How Much Does Ozempic or Semaglutide Cost in Canada?

Given its recent rise in popularity as an effective tool for weight loss, it’s clear why so many Canadians are turning to Ozempic and similar antidiabetic drugs to help manage their weight, alongside other weight-loss medications like Wegovy, Saxenda, or Contrave. 

However, this popular medication can come with a correspondingly high price tag for some. Here’s what you can expect to pay for Ozempic depending on your insurance coverage and where you live in Canada.

Ozempic cost breakdown in Canada

A month’s supply of Ozempic in Canada costs $205 CAD as of August 2023 according to non-profit healthcare monitor Peterson-KFF. This, however, is likely on the lower end of what Canadians are actually paying. Most Canadians should expect to pay somewhere between $200 to $300 a month for Ozempic.

Pricing of Ozempic in different provinces

While the Canadian healthcare system is often referred to as “universal healthcare,” we don’t have one single system across all Canadian provinces. Instead, each province regulates their own regional health insurance plan. This results in slight variations in health insurance and prescription drug coverage from province to province.

However, no matter the province, it’s worth noting that Ozempic is only approved for treating type 2 diabetes in Canada. Since weight loss is considered an “off-label” use of the drug, Ozempic isn’t covered for this under any publicly-funded drug programs in Canada.

Here’s what Ozempic coverage looks like across the provinces:

Newfoundland

If you qualify for coverage under the Newfoundland Prescription Drug Program (NLPDP), your healthcare provider may request a special authorization for Ozempic coverage. However, this exception is only for those with type 2 diabetes who have tried other diabetes medications first.

PEI

In PEI, Ozempic requires special authorization for approval under all of its provincially-funded drug plans.

Nova Scotia

The Nova Scotia Diabetes Assistance Program covers supplies and prescription medications – including Ozempic – for those with diabetes. While this program is now closed to new enrollees, there are a variety of other plans, including the province’s Family Pharmacare Program that funds prescription medication to varying degrees depending on eligibility.

New Brunswick

New Brunswick residents can choose from a few different public prescription drug plans depending on their income, age, and other qualifying factors. Under these plans, Ozempic may be covered for patients with type 2 diabetes whose needs aren’t being met with metformin, a popular medication for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Quebec

If you don’t have a private drug insurance plan, Ozempic prescriptions are funded under the Quebec Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan (PDIP) for those with type 2 diabetes. However, those covered under the PDIP may have a co-pay of up to 35% of the prescription drug cost.

Ontario

In Ontario, your Ozempic prescription may be covered by the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) Program, provided you’re between 18-24, over 65 or meet other eligibility criteria. However, this is only if you’re unable to tolerate metformin or if metformin doesn’t adequately control your blood glucose levels.

Manitoba

Manitoba’s pharmacare program added Ozempic to its list of covered drugs in 2021. Depending on your income, you may be eligible for funding for Ozempic, provided it’s prescribed for diabetes control.

Saskatchewan

Ozempic has Exception Drug Status (EDS) in Saskatchewan. This means that eligible individuals may receive funding for it through Saskatchewan’s Drug Plan provided their healthcare provider submits a special request.

Alberta

In Alberta, Ozempic is subject to step therapy/special authorization coverage. This means that if you qualify for prescription drug coverage, you must first try metformin and other diabetes drugs known as sulfonylureas. If these don’t work or aren’t tolerated and you’re not a candidate for insulin, then you may fill out a special authorization request for Ozempic coverage.

British Columbia

As with other provinces, BC’s PharmaCare Plan covers the cost of Ozempic for eligible individuals with type 2 diabetes, provided they haven’t been able to achieve blood sugar control with metformin.

Comparison of Ozempic cost with other diabetes medications

Ozempic tends to be near the top of the price range for diabetes medications in Canada. According to BC Health, the annual cost of Ozempic for the provincial government is just under $3,000 per person. In comparison, the annual cost of the most expensive generic metformin they pay for tops out at $930 a patient.

For this reason, most provincial drug plans restrict Ozempic coverage. While available, it’s often mandated that patients try out metformin or another form of diabetes medication first. Ozempic is often only available if you can’t tolerate other diabetes medications or if these don’t adequately manage your blood glucose.

Private insurance coverage and financial assistance for Ozempic 

If you have private insurance, it’s likely that your policy covers diabetes medications such as Ozempic. That being said, your insurer likely requires paperwork confirming your diabetes status. 

However, if you’re looking to take Ozempic as a weight loss medication, it’s important to know that insurance plans only cover medications as prescribed. That means “off-label” uses — like weight loss — aren’t always eligible for coverage.

If you don’t have diabetes and you’re interested in prescription weight loss medication, you may want to consider Wegovy, Saxenda, or Contrave instead of Ozempic. These medications are approved for weight loss, making them more likely to be covered by private insurers.

Having said that, weight loss medications could be considered “lifestyle” prescription drugs — which private insurers haven’t traditionally covered. While some have changed their policies to include these medications, it’s a good idea to check with your provider about what’s included in your plan.

If Ozempic isn’t funded and your workplace offers a health spending account (HSA), this may be able to help subsidize the cost.

Regardless of your insurance coverage, figuring out if Ozempic is right for you can be confusing. If you have questions about Ozempic or other semaglutide medications, our network of Canadian-licensed doctors and nurse practitioners are here for you 24/7 to start the conversation.

With Maple, you can also book an appointment with a weight management specialist from your phone, tablet or computer at a time that’s convenient for you. Initial consultations are 30 minutes long, ensuring a personalized assessment and bespoke plan to help you achieve your goals.

If our network of providers determine that Ozempic or another medication is a good fit for you, they can diagnose you and  provide a prescription at their discretion, which can then be sent to the pharmacy of your choice, or the prescription can be filled at a pharmacy and delivered free of charge to your home

How much can you expect to pay without insurance? 

Most provinces cap dispensing fees and how much a pharmacy is allowed to mark up a product. Despite this, variations in these regulations can result in slightly higher costs in some provinces.

However, cost can also vary from pharmacy to pharmacy within the same neighbourhood. For this reason, it’s helpful to shop around to find which pharmacy offers the best price.

Additionally, you can also save some money on dispensing fees by requesting multiple months of medication at once. For example, instead of returning to the pharmacy once a month for your prescription, you can request three months of the drug at the same time. This allows you to pay one dispensing fee as opposed to three separate ones.

And, if you’re having your medication delivered, inquire about any delivery charges ahead of time. Most pharmacies offer free delivery, but this may vary depending on how close by you live.

Availability of generic semaglutide options

Generic drugs contain the same active ingredients as their brand-name counterparts, providing the same effects at a fraction of the cost. However, in Canada, generics can only be made once the patent for a brand-name drug has expired.

Since semaglutide — the active ingredient in Ozempic — is still under patent to Novo Nordisk, there currently isn’t a generic version of Ozempic. 

The final word on Ozempic cost in Canada 

Ozempic is an antidiabetic medication intended to treat type 2 diabetes. Recently it’s become popular for weight management as an off-label use. Ozempic can also be expensive for some Canadians, with costs varying across provinces and individual health insurance plans. 

While shopping around can help to reduce some of those out-of-pocket costs, many private and public insurance providers cover Ozempic to some degree. While eligibility varies from province to province, you may be able to access coverage for Ozempic, provided you have type 2 diabetes. This can help you get the prescription medication you need at a more affordable price.

If you’re interested in learning more about Ozempic and whether it’s right for you, our network of doctors and nurse practitioners are always here for you, 24/7. 

The information presented here is for educational purposes and is not meant to replace the advice from your medical professional. Virtual care is not meant for medical emergencies. If you are experiencing an emergency like chest pain or difficulties breathing, for example, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.