, including Costco and Sam’s Club.
On Friday, Hy-Vee became the latest grocery chain to offer the weight-loss drugs to customers at a discounted price.
Costco, Sam’s Club and Hy-Vee will all offer the medications at a fraction of the cost, selling for $499 a month. Customers do not need insurance to buy the drugs, though they still need a valid prescription.
A month’s supply of Wegovy can cost up to $1,350 without insurance or discounts, according to GoodRx.
Both drugs have the same main ingredient, Semaglutide, but differ in dosage. Wegovy is designed for chronic weight management, while Ozempic is meant to treat type 2 diabetes.
Ozempic’s website says the drug will “improve blood sugar (glucose) in adults with type 2 diabetes” alongside diet and exercise, and will “reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes with known heart disease.”
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says a yearslong shortage of the name-brand prescription medication, caused by its soaring global popularity due to the weight people lose while taking the injections, ended earlier this year.
Here are the stores that offer Ozempic and Wegovy at a discounted price:
Costco
The wholesale club announced on Oct. 3 that it will now carry medications like Ozempic and Wegovy at a fraction of the cost after partnering with Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer behind the weight-loss drugs.
Costco members with the Member Prescription Program can buy a month’s supply of the medications for $499 if they have a prescription.
Costco members can already access the drug online and have the option to pick it up in-store or have it shipped to their home for an additional cost. Customers do not need insurance to buy the medications from Costco.
Sam’s Club
Like Costco, Sam’s Club will offer a month of medication for $499.
Sam’s Club is also offering same-day pharmacy delivery, including refrigerated and reconstituted medications, such as insulin, GLP-1s, and pediatric amoxicillin, across the U.S. Plus members, the highest membership tier, will receive free delivery for this service.
Sam’s Club customers who do not have insurance can purchase the medications.
Hy-Vee
The Iowa-based grocer with stores in eight midwestern states announced on Friday that it would partner with GoodRx to offer Ozempic and Wegovy for $499 a month. The medications, used for weight loss and diabetes treatment, will be provided to customers without insurance or those whose insurers don’t cover the drug.
Customers who have a prescription can purchase the medications at the Hy-Vee Pharmacy counters.
According to the news release, Hy-Vee customers can show a GoodRx coupon for Ozempic or Wegovy at the pharmacies or scan the RxSmartSaver QR Code from GoodRx at the pharmacy counter to unlock the savings on their phones.
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