The number of prescription fills for weight loss drugs Zepbound and Wegovy increased by more than 200% in 2024, according to GoodRx.

• The number of prescription fills for blockbuster weight loss medications in the U.S. increased by more than double in 2024, despite limited insurance coverage and high out-of-pocket costs for the treatments.
• According to new data from drug savings company GoodRx, weight loss drugs such as Wegovy and Zepbound have seen increased spending and fill trends.
• The demand for GLP-1 and GIP agonists, with list prices of around $1,000 per month before insurance or savings cards, remains insatiable.

The number of prescription fills for blockbuster weight loss drugs in the U.S. more than doubled in 2024, despite limited insurance coverage and high out-of-pocket costs for the treatments, according to data released by drug savings company GoodRx.

The demand for GLP-1 and GIP agonists, which are medications that mimic gut hormones to suppress appetite and regulate blood sugar, is evident from the figures. These medications include Wegovy, a weight loss drug, and Zepbound, an obesity treatment, which have list prices of approximately $1,000 per month before insurance or savings cards.

The number of prescription fills for Wegovy and Zepbound has increased by more than 100% and 300%, respectively, since the beginning of 2024. Zepbound's growth is due to its first year on the market, as it was approved in the U.S. in November 2023. Wegovy, on the other hand, received U.S. approval in 2021.

According to Tori Marsh, GoodRx's astronomical increase in sales has attracted a lot of attention, particularly regarding their affordability and accessibility.

The Weight Loss Medications Tracker by GoodRx analyzes trends and spending patterns in the U.S. for popular weight loss medications.

Despite only 9% of commercial insurance holders having unrestricted coverage of Zepbound and 14% having unrestricted coverage of Wegovy, GoodRx reports high fill rates. This indicates that insurance coverage without additional requirements, such as prior authorization or higher BMI standards, is widely available.

Although around 60% to 70% of patients are under insurance plans with more restrictive coverage of weight loss drugs, Marsh stated that out-of-pocket costs can still accumulate even if a patient has insurance coverage for weight loss treatment.

On average, an insured person taking Zepbound will pay more than $2,500 annually in copays for the drug, according to a statement. GoodRx discovered that individuals spent an average of $231 per month on out-of-pocket expenses for a Zepbound prescription from January 2023 to October 2023.

Marsh stated that insurance is no longer the solution it once was,

Nearly 20% of people with commercial insurance lack coverage for at least one branded GLP-1 and GIP agonist prescribed for weight loss.

Americans have spent at least $200 million more on weight loss medications by not using savings options, such as GoodRx's coupons or assistance programs offered by Eli Lilly or Novo Nordisk. GoodRx calculated this overpayment based on the average price people could have paid for a drug with a GoodRx discount.

Using GoodRx's coupons for weight loss drugs, individuals without insurance can save an average of $250 monthly or $3,000 annually.

In the U.S., research shows that weight loss drugs are not consistently covered by insurance, as evidenced by a survey published in October which found that only a fifth of large employers include coverage for those treatments in their health insurance plans.

The Medicare plan does not cover weight loss treatments unless they are approved and prescribed for another health condition. Studies indicate that covering these drugs could increase costs for employers and governments.

The Biden administration in November proposed a rule that would allow Medicare and Medicaid to cover weight loss drugs for patients with obesity. If approved by the incoming Trump administration, the rule would greatly increase access to these treatments.