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Key takeaways
Rybelsus is the lone oral tablet formulation within the popular drug class GLP-1 agonists, which are being used for diabetes treatment and weight loss.
Only available as a brand-name medicine, Rybelsus is a significant expense, but cost-saving opportunities exist through coupons, discount cards, and insurance.
Alternative drugs could be considered as a way to avoid the price or side effects of Rybelsus.
Rybelsus (semaglutide) is a prescription medication that controls blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. It is not FDA-approved to treat Type 1 diabetes. Since it is also effective at weight reduction, healthcare providers may prescribe it off-label for weight loss. Semaglutide is also the active ingredient in Ozempic (for Type 2 diabetes) and Wegovy (for weight control). Both Ozempic and Wegovy are weekly injections. However, people take Rybelsus as an oral tablet once per day. All three drugs carry a premium price. They’re in high demand, and there’s a shortage, so expect the cost of Rybelsus to be around $16,000 a year to take this drug.
Related: Rybelsus side effects
What is the generic for Rybelsus?
Semaglutide tablets can only be purchased under the brand name Rybelsus. Generic versions of semaglutide tablets may be available in 2033.
Is Rybelsus covered by insurance?
People with health insurance, Medicare Part D drug insurance, and military benefits can expect coverage for a Rybelsus prescription as long as it’s used for Type 2 diabetes. There may be hurdles to overcome first. Some insurance plans don’t include Rybelsus in their formulary, so check with the insurance company before filling a prescription. Medicaid should cover Rybelsus, but it will vary by state. VA benefits do not currently include Rybelsus in their formulary.
Insurance plans usually place Rybelsus in their middle copay tiers, so expect to pay a higher copay cost. The final out-of-pocket cost will depend on other insurance provider policies, such as deductibles and coinsurance.
How much does Rybelsus cost without insurance?
Without insurance coverage, the average cash price for 30, 7 mg tablets of Rybelsus is $1,322, about $44 for each tablet. Thirty tablets represent a 30-day supply, so a year’s worth of Rybelsus could run nearly $16,000.
Rybelsus is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 receptor agonist). Another popular medication in the same drug class is Ozempic, a weekly injection with the same active ingredient as Rybelsus. A 28-day supply of Ozempic once-weekly injections will cost $1,336, or about $16,000 annually. Other GLP-1 receptor agonist injections cost about the same or more.
If GLP-1 receptor agonist prices are too high, ask the prescribing healthcare provider about other blood glucose-lowering drugs that you haven’t tried yet. Possible candidates include metformin, sulfonylureas, meglitinides, and thiazolidinediones. Other brand-name drugs may be less expensive than Rybelsus, including DPP-4 inhibitors and SGLT2 inhibitors. In some cases, drugs other than Rybelsus may be preferable for people at risk for pancreas problems or thyroid tumors, according to the FDA’s warning on the drug label.
| Compare Rybelsus prices to related drugs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Price without insurance of brand-name drug | SingleCare price | Savings options |
| Rybelsus | $1322 per 30, 7 mg tablets | $829 per 30, 7 mg tablets of brand-name Rybelsus | See latest prices |
| Ozempic | $1336 per 1, 3 mL of 2 mg/3 mL auto-injector pen | $754 per 1, 3 mL of 2 mg/3 mL auto-injector pen of brand-name Ozempic | See latest prices |
| Victoza (liraglutide) | $1447 per 3, 3 mL of 18 mg/3 mL auto-injector pens | $235 per 3, 3 mL of 18 mg/3 mL auto-injector pens of generic Victoza | See latest prices |
| Trulicity
(dulaglutide) |
$1319 per 4, 0.5 mL of 1.5 mg/0.5 mL auto-injector pens | $746 per 4, 0.5 mL of 1.5 mg/0.5 mL auto-injector pens
of brand-name Trulicity |
See latest prices |
| Metformin | $178 per 60, 500 mg tablets | $4 per 60, 500 mg tablets of generic metformin | See latest prices |
| Jardiance (empagliflozin) | $870 per 30, 25 mg tablets | $483 per 30, 25 mg tablets of brand-name Jardiance | See latest prices |
Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing. The listed price without insurance references the price of brand-name drugs (unless otherwise specified). The listed SingleCare price references the price of generic drugs, if available. Click the “Savings options” link to see the latest drug prices.
How to get Rybelsus without insurance
Getting Rybelsus without insurance can be challenging. Rybelsus prices average around $1,322 per month. The manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, does offer a patient assistance program, but only some people can meet the eligibility requirements. There are other more reliable options for saving money on Rybelsus. Start with a SingleCare savings card.
1. Use a Rybelsus coupon from SingleCare
With a free coupon from SingleCare, people without insurance can save as much as $490 off the average retail price of 30 Rybelsus 7 mg tablets. Savings vary by participating pharmacy, so find the most current Rybelsus savings on SingleCare’s Rybelsus coupons page. Additional information is available in the FAQs section.
2. Find the lowest price at SingleCare
Comparing prices between pharmacies is another smart way to save money on prescription drugs. Use SingleCare’s Rybelsus price history table to find the lowest pharmacy price for Rybelsus.
3. Consider switching to other Type 2 diabetes drugs
If price is an issue, get medical advice from the prescriber about cheaper diabetes medications or drug combinations that haven’t been tried. Unfortunately, they may not be as effective or have different side effects like hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). However, they may be preferable to Rybelsus, which may have serious side effects like medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) and pancreatitis.
4. Ask about other weight loss drugs
If a healthcare provider has prescribed Rybelsus for weight loss, then uninsured and insured people are in the same boat. Typically, insurers will not pay for Rybelsus in this situation. Again, if other weight management drugs have not been tried, consider starting on those drugs first.
5. Get a health insurance policy
Rybelsus is commonly covered by health insurance, which may be obtainable even if you are unemployed or self-employed. In fact, paying for health insurance may be less expensive than paying out-of-pocket for drugs, supplies, and healthcare provider visits for a chronic illness like diabetes. Start with your state’s health insurance marketplace, but check the plan’s formulary to see if needed drugs like Rybelsus are covered at a reasonable out-of-pocket cost.
6. Enroll in Medicaid
If all else fails, look into Medicaid. If you qualify, Rybelsus or a similar drug can be purchased for only a few dollars per month. Each state outlines eligibility requirements on its Medicaid website, so start there.
6. Buy in bulk
Purchasing a larger quantity can be a path to savings. The price of a 90-day supply of Rybelsus 7 mg tablets with a SingleCare discount is about $20 less than the cumulative expense of purchasing three sequential 30-day supplies with the discount.
Sources
- Rybelsus drug patent profile, Drug Patent Watch (2024)
- VA formulary advisor, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (2024)
- DPP-4 inhibitors, Johns Hopkins Patient Guide to Diabetes (2024)
- Rybelsus drug label, Food and Drug Administration (2017)