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haele

(14,848 posts)
14. Okay, I'm going to have to question this "deal"....
Fri Nov 7, 2025, 06:19 PM
Friday

Through my employer insurance (Aetna POS flavor insurance with Express Scripts), my husband pays $35 for a month supply of Ozempic; no coupon from the manufacturer, he is prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes and a few other conditions that require weight maintenance.
As other people mention, the VA has a negotiated price for people who have it prescribed.
There's also manufacturer's coupons - even if you're on Medicare (or Medicare advantage), if your doctor prescribes it as a necessity, you should be covered with a reduced cost -well under $350 - by the coupon; we went through that between 2005 and 2011 with Humira for a Psoriatic Arthritis condition before the insurance company allowed it on the formulary.
BTW, if you go to Costco in Canada, the average 90 day Ozempic prescription costs....$175 Canadian.
In Mexico, it's around $200 -$300 USD.
Currently, GoodRX has a deal with Novi-Nordisk to supply generic Ozempic to self-paying customers for around $500 a month (vice $1k), and if you were prescribed it, they will drop the price down to as little as $25 a month depending on your insurance policy or if your doctor has an plan arrangement with them.

There has always, always been a huge mark-up in the United States when it comes to the price of drugs, and lots of various excuses given....

"Research Costs" - The most expensive exploratory initial and breakthrough research is done at teaching hospitals, medical schools, and government run research facilities, and subsidized by governments and some university benefactors, and the pharmaceutical companies typically get the drug patented by picking up and paying for dosage efficacy and deployment testing but...okay. There are some costs...just not the entirety, or even a significant majority of the costs of research.

Legal and (US specific) Advertising Costs - well, now... that can be pretty expensive, especially since a company really needs get the most eyeballs on their new wonder drug while they still own the patent.
The US is one of the few countries that allows the advertising of prescription drugs to the general public. Most other countries allow informational presentations to prescribers. But not to potential patients.
Because your doctor, your pharmacist, is supposed to be scientifically trained and knowledgeable enough to understand when a particular chemical or therapy will work for your condition, and not usually be blinded by magical thinking or potential snake oil promises just to "make you feel better".

Manufacturing, QA, packaging, and shipping costs?
Yes, those are costs, but there are economies of scale, of leveraging common practices, that can cut those costs immensely. Anyone who's taken couple Business courses, whether or not they majored in Business, has walked through various scenarios on how to cut costs...

Basically, the US has pretty much been the Feed Trough for pharmaceutical companies since the 1970's and 70's, when Advertising regulations were loosened by the FDA and Commerce Department.

Recommendations

2 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

But we can't afford to pay food benefits for poor people? Walleye Friday #1
The poor don't donate biggly to GOP, but Big Pharma does Attilatheblond Saturday #27
I take Ozempic for my Type 2 diabetes, so I can be thankful for this one thing... Wounded Bear Friday #2
Some theorize that the savings from diabetes and other conditions will make this worth it EdmondDantes_ Friday #3
I can't see this for anything right now but good. it helps stop multiple addictions and obviously obesity Melon Friday #4
I agree. And surely some of the current cost will be offset by spooky3 Friday #5
Exactly. There are risks with Ozempic. But Melon Friday #9
So glad for your friend and I hope the price does go down! Nt spooky3 Friday #11
They are not innocuous drugs. Ms. Toad Friday #15
Neither is obesity NickB79 Friday #16
I'm guessing you have never had to deal with gastroparesis Ms. Toad Friday #18
I've had to see a friend lose a foot due to Type 2 diabetes NickB79 Friday #21
Also dementia Sugarcoated Saturday #30
Right. You need to be monitored by a doctor. Melon Friday #17
Monitoring by a doctor does not mitigate unknown long term consequences - Ms. Toad Friday #20
So is diabetes, which is also a cause of gastroparesis EdmondDantes_ Saturday #24
Hasn't there been info that these drugs cause vision problems for many? Attilatheblond Saturday #28
Yes, including blindness. Ms. Toad Saturday #31
You only get the "cheaper" price if you order from TrumpRX and you're not insured punchergirl Friday #6
Interesting that it is .gov. karynnj Friday #12
This is completely convoluted article. Melon Friday #19
Interesting, but... buy through the TrumpRX website? NEVER! tinrobot Friday #7
Think of the $$ he can make selling yer data! leftstreet Friday #8
It is interesting that it is labeled both TRUMP and .gov karynnj Friday #13
What's next for TrumpRx, Viagra, and Cialis? Emile Friday #10
Okay, I'm going to have to question this "deal".... haele Friday #14
FDT orangecrush Friday #22
Trump RX? iemanja Friday #23
These drugs being made cheaper - good! "TrumpRX.gov"??? WTF??? RandomNumbers Saturday #25
The insurance companies will raise prices on other drugs to make up the difference dlk Saturday #26
JAMA Opthalmology - Review Links 3 Potentially Blinding Eye Conditions To GLP-1 Drugs Like Ozempic hatrack Saturday #29
Always the GRIFT! "When Purchased Through... ColoringFool Saturday #32
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