Updated: October 2026
In short: According to IKK classic (as of 11 September 2026), Wegovy costs self-payers about 170 to 300 euros per month. Statutory health insurance doesn't cover the costs for weight loss, because weight-loss agents are excluded from coverage under § 34 SGB V. You need a doctor's prescription, which you pay for yourself at the pharmacy. Prices checked October 2026; please ask at the pharmacy for the current amount. As of: October 2026.
Wegovy is one of the most searched weight-loss injections. Here you'll learn what it costs, why statutory insurance doesn't pay, how the prescription works and how to spot legitimate offers. What the product does medically is covered in the article Weight-Loss Injections: Effects and Side Effects.
What does Wegovy cost per month?
IKK classic gives monthly costs of about 170 to 300 euros for Wegovy in its guide to the weight-loss injection (article from 11 September 2026). That is the only price information we found in a verified source. We deliberately don't give prices for Mounjaro, because we haven't opened a reliable source for it.
Wegovy is dose-escalated in steps (see prescribing information: 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, then 2.4 mg). Because treatment starts with low doses, the pack you need changes over time. The exact pharmacy price can therefore differ depending on the pack and pharmacy. Before buying, ask your pharmacy for the price on the day, checked October 2026.
A worked example shows the order of magnitude: if 170 to 300 euros per month were incurred for a year, that would work out at 2,040 to 3,600 euros. That is a pure multiplication of the stated range, not a forecast for your treatment.
For comparison with the study duration: in the approval study STEP 1, treatment lasted 68 weeks, which is around 15.7 months. At 170 to 300 euros per month, that would work out at roughly 2,700 to 4,700 euros. That too is only a rough calculation. There may also be costs for medical appointments, check-ups and accompanying measures that we don't put a figure on here. One part of the calculation is often forgotten: what follows after treatment ends. More on this in the article on stopping.
Does health insurance pay for Wegovy?
No, statutory health insurance does not pay for Wegovy for weight management. The reason is in the law: under § 34 paragraph 1 sentences 7 and 8 SGB V, medicines whose main purpose is improving quality of life are excluded from coverage. Explicitly named are agents used predominantly for weight loss or to curb appetite or to regulate body weight.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 21 March 2024 | The Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) adds semaglutide (Wegovy) to Annex II (lifestyle medicines) of the Medicines Directive, thereby implementing the statutory prescription exclusion. |
| 15 June 2024 | The decision comes into force. |
| 19 September 2024 | The G-BA also lists tirzepatide (Mounjaro) for weight management as a lifestyle medicine. |
| 16 June 2025 | The Mainz Social Court (ref. S 7 KR 76/24) rules that statutory health insurance does not have to bear the costs of the weight-loss injection Wegovy. |
In the consultation procedure on tirzepatide, it was argued that obesity is a chronic, progressive metabolic disease and that scientific knowledge has changed significantly since § 34 was introduced. The G-BA nevertheless added tirzepatide to Annex II. A change would have to be made by the legislature.
This applies regardless of whether doctors consider the product medically sensible. Whether your private health insurance or supplementary insurance reimburses anything depends on your plan. Ask in writing beforehand, before you budget for the costs.
Are there exceptions to cost coverage?
The exclusion only concerns use for weight management. It doesn't apply to other approved uses. On tirzepatide (Mounjaro), the G-BA writes that it remains a benefit of statutory health insurance for type 2 diabetes. According to IKK classic, the insurer also only pays for Ozempic if it's prescribed for type 2 diabetes.
That doesn't mean the diabetes prescription can be used for weight loss, though. According to the EMA, Ozempic is not approved for weight loss. If you want Ozempic prescribed only for losing weight, that is use outside the approval (off-label). In 2023, because of supply shortages, the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) recommended not prescribing Ozempic outside its approval. That recommendation has since been lifted, as apotheke adhoc reports.
Do I need a prescription for Wegovy?
Yes. Wegovy is prescription-only. According to IKK classic, all GLP-1 products (Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro) require a prescription and are dispensed only through pharmacies. Because the prescription exclusion applies, the prescription can't be issued at the expense of statutory insurance. You pay for the medicine yourself at the pharmacy.
According to the prescribing information, the requirement is a body mass index of at least 30, or from 27 with at least one weight-related accompanying condition such as high blood pressure, sleep apnoea, prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. Whether the injection is an option for you is checked by your doctor based on your history. They weigh up whether benefit and risk are right for you.
Please talk to your doctor before you order a medicine anywhere.
Is Wegovy available?
We found no verified source on the current supply situation for Wegovy and therefore make no statement. All that's known is the history of the Ozempic shortages: since 2022 there were supply problems with semaglutide products for people with diabetes, which the BfArM attributed, among other things, to use for weight loss. The advisory board for supply shortages has since lifted its recommendations and, according to apotheke adhoc, found stable availability for Ozempic and Trulicity.
The quickest way to find out whether Wegovy is in stock at your pharmacy is to ask there, ideally by phone. The pharmacy can usually order it too.
How do I spot untrustworthy offers online?
The Hamburg consumer advice centre writes: counterfeits of the lucrative weight-loss injections keep turning up. Active-ingredient cocktails from the internet often contain undeclared substances and can cause a rise in blood pressure and a racing heart, in extreme cases with fatal consequences. The Rhineland-Palatinate State Investigation Office also warns of weight-loss products with undeclared drugs such as sibutramine.
| Warning sign | Why |
|---|---|
| Sale without a prescription | Wegovy is prescription-only. |
| Offered as a research product (Research Use Only) | This label offers no legal protection, and there is no official quality control for identity, content or sterility. |
| Very low price | According to the consumer advice centre, counterfeits are a known problem. |
| Active ingredient not approved in the EU (for example retatrutide) | There is no verified approval and no quality control. |
More on this in the article Peptides for Weight Loss.
What can you do for your weight independently of the injection?
Even with an injection, the basics stay the same: a realistic calorie requirement, enough protein, exercise and sleep. You can read how many calories you need in the article Calorie Needs for Weight Loss . Our calorie calculator helps with estimating. The guide gives an overview of everyday basics Losing Weight Healthily.
Four questions help you plan costs realistically in a conversation with your doctor: which dose level is planned at the start? How long is treatment expected to last? What check-up appointments are involved? And what happens when the injection ends at some point? If you clarify these points beforehand, you avoid nasty surprises.
An injection doesn't replace this foundation. The injection only makes it easier to eat less. What happens afterwards, when treatment ends, is explained in the article Stopping Weight-Loss Injections.
Pairs well with frank.
If you want to change your eating anyway, Soups and cold-pressed juices from frank. are one way to structure everyday life with small meals. Neither replaces medical treatment or a medicine.
You might also like
- Losing Weight Healthily: Nutrition, Tips & Recipes
- How Many Calories Do You Need Per Day to Lose Weight Healthily?
- Weight-Loss Injections: Effects, Side Effects and Use
Frequently asked questions about Wegovy costs
What does Wegovy cost per month?
IKK classic gives about 170 to 300 euros per month for Wegovy (article from 11 September 2026). The actual price depends on the pack and pharmacy, so please ask there.
Does health insurance pay for Wegovy for weight loss?
No. Statutory health insurance may not reimburse weight-loss agents under § 34 SGB V. In 2024, the G-BA added Wegovy to the list of lifestyle medicines.
Does private health insurance cover the costs?
That depends on the plan. Before treatment starts, ask your insurer for a written statement on reimbursement.
Do I need a private prescription?
Yes, Wegovy is prescription-only. Since statutory insurance doesn't pay, you pay for the medicine yourself at the pharmacy.
Does the exclusion also apply to Ozempic and Mounjaro?
Only for use for weight management. For type 2 diabetes, according to the G-BA, Ozempic and Mounjaro remain benefits of statutory health insurance.
How do I recognise counterfeit weight-loss injections?
Warning signs are offers without a prescription, products labelled as research products and very low prices. Only buy with a prescription at a pharmacy.
Note: This article is for general information and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You make decisions about medication, dosage or stopping together with your doctor. If you have symptoms or pre-existing conditions, are pregnant or take medication, please speak to them first.
