Weight-Loss-Drug Users Pay Up for Help Ditching the Pricey Meds
Worries about cost and a lifetime of Ozempic-like treatments are driving patients to services that promise to wean them off without putting the pounds back on.
An Ozempic injection pen.
Photographer: Jaap Arriens/Getty Images
Americans are flocking to drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound, drawn by the prospect of rapid weight loss. But a monthly cost that can exceed $1,000 and scant insurance coverage mean users drop off the treatments almost as quickly as they get on.
A group of companies sees this as an opportunity. Targeting current and former users of the medications, they’re offering telehealth checkups, lifestyle coaching, access to community support groups, exercise advice and other features—all with the aim of keeping the pounds off once the treatment has ended. Monthly fees can be as high as $300.