*Costco members can now purchase Ozempic and Wegovy at the warehouse chain’s pharmacies. According to reports, Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of both drugs, announced that a one-month supply will cost $499 out of pocket. The same discounted price has been available through the company’s direct-to-consumer site as well as CVS and Walmart.
“We want to make sure we offer the real, authentic Wegovy and Ozempic where patients seek care,” David Moore, president of Novo Nordisk U.S. told NBC News. “We know that Costco is a trusted brand.”
As NBC News reports (via AOL), the drugs will be stocked at more than 600 Costco pharmacy locations across the nation. Members with valid prescriptions can access the medication for $499 per month. Insurance coverage, where applicable, will determine the final out-of-pocket price for some customers.
Research has shown that GLP-1 drugs, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, may reduce the risk of stroke, aid liver health, and protect the heart. Dr. Rekha Kumar, endocrinologist at Weill Cornell Medicine and senior medical adviser at Found Health, noted that availability at Costco could help patients.
Scroll to continue reading
“This will definitely improve one of the issues with access, meaning that there is another place that people can get the medicine that you know isn’t their retail pharmacy, isn’t an online telehealth pharmacy, but a large store that many people in the United States go to,” she said. Still, she added, it does not “solve the issues of insurance coverage and cost.”
According to KFF, 13 states currently provide insurance coverage for GLP-1 drugs prescribed for obesity treatment. However, GoodRX data indicates that about 20% of people with private insurance are not covered for at least one brand-name GLP-1 drug used for weight loss.
“The people who have the greatest need for these medications are precisely the people who are in lower socioeconomic strata who have either poor insurance or no insurance, and don’t have the discretionary funds to be spending on medications,” said Dr. Harlan Krumholz, cardiologist and professor at Yale School of Medicine.
He added, “If we really want to make the biggest difference on the health of the nation, we have to make sure that the people who would benefit the most have access to medications that are being shown to be beneficial.”
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: Wait. What?! Ozempic Invades Private Parts With ’Ozemd**k’ Side Effect
Sign up for our Free daily newsletter HERE.
