By Dr. Asnat Raziel, bariatric surgeon specializing in obesity treatment, metabolic health and healthy longevity; Director of the Multidisciplinary Center for Obesity Treatment, Assia Medical, Assuta Ramat HaChayal, Tel Aviv
The cost of weight loss drugs: much more than the price of the pen
What will the monthly cost of weight loss drugs be? This question comes up at almost every first visit to my clinic. Most people look at the monthly price of the pen, but that is only part of the picture. In practice, the cost depends on the drug, the dose, the insurance route and the length of treatment. In this article, I break the cost down into its parts and explain how to plan it for the long term.
I compare the prices in each route in detail in a separate Hebrew article on the price of obesity medication in Israel, and you can read about Mounjaro in Israel’s health funds in English. Here, we will focus on the overall picture that many patients discover only after they start treatment: what affects the cost, and why it is worth thinking about it in terms of years.
Three ways to pay in Israel
First, the national health basket. Today it includes Wegovy for adolescents only, under defined conditions. According to Maccabi’s eligibility page, eligible 12- to 17-year-olds pay a copayment of 15% of the drug’s price.
Second, supplementary insurance (Shaban). All four of Israel’s health funds (HMOs), Clalit, Maccabi, Leumit and Meuhedet, provide Wegovy and Mounjaro through their supplementary insurance plans, at a discount of about 50%. The prices are published on the health funds’ websites. In Maccabi Zahav and Maccabi Sheli, for example, members pay 51% of the price of Wegovy, and between 442 and 927 NIS for Mounjaro, depending on the dose. Finally, people who are not eligible for a subsidy buy the drug at the pharmacy at full price. I wrote about subsidies for weight loss drugs in a separate article in Hebrew.
The cost of weight loss drugs at full price
At the time of writing, the consumer list price in Maccabi’s drug guide is 1,056.40 NIS for Mounjaro 5 mg and 1,468.64 NIS for Mounjaro 10 mg. Maccabi notes that the price is an estimate, and the final price is set when the drug is dispensed.
The new pill Foundayo, which contains orforglipron, is also available at this stage only at full price. According to a report in Israel Hayom from September 2026, the monthly price ranges from 691.59 to 1,146.46 NIS, depending on the dose. In other words, at this stage it costs more than the injections subsidized by supplementary insurance. You will find more details in my article on Foundayo in Israel.
Why the monthly cost changes
Treatment starts at a low dose and goes up gradually, to reduce nausea and side effects. Since the price depends on the dose, the cost also rises in the first months. That is why the price of the first month does not reflect the true cost. Base your budget on the maintenance dose, the dose you will stay on over time.
Because the bill changes over time, it helps to plan ahead. I explain how in budgeting for weight loss drugs long term.
In addition, there are related costs. Good treatment includes doctor visits, blood tests and support from a dietitian. For example, the first months sometimes require frequent follow-up visits to adjust the dose and manage side effects. Some of these services are provided by the health fund, and some are paid privately. It is worth including them in the calculation from the start.
The cost of weight loss drugs over the years
Obesity is a chronic disease, so its treatment is long. In the STEP 1 extension, participants who stopped semaglutide regained two-thirds of the weight they had lost within a year. Most heart and metabolic measures also returned to the starting point.
A similar picture emerged in the SURMOUNT-4 trial of tirzepatide. Participants lost 20.9% of their weight in 36 weeks. Those who switched to placebo gained 14.0% in the following year, while those who continued treatment lost another 5.5%. In other words, stopping too early may turn the investment into a waste. I wrote about ways to keep your results in my article on stopping GLP-1 without regaining it all.
The cost of weight loss drugs vs. the cost of obesity
It is easy to look only at the monthly amount. However, obesity raises the risk of diabetes, heart disease, fatty liver and joint problems, and treating each of these also has a price. I wrote about the link between tirzepatide and medical costs in another article. The economic impact even reaches unexpected areas, such as airlines and weight loss drugs.
It is also interesting to know that the production cost of these drugs is much lower than their consumer price. I wrote about this gap in my article on the production cost of semaglutide. Prices usually fall with competition and with the entry of new drugs, but it is hard to predict when this will happen.
What is happening around the world
Even in wealthy countries, price limits access. In the United States, according to a KFF review of drug coverage in the US under Medicaid, the public health insurance for people with low incomes, only 13 states covered GLP-1 drugs for obesity in January 2026. Medicaid spending on these drugs reached almost $9 billion in 2024, before rebates. In addition, several states stopped coverage because of the cost.
How to plan the cost wisely
- Check eligibility in advance: look up on your health fund’s website the conditions, the copayment and the waiting period.
- Plan by the maintenance dose: calculate the cost by the dose you will stay on, not by the first month.
- Plan for years: stopping too early brings back a large part of the weight.
- Buy only from a licensed pharmacy: “cheap” pens online may be fake and dangerous.
The bottom line
The cost of weight loss drugs depends on the drug, the dose, the insurance route and the length of treatment. In all four health funds, supplementary insurance lowers the price of Wegovy and Mounjaro by about 50%, while Foundayo is bought at full price at this stage. Since obesity is a chronic disease, it is wise to plan the cost for years, not for a month. In our clinic, we help patients choose a treatment that suits both their body and their budget.
The information in this article is general information and does not replace personal medical advice.
Questions and answers
Do the health funds share the cost of weight loss drugs?
Yes. All four health funds provide Wegovy and Mounjaro through supplementary insurance, at a discount of about 50%. The health basket includes Wegovy for adolescents only.
Why does the price go up in the first months?
The price depends on the dose, and the dose goes up gradually. So the cost grows until you reach the maintenance dose.
What happens if I stop treatment?
In studies, most participants regained a large part of the weight within a year. That is why it is best to decide to stop only together with your doctor.
Is Foundayo cheaper than the injections?
Not at this stage. It is sold at full price, between 691.59 and 1,146.46 NIS a month, depending on the dose.
Sources
Injections for treating obesity and diabetes – Maccabi Healthcare Services (Hebrew)
No injections and no refrigeration: the new obesity pill arrives in Israel – Israel Hayom (Hebrew)
