SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GoodRx (Nasdaq: GDRX), the leading prescription savings platform in the U.S., today released a new Weight Loss Medications Tracker that provides an inside look at fill trends and spending patterns for weight loss medications across the U.S. The company found that limited insurance coverage and high out-of-pocket costs aren’t slowing down interest in popular drugs used for weight loss such as Mounjaro, Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound. In fact, some of these popular drugs have seen fills more than double in just the past year. What’s more, GoodRx’s research shows that Americans overspent by at least $200 million in 2024 by paying the full retail price for their weight loss medications and not leveraging savings available on GoodRx, showcasing an astounding willingness to access these medications at any cost.
Highlights from the new research include:
- Surging fill rates: Even as patients grapple with high costs and limited insurance coverage, demand for weight loss medications is skyrocketing. Since the start of 2024, fills for Wegovy and Zepbound increased by 100% and 300%, respectively.
- Limited insurance coverage: Despite growing interest and proven health benefits, GIP and GLP-1 agonists are still not widely covered by insurance when prescribed specifically for weight loss. In fact, nearly 1 in 5 people with commercial insurance have no coverage of GIP and GLP-1 agonists prescribed for weight loss at all. For example, only 9% of people with commercial insurance have unrestricted coverage of Zepbound and just 14% have unrestricted coverage of Wegovy. Even with insurance coverage, out-of-pocket costs are still high with the average person taking Zepbound paying over $2,500 a year in insurance copays.
- Regional disparities: Some states see higher use of weight loss medications than others. Surprisingly, Alaska leads the nation with the highest overall fill rate for weight loss medications. Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Delaware see higher rates for medications specifically targeting weight loss, such as Wegovy, Zepbound, Saxenda, Qsymia, and phentermine.
“GLP-1 and GIP medications have proven extremely effective in helping reduce and manage weight in overweight individuals, yet many health insurance plans lack necessary coverage and create cost barriers for many people in need, ” says Tori Marsh, MPH, Director of Research at GoodRx. “Our latest findings reveal that Americans overspent by hundreds of millions on these essential treatments in 2024 alone. At GoodRx, we’re committed to bridging this gap by offering significant savings, ensuring that more people can afford their necessary medications.”
GoodRx Can Help You Save
Before spending money out of pocket, consumers should check GoodRx to find ways to save on popular weight loss medications. Patients can save an average of $250 per month, or $3,000 annually, on commonly prescribed GLP-1 and GIP medications.
In addition to GLP-1’s, GoodRx recently announced a deal with VIVUS for its oral weight-loss medication QSYMIA® to offer consumers an exclusive low cash price at more than 70,000 retail pharmacy locations nationwide.
Learn More From Trusted Doctors, Pharmacists & Health Experts
Weight loss medications can be expensive and hard to understand. To help support consumers on their weight loss journeys, GoodRx offers credible, timely and actionable information to help people learn more about the process, get information about common concerns, uncover treatment options, and access significant savings. Each article is researched and written by a team of editorial experts, and clinical content is written and reviewed by a team of medical experts that includes physicians, pharmacists, and more.
To find savings and trusted health information, go to www.goodrx.com/glp-1-discounts
About GoodRx
GoodRx is the leading prescription savings platform in the U.S. Trusted by more than 25 million consumers and 750,000 healthcare professionals annually, GoodRx provides access to savings and affordability options for generic and brand-name medications at more than 70,000 pharmacies nationwide, as well as comprehensive healthcare research and information. Since 2011, GoodRx has helped consumers save over $75 billion on the cost of their prescriptions.
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This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding anticipated consumer savings and accessibility; and the objectives and potential benefits and value of the GoodRx research and savings. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause GoodRx’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, risks relating to GoodRx’s ability to achieve broad market education and change consumer purchasing habits, changes in medication pricing and pricing structures, GoodRx’s reliance on a limited number of industry participants, and the important factors discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in GoodRx’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and GoodRx’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, projections and estimates as of the date of this press release. While GoodRx may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, GoodRx disclaims any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause GoodRx’s views to change.
