Evernorth caps Wegovy and Zepbound at US $200

USA – Evernorth, the pharmacy benefits division of health insurance giant Cigna, has reached an agreement with Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly to limit out-of-pocket costs for their widely used weight-loss medications.

Under the new plan, patients will pay no more than US $200 a month for Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide).

These drugs typically have high list prices, Wegovy is listed at US $1,350 per month, but discounts and insurance coverage often reduce the actual cost.

Even so, the new US $200 cap marks a significant reduction from the already lowered direct cash price of US $499 offered by the manufacturers earlier this year.

Novo Nordisk, for instance, began offering this price through its NovoCare Pharmacy for eligible cash-paying patients in March 2025.

Evernorth says the capped cost could save patients up to US $3,600 a year. The plan also simplifies access by streamlining the pre-authorization process, allowing patients to fill their prescriptions at retail pharmacies or through Evernorth’s home delivery service without price variation.

Adam Kautzner, President of Evernorth Care Management and Express Scripts, emphasized the company’s mission: “We are reimagining pharmacy benefits to reduce costs and better serve patients. This is what Express Scripts does best—help Americans save on prescriptions while reaching their health goals.”

The initiative builds on Evernorth’s broader strategy to expand access to GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs, known for treating diabetes and obesity.

It follows the success of EncircleRx, a financial model with over nine million users, which the company says has saved health plans US $200 million since 2024.

Evernorth also recently launched EnReachRx, a program offering personalized support for patients on GLP-1RA medications.

Meanwhile, CVS Caremark has also struck a deal to make Wegovy its preferred GLP-1RA starting in July, a move that will reduce coverage for Zepbound.

The new pricing model comes as drug costs face growing scrutiny in the U.S. President Donald Trump recently highlighted the stark contrast in drug prices between the U.S. and Europe, noting that Americans often pay up to three times more.

A friend of his reportedly paid US $88 for a weight-loss drug in London but US $1,300 for the same product in New York.

In response to rising prices, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services plans to tie future drug prices to international rates.

Market research predicts that the diabetes and obesity drug sector will surpass US $170 billion by 2031.