You can now get Ozempic at Costco — but don't expect big savings
- Costco is now selling the weight loss drug Ozempic through a partnership with health startup Sesame.
- Members can pay $179 for a prescription and appointment as part of a three-month package.
Silver bullion and sushi aren't the only new additions to Costco's product selection this year. Now, you can get a prescription for the weight loss drug Ozempic through the retailer, too.
Costco has started offering the prescriptions through a partnership with healthcare startup Sesame, CNN reported on Tuesday. For $179, members can get a prescription for the GLP-1 weight loss drug plus a meeting with a doctor or specialist. Members who get the drug are also able to message a doctor with questions or issues as they continue to use Ozempic.
One thing the program — which lasts three months and is renewable — does not include is the actual cost of Ozempic, which can run up to $1,600 a month without insurance, CNN reported. Getting insurance to cover the drugs is still tough for non-diabetic users, and some employers are worried that the costs could strain their finances.
Costco did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider. Sesame Chief Marketing Officer Michael DiLorenzo told BI that the company has seen the number of participants in the startup's weight loss service increase by 50 times since it unveiled the option with Costco on Tuesday.
DiLorenzo said that Sesame is "focused on making sure that the products we have in-market now with Costco — weight loss, primary care, and mental health — are delivering the exceptional experience and results that Costco Members expect of everything they get from Costco."
Ozempic, Wegovy, and other GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity among people trying to lose weight over the last few years. First intended as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, the drug uses semaglutide, an ingredient that can moderate blood sugar. It can also reduce appetite, which is why it has gained traction for non-diabetic patients trying to shed pounds.
Sales of the drugs have been so great that they likely helped Denmark avoid a recession since the country is home to Ozempic- and Wegovy-maker Novo Nordisk.
Costco started working with Sesame last fall to offer basic health services, such as virtual check-ups. GLP-1 drugs weren't initially part of the partnership, according to Sesame cofounder and president Michael Botta.
But approximately one in five requests that Sesame got through the Costco program was about weight loss, so Sesame developed the offering to cater to those customers.
"We realized pretty quickly, just by looking at what people were curious about, that there was a clear unmet need here," he told CNN.