It seems like you can get anything from Costco, including gold and silver, and now, Costco members in all 50 states can get prescriptions for weight loss drugs, including Ozempic and Wegovy.
Costco started offering outpatient healthcare services last fall through a partnership with Sesame, a healthcare marketplace. They found that about one in five customer inquiries were about weight loss help, so Sesame began working on a new program to address the need, Sesame co-founder and president Michael Botta told CNN.
“It wasn’t what we initially thought would make sense to offer for Costco members who were coming to Sesame,” Botta told CNN in April. “But we realized pretty quickly, just by looking at what people were curious about, that there was a clear unmet need here.”
How much do weight loss drugs like Ozempic cost at Costco?
For $179, members can receive a three-month subscription to a weight loss program, which includes a video consultation, prescription, insurance coordination for the prescription authorization, ongoing support and a lab order, if necessary.
Getting a prescription doesn't mean the cost of the medication is covered, however. The $179 subscription fee does not include the cost of medications.
Members will need to check their insurance to see what’s covered. Without insurance, weight-loss medications like Wegovy, Ozempic and Saxenda can cost between $950 to $1,600 per month, Sesame said.
How can you get Ozempic at Costco?
For Costco members looking to tap into the new weight loss service, here’s how you can get started:
- Create an account with Sesame and verify your Costco membership
- Navigate to the Weight Loss tab of the Costco + Sesame website
- Click "Get Started"
- Select a provider that specializes in weight management
- Meet with your provider to talk about your goals, discuss a treatment plan and order testing if data is needed
If medication is prescribed, the provider will handle insurance paperwork and send the prescription to your pharmacy. You will then begin your treatment and receive ongoing support from your provider.
It's important to note that due to the popularity of weight loss drugs, there can sometimes be shortages. Costco itself notes that the FDA has reported national shortages for Wegovy and Saxenda, "with limited availability expected through 2024" for both.
What other health services can you get at Costco?
Costco members can also receive discount pricing on a range of healthcare services through Sesame, including:
- Virtual primary care for $29
- Health check-ups that include a standard lab panel and virtual follow-up consultation with a provider for $72
- Virtual mental health therapy for $79
- 10% off all other Sesame services, including in-person appointments
Does Costco's weight loss program save you money?
Taken together, the price to access weight loss drugs through Costco adds up. A regular Costco membership costs $60 per year, then you'd add $179 to join the Sesame weight loss program, and finally the cost of the drugs themselves. If you consider a cost of Ozempic of $1,000 monthly without insurance, it adds up.
But, of course, what this provides is easy accessibility, as you can get care (and a $1.50 hot dog) with your local Costco. Beware, though, that with the popularity of weight loss drugs comes shortages to meet the high demand.
