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Key takeaways
Saxenda is an injectable prescription medicine that is expensive without insurance, with a list price of $1,803 per month or over $21,000 per year.
Insurance coverage for Saxenda varies, with many commercial health plans requiring prior authorization. At the same time, Medicare Part D does not cover it, and Medicaid and VA coverage depends on the state or specific circumstances.
Without insurance, patients can reduce Saxenda’s cost by using a SingleCare discount card, enrolling in the manufacturer’s patient assistance program, seeking health insurance, comparing pharmacy prices, or considering other less expensive FDA-approved weight loss medications.
Alternatives to Saxenda include other brand-name prescription drugs like Xenical, Qsymia, and Contrave, as well as the over-the-counter drug Alli. However, these have different mechanisms and side effects.
Saxenda is a brand-name prescription drug of the active ingredient liraglutide, and a member of the growing-in-popularity incretin-based therapies, which are generally considered first-line medications for chronic weight management. These medications are used along with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise to manage weight in adolescents and adults with a high body mass index (BMI) or other weight-related medical conditions, like high blood pressure. The standard target dose of Saxenda is 3 mg per day, and it is taken as a subcutaneous injection in the stomach area, upper leg, or upper arm.
GLP-1 receptor agonist medications have been around for a couple of decades, with the first-in-class Byetta (exetanide) receiving U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 2005 to treat Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Since then, multiple GLP-1 agonists have received FDA approval to manage T2DM. It wasn’t until 2014 when a GLP-1 first received FDA approval for weight loss—Saxenda (liraglutide). Thus began the trend of pharmaceutical companies repurposing the active ingredient of GLP-1s marketed under one brand name for managing T2DM into a different brand name for weight loss.
Saxenda is a high-cost injectable prescription medication and is typically prescribed for long durations. Unfortunately, there are no generic versions of Saxenda, but there are other less expensive weight loss prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs that can be taken instead.
RELATED: Saxenda side effects
Is Saxenda covered by insurance?
Saxenda is a premium-priced weight management drug, so commercial insurance coverage is not guaranteed. Some insurance companies may require proof that this medication class is necessary. Generally, candidates for weight loss medications are those who have not met their weight loss goals (loss of at least 5% of total body weight at three to six months) with lifestyle interventions and with obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2, or a BMI of 27 to 29.9 kg/m2 and one or more weight-related comorbidities. Here are more details:
- Many commercial health insurance plans will cover a Saxenda prescription but often require prior authorization.
- Medicare plans like Medicare Part D do not cover weight management prescription medications such as Saxenda.
- Depending on the state, Medicaid plans may or may not cover weight loss medications. Those that do may not cover premium-priced medications like Saxenda, so check with your state’s Medicaid website or call a representative.
- The Veteran’s Administration (VA) does cover weight management medications, but Saxenda may or may not be covered. Patients will need to talk to a Veteran’s Health Administration representative to determine coverage.
How much does Saxenda cost without insurance?
The full cost of the medication for a 30-day supply averages $1,803. Because Saxenda is meant to be used for months and years, uninsured patients can expect to pay over $21,000 per year out-of-pocket. Insurance can reduce the cost, but not every insurance plan may cover Saxenda. The out-of-pocket cost with insurance will depend on the insurance plan, deductible, and copay cost for the prescription.
Doctors may prescribe other types of brand-name prescription weight loss drugs to complement a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity: Xenical (orlistat), Qsymia (phentermine/topiramate), and Contrave (naltrexone/bupropion). These drugs are effective but work differently than GLP-1 agonists and have different side effects, some serious. Unfortunately, most over-the-counter drugs or dietary supplements are not considered highly effective. However, over-the-counter orlistat is available under the brand name Alli at half the dose and one-tenth the cost of prescription orlistat.
RELATED: Compare Contrave vs. phentermine
| Compare Saxenda prices to related drugs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Price without insurance for brand-name drug | SingleCare price | Savings options |
| Saxenda (liraglutide) | $1,803 per
5, 3 mL of 18 mg/mL solution pen-injector (30 days) |
$1,195 per
5, 3 mL of 18 mg/mL solution pen-injector (30 days) for brand-name Saxenda |
See updated prices |
| Wegovy (semaglutide) | $1,833 per
4, 0.75 mL of 2.4 mg/0.75 mL solution pen-injector (30 days) |
$1,194 per
4, 0.75 mL of 2.4 mg/0.75 mL solution pen-injector (30 days) for brand-name Wegovy |
See updated prices |
| Zepbound (tirzepatide) | $1,472 per 4, 0.5 mL of 2.5 mg/0.5 mL solution pen-injector (30 days) | $937 per 4, 0.5 mL of 2.5 mg/0.5 mL solution pen-injector (30 days) for brand-name Zepbound | See updated prices |
| Contrave (naltrexone/bupropion) | $832 per
120, 8 mg/90 mg tablets |
$650 per 120, 8 mg/90mg tablets | See updated prices |
| Qsymia (phentermine/topiramate) | $270 per
30, 7.5 mg/46 mg extended-release capsules |
$175 per
30, 7.5 mg/46 mg extended-release capsules for brand-name Qsymia |
See updated prices |
| Xenical (orlistat) | $940 per
90, 120 mg capsules |
$629 per
90, 120 mg capsules for brand-name Xenical |
See updated prices |
Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing. The listed price without insurance refers to the price of brand-name drugs. The listed SingleCare price refers to the price of generic drugs, if available. Click the link under “Savings options” to see updated drug prices.
How to get Saxenda without insurance
At $21,000 per year, paying for a Saxenda prescription is difficult without the help of health insurance; even then, it may require hoops like prior approvals and documentation from a healthcare provider to demonstrate a patient’s excess weight. For patients with certain insurance providers, the cost of Saxenda could be significantly less. However, other resources are available to save for patients whose insurance does not cover Saxenda or who lack insurance coverage entirely.
1. Rely on a SingleCare discount card
There are no manufacturer coupons for Saxenda, but patients can save hundreds of dollars on a Saxenda prescription simply by using a savings card from SingleCare. Free discount cards from SingleCare may vary by pharmacy, but many large pharmacies accept SingleCare’s free coupons. Speak with a pharmacist or healthcare provider.
2. Ask the prescriber about patient assistance
For high-priced, long-term medications like Saxenda, often the best option is to take advantage of a manufacturer’s patient assistance program. People who meet the eligibility requirements could receive their entire prescription free from Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer. Ask the prescribing healthcare provider for additional information or help with enrollment.
3. Get health insurance
Long-term treatment with pricey medications is a great reason to shop for health insurance. Most commercial health insurance policies are significantly less expensive than Saxenda’s annual $21,000 cost. Not every health insurance company will cover Saxenda, however, and some may still charge a high copay. Do your homework first before committing to a policy.
4. Compare prices between pharmacies
Pharmacies charge different prices for the same medication. For high-priced medications, these price differences can amount to hundreds of dollars. If shopping around is too time-consuming, rely on discount pharmacies, online mail-order pharmacies, or those connected to big discount retailers.
5. Ask the prescriber about other weight loss medications
There are other prescription medications that are FDA-approved to help people lose weight and keep it off. All are premium-priced brand-name drugs, but they are all less expensive than Saxenda. Some may be covered by insurance plans that do not cover Saxenda. They do work differently than Saxenda and have different side effects. However, if they haven’t been tried, get medical advice about starting with these less expensive alternatives first.
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Sources
- SAXENDA (liraglutide) injection. United States prescribing information. Revised December 2014. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (Accessed on November 27, 2024).
- Drugs excluded from Part D coverage, Medicare Interactive (2024)
- Proposed coverage of anti-obesity drugs in Medicare and Medicaid would expand access to millions of people with obesity, KFF (2024)
- Weight management medications for chronic use – Guidance for treatment selection, VA Pharmacy Benefits Management Services (2024)
- NovoCare Patient assistance program, Novo Nordisk (2024)