Weight loss injections are a real monthly expense, and you deserve actual numbers instead of “invest in yourself” language. Here's the short answer: at Refine Redding, Semaglutide runs $285 to $400 a month and Tirzepatide runs $285 to $800 a month, depending on your dose. (Retatrutide is not FDA-approved and is discussed at a free consult; more on that in who qualifies.) The consult is free. Below is what that money covers, how it stacks up against your other options, and how to tell whether it's worth it for you.
What's included in the monthly price
Our monthly price covers the medication, your supplies, injection training at the start, and a monthly check-in to see how you're responding, with your dose reviewed and adjusted as needed. There's no separate consult fee and no long-term contract. We don't bill insurance.
When you compare providers, compare the whole package. A cheaper vial with no screening, no dose adjustments, and nobody to call when the nausea hits is a different product, even if the drug name is the same.
Why your price changes with your dose
Everyone starts on a low dose and steps up roughly every four weeks as your body adjusts. Lower doses cost less, so the first months are usually the cheapest. Many people settle on a maintenance dose somewhere in the middle of the range rather than climbing to the top. Your exact monthly cost is set together at your consult and confirmed before every refill, so it's never a surprise at pickup.
How the options compare
There are four common ways people get a GLP-1 medication right now. Here's the honest side-by-side.
| Typical monthly cost | What you get | What to watch for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance-covered brand name | Your copay | Wegovy or Zepbound through your doctor and pharmacy | Many plans exclude weight-loss drugs or require prior authorization. Worth checking first. |
| Manufacturer self-pay | From about $150 (pill) to a few hundred dollars for injections (fall 2026) | Brand-name medication shipped to you, prescribed through a telehealth or your own doctor | Price depends on drug, form, and dose, and intro pricing can step up. Follow-up depends on who prescribes it. |
| Local supervised program (like Refine Redding) | $285–$800, dose-dependent | In-person consult, injection training, monthly check-ins, and dose reviews with a local team that knows you | Ask exactly what's included and how dose changes affect price. |
| Low-cost online vendor | Often the lowest sticker price | A vial and instructions | Thin screening, little dose management, and unclear sourcing. This is where people get hurt or quit. |
A lot of clinics won’t mention this: brand-name self-pay prices have dropped a lot, and depending on your dose, they can come in close to or even under what a local program costs. If insurance covers it for you, that's usually the cheapest route of all, and we'd genuinely tell you to check that first. What a local program adds is a person who knows your history, sees you every month, and adjusts with you. For some people that's worth paying for. For others it isn't, and that's a fair call.
One question to ask any provider
“Is this the brand-name medication or a compounded version, and which licensed pharmacy makes it?” Any legitimate provider should answer that plainly, in writing if you ask. If you get a vague answer, keep shopping.
Insurance, HSA, and FSA
Check insurance first. Some plans cover brand-name Wegovy or Zepbound for weight management, usually with prior authorization and documentation of your BMI and related conditions. Many plans exclude weight-loss medications entirely. A ten-minute call to your insurer can save you thousands, and if it's covered, that's usually your cheapest route.
We don't bill insurance. Some HSA and FSA plans allow the expense when the medication is prescribed for a diagnosed condition; your plan administrator can tell you for sure.
What a first year can cost
Monthly prices are easy to shrug at. Here's the year in plain math, using our current ranges:
- Semaglutide: about $3,420 to $4,800 for 12 months.
- Tirzepatide: about $3,420 to $9,600 for 12 months.
Where you land depends on your dose, and most people don't sit at the top of the range all year. Still, it's a real number, and it's better to look at it now than six months in.
The costs nobody puts on the price tag
Time. Results build over months, not weeks. If you stop after eight weeks because the scale moved slowly, you paid for the hardest part and skipped the payoff.
Food. You'll likely spend less on takeout and snacks, but you'll want to spend a little more on protein to protect muscle while you lose weight.
Stopping. In the large Semaglutide trials, people who stopped the medication regained about two-thirds of the weight they'd lost, on average, within a year. That doesn't mean you're locked in forever, but it does mean having a plan for maintenance, and that plan is part of the real cost.
Side-effect support. Nausea, constipation, and fatigue are common early on and usually manageable. Having someone to text about it costs nothing extra here. Not having anyone can cost you the whole attempt.
Price questions to ask at any consult
- What will I pay at my starting dose, and what happens to the price as my dose goes up?
- What's included: medication, supplies, check-ins, dose changes, messaging between visits?
- Are there any fees beyond the monthly price, like a consult, lab, or cancellation fee?
- Is there a contract or minimum commitment?
- Is this brand-name or compounded, and which pharmacy makes it?
Our answers: the price at your dose is set at the free consult, medication, supplies, training, and monthly check-ins are included, and there's no long-term contract. Ask us the last one too; you deserve a straight answer from everyone, including us.
So, is it worth it?
It's likely worth it if you meet the medical criteria (a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a weight-related condition), nothing rules you out (like pregnancy, a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN2, or past pancreatitis), you've genuinely tried the fundamentals, and you're ready for a weekly shot, monthly check-ins, and real attention to protein and movement. For that person, Semaglutide and Tirzepatide are the most effective FDA-approved weight-loss medications available.
It's probably not worth it if you want to drop a quick ten pounds, if the monthly cost would create real financial stress, or if you'd stop the moment the scale stalls. We'd rather tell you that at a free consult than take your money for three months.
Not sure where you fall? Read are weight loss injections right for you, see the full weight loss program, or book a free consult. It costs nothing either way.
Frequently asked questions
How much do weight loss injections cost without insurance?
At Refine Redding, Semaglutide is $285 to $400 a month and Tirzepatide is $285 to $800 a month, depending on dose. Brand-name manufacturer self-pay programs started around $150 a month for the pill and ran a few hundred dollars a month for injections as of fall 2026, depending on the drug and dose.
Does insurance cover weight loss injections?
Some plans cover brand-name Wegovy or Zepbound for weight loss, often with prior authorization; many exclude them. It's worth calling your insurer before paying out of pocket. Refine Redding does not bill insurance.
Is Semaglutide cheaper than Tirzepatide?
Usually, yes. At Refine Redding Semaglutide runs $285 to $400 a month and Tirzepatide $285 to $800. Tirzepatide produced more average weight loss in trials, so some people find the higher price worth it, especially after a plateau on Semaglutide.
Can I use my HSA or FSA for weight loss injections?
Possibly. Some plans allow it when the medication is prescribed for a diagnosed condition. Check with your plan administrator before you assume either way.
What does a year of weight loss injections cost?
Using Refine Redding's current ranges, about $3,420 to $4,800 for a year of Semaglutide and about $3,420 to $9,600 for Tirzepatide. Your actual cost depends on your dose.
Is there a fee for the weight loss consult?
No. The consult is free, and if injections aren’t the right fit for you, we'll tell you.
Sources
Brand-name prices were checked in October 2026 and change often, so confirm before you buy. These are the main sources behind the numbers and safety information in this guide.
- Wegovy self-pay pricingNovoCare Pharmacy (Novo Nordisk). Brand-name self-pay prices for the Wegovy pill and pen.
- Zepbound self-pay pricingLillyDirect (Eli Lilly). Brand-name self-pay prices for Zepbound.
- FDA’s Concerns with Unapproved GLP-1 Drugs Used for Weight LossU.S. Food and Drug Administration. On compounded versions, and why Retatrutide isn’t FDA-approved yet.
- Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide: The STEP 1 trial extensionWilding JPH et al., Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 2022. Where the “regained about two-thirds within a year of stopping” finding comes from.
- Wegovy (semaglutide) prescribing informationU.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed. The FDA label: who it’s approved for, the boxed warning, side effects, and pregnancy guidance.
- Zepbound (tirzepatide) prescribing informationU.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed. The FDA label: who it’s approved for, the boxed warning, side effects, and the birth control interaction.