{"id":2083825,"date":"2023-10-30T10:37:04","date_gmt":"2023-10-30T14:37:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ozempic-wegovy-and-mounjaro-a-bargain-or-too-expensive\/"},"modified":"2023-10-30T10:41:47","modified_gmt":"2023-10-30T14:41:47","slug":"ozempic-wegovy-and-mounjaro-a-bargain-or-too-expensive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ozempic-wegovy-and-mounjaro-a-bargain-or-too-expensive\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro affordable or overpriced?"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fozempic-wegovy-and-mounjaro-a-bargain-or-too-expensive%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2083825&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<h2>Are Americans Paying Too Much for \u2064Weight Loss Drugs?<\/h2>\n<p>While Ozempic, \u200bWegovy, and Mounjaro \u2062have gained attention\u200d for\u200d their significant weight loss\u200b effects, the drugs&#8217; \u2063domestic cost has raised some eyebrows.<\/p>\n<p>Some \u200cfactors\u200b make this class of drugs more affordable, \u200caccording to a new \u2064report from the \u2064 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aei.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Estimating-the-Cost-of-New-Treatments-for-Diabetes-and-Obesity.pdf?x91208\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">American Economic Institute<\/a> (AEI). However, the\u200b AEI report \u2064doesn\u2019t consider what people in\u2064 other developed nations pay. So are \u2064these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/overweight-cumin-spice-works-better-than-obesity-drugs\/\" title=\"Overweight? Cumin Spice Works Better Than Obesity Drugs\">weight loss drugs<\/a> a bargain for\u2062 Americans\u200b or unnecessarily expensive?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2>High Costs Remain for Obesity Drugs Despite\u200d Insurance<\/h2>\n<p>These are the estimated current monthly prices of semaglutide and the related drug tirzepatide, according to the \u200cAEI report:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>$936<\/strong> for Ozempic or Rybelsus (semaglutide).<\/li>\n<li><strong>$936<\/strong> Rybelsus\u2062 (semaglutide).<\/li>\n<li><strong>$1,023<\/strong> for Mounjaro (tirzepatide).<\/li>\n<li><strong>$1,349<\/strong> for Wegovy (semaglutide).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>However, \u2064these prices \u200bare significantly lower with\u200b insurance coverage and \u2064manufacturer rebates or coupons. With \u2063these savings, the monthly cost drops but remains high overall.<\/p>\n<p>Those insured but not covered for these drugs \u2063will pay an estimated\u200d <strong>$849 \u200dper month<\/strong> for Wegovy \u200dand\u2062 <strong>$448 per month<\/strong> \u200c for Mounjaro. Uninsured Ozempic and Rybelsus users see \u200dno benefit.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h2>Related Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/health\/2-new-oral-weight-loss-drugs-may-be-the-next-ozempic-and-wegovy-new-data-5291748?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>2 New Oral \u200bWeight Loss Drugs \u2063May\u2063 Be the Next\u2063 Ozempic and Wegovy: New Data<\/h3>\n<p>      <\/a><\/p>\n<p>5\/28\/2023<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/world\/doctor-behind-cross-border-rush-for-ozempic-in-bc-is-suspended-in-nova-scotia-5178241?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>Doctor Behind \u2062Cross-Border Rush for Ozempic in \u200cBC Is \u2064Suspended in Nova Scotia<\/h3>\n<p>      <\/a><\/p>\n<p>4\/6\/2023<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>AEI also pointed out that\u2062 the market for this \u200dclass of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/vitamin-k-for-the-two-biggest-mens-health-problems\/\" title=\"Vitamin K for the Two Biggest Men's Health Problems\">weight-loss drug<\/a> is \u201cin flux,\u201d with competitors poised\u2062 to enter and potentially lower prices.<\/p>\n<p>Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic and Wegovy, believes the most effective way for millions of Americans who\u200d need\u2064 anti-obesity \u2062medicines to \u200bbe able to access and \u200cafford\u2063 them is to ensure that these medicines are\u2064 covered \u2064by government and commercial \u2064insurance plans, the company said in an email to The Epoch Times. \u201cWe need\u2062 to work with our elected officials to push forward legislation\u200b that recognizes obesity as a chronic \u2064progressive disease \u2064and supports the fair \u2063reimbursement of\u2062 treatments,\u201d \u2064a Novo Nordisk spokesperson \u2064said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<h2>Can Medicaid \u200dHandle Weight Loss Drug Coverage?<\/h2>\n<p>While this helps consumers, out-of-pocket costs remain prohibitive for\u200b most. There are also concerns\u200c about Medicaid solvency as 10 states cover semaglutide, \u200cwith more \u200cnegotiating deals to do the\u2062 same.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>States have\u2064 little wiggle room on Medicaid coverage, Loren Anthes, head\u200d of external affairs \u200bat Yuvo \u200bHealth, \u2064a health care \u200dcompany working with\u2064 federally qualified \u2062health \u200dcenters, told The \u2064Epoch Times. However, he\u200b added, closing tax loopholes and Medicare-taxing all income could\u2063 help keep \u200cMedicaid \u200dsolvent amid rising weight-loss drug coverage.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>With nearly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.medicaid.gov\/medicaid\/program-information\/medicaid-and-chip-enrollment-data\/report-highlights\/index.html#:~:text=92%2C614%2C205%20individuals%20were%20enrolled%20in,individuals%20were%20enrolled%20in%20Medicaid.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">86 million \u200denrolled<\/a> in \u2063Medicaid and many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.acog.org\/practice-management\/payment-resources\/health-care-coverage-for-refugees-and-immigrants\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">refugees \u2062gaining access<\/a>, the cost-savings of preventing obesity\u2064 diseases is critical, Mr. Anthes\u200b said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cI think it\u2019s ultimately a\u2064 question of what\u2019s the cost of the\u2064 drugs\u200c and\u200d the therapies over the\u200c costs associated\u200d with diabetes and obesity overall,\u201d he added. Beyond upfront drug \u2062costs, preventing obesity diseases makes the price \u200baffordable, he noted.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>For low-income groups, Mr. Anthes\u200c highlighted \u200bthe link between obesity, diabetes, \u200dand <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nimhd.nih.gov\/resources\/understanding-health-disparities\/food-accessibility-insecurity-and-health-outcomes.html#:~:text=Food%20insecurity%20and%20the%20lack,disorders%20and%20other%20chronic%20diseases%20.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">food insecurity<\/a>. With fewer choices, cheaper, less nutritious foods often contribute to these issues.<\/p>\n<h2>Are Americans Paying Too Much?<\/h2>\n<p>Americans pay \u200dsome of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthsystemtracker.org\/chart-collection\/how-do-prescription-drug-costs-in-the-united-states-compare-to-other-countries\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">highest prescription<\/a> prices\u200b globally. \u201cThe U.S. \u200cis sort \u200dof\u2064 unique\u2062 in\u2064 this problem,\u2063 specifically with\u200b these [semaglutide] drugs,\u201d Mr. Anthes said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Semaglutide \u200bdrug\u2063 prices\u2063 are typically\u200d much lower \u200bin other large wealthy countries, a report by KFF, formerly known as the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization \u200bfocusing on\u2062 health care and health policy research and analysis, confirmed in August. In Japan, Ozempic\u200c costs\u200d $169 for a month\u2019s supply, making \u200dit the second most \u2062expensive country for the \u200bmedication.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>Ozempic is\u200d well below \u200d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthsystemtracker.org\/brief\/prices-of-drugs-for-weight-loss-in-the-us-and-peer-nations\/#List%20prices%20of%20drugs%20used%20for%20weight%20loss%20in%20the%20U.S.%20and%20peer%20nations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">$200 per month<\/a> in \u2062Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Rybelsus is $203 or less per month in the\u2063 Netherlands, Switzerland, and Japan.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ozempic-wegovy-and-mounjaro-a-bargain-or-too-expensive\/\" title=\"Are Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro affordable or overpriced?\">significantly reduced prices peer\u2064 nations pay<\/a> for these drugs don\u2019t even consider manufacturer rebates and coupons, according \u200cto KFF.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>This is a problem particular to branded drugs, \u2064with \u200bU.S. prices averaging 3.44 \u2062times those in other developed nations, a\u2063 2021 report by the \u2062 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rand.org\/pubs\/research_reports\/RR2956.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">RAND Corporation<\/a>, a nonprofit research organization, found.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>This is not the case with generic drugs. Generic drugs \u2063without brand names, constituting about 85 percent of drugs sold in the United States by volume\u2062 but only accounting for 15 percent of U.S.\u2064 spending, had slightly \u2063lower prices in \u200bthe United \u2062States \u2064compared to most other countries, according to the\u2063 RAND\u200d report.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How do the \u2064prices of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doctors-sound-the-alarm-over-latest-drug-risk\/\" title=\"Doctors warn of new drug risk.\">weight loss \u2062drugs<\/a> like Ozempic, Wegovy, \u2062and Mounjaro compare to prescription drug prices in other developed countries?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  &#8220;https:\/\/www.aei.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Estimating-the-Cost-of-New-Treatments-for-Diabetes-and-Obesity.pdf?x91208&#8243; target=&#8221;_blank&#8221; rel=&#8221;noopener&#8221;>highest \u200bprices<\/a> for prescription \u200bdrugs compared to other developed countries. This includes weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, \u2062and Mounjaro. The cost of these drugs \u200chas raised concerns about whether Americans are paying too much for their weight\u2063 loss treatments.<\/p>\n<p>According to a recent report from the American Economic Institute (AEI), there are \u2062factors \u200dthat make these drugs more affordable. However, the report does not take into account the prices of these drugs\u2062 in other developed nations. This raises the question of whether these weight loss drugs \u200care truly a\u2062 bargain for Americans\u200b or unnecessarily expensive.<\/p>\n<p>The AEI report provides estimated monthly prices\u2062 for semaglutide and tirzepatide, the \u2064active \u200cingredients\u200d in \u200bthese weight loss drugs. The\u2063 prices range from $936 to $1,349 per month, depending on\u200b the specific \u200cdrug<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro are known for their weight loss benefits, but their high domestic prices have raised concerns. The American Economic Institute (AEI) report highlights factors that make these drugs more affordable, but fails to compare prices with other developed countries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1807,"featured_media":2083826,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2083825","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2083825","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1807"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2083825"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2083825\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2083826"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2083825"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2083825"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2083825"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}