Walgreens is entering the self-pay GLP-1 space, going head-to-head with telemedicine subscription services.
The retail pharmacy giant has launched a digital weight management service that provides access to personalized weight loss support from a clinician. The service expands on Walgreens’ virtual health care platform, providing patients with access to qualified doctors and nurses, FDA-approved drug options and ongoing virtual support, according to a company press release.
A virtual visit with Weight Management Services costs $49 and does not require a monthly subscription. The program is currently available in 28 states and is aimed at eligible overweight and obese adults ages 18 to 64 who plan to pay out-of-pocket for GLP-1 medications.
As part of the new program, eligible patients can complete an online video visit with a certified physician or nurse who will assess their health history, weight-related goals, and medical needs. Healthcare providers may prescribe FDA-approved GLP-1 drugs for weight loss in eligible overweight or obese patients. The program offers on-demand follow-up visits via chat or video for medication adjustments and side effect management, extended 7 days a week.
“Expanding our virtual health care platform to include weight management is part of our continued commitment to listening to our patients and the services they want from their local pharmacy,” Rick Gates, chief pharmacy officer at Walgreens, said in a statement. “By combining trusted clinical expertise with the reach of our digital and pharmacy network, we are helping eligible patients take meaningful steps toward improving their health on their own terms.”
Through Walgreens’ Rx Savings Finder tool, weight management programs offer Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy (semaglutide) at deeply discounted out-of-pocket prices. 1.5 mg or 4 mg tablets start at $149 per month, and injectables start at $199.
Walgreens is launching a new program as demand for weight loss drugs continues to rise. According to the 2025 KFF Employer Health Benefits Survey, approximately one in five (19%) large companies offering health benefits will cover expensive GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy for weight loss in 2025. More than half (57%) say they do not cover such medications for weight loss.
Among large companies with 5,000 or more employees, 43% now say their largest plans cover GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, up from 28% in 2024.
