What Are My Weight Loss Options If I Can’t Afford Weight Loss Drugs?

Second-generation weight loss medications like Ozempic and Zepbound are being touted in some circles as miracle cures for obesity or anyone wanting to lose weight. Some influencers and news organizations talk as though everyone should take these pills and watch the fat melt right off.

One problem with this idea is that these medications can be very expensive. Due to their cost, most insurances have systematically removed these medications from medication formulary. Medicare and Medicaid won’t cover these drugs, and studies have found that 70 to 97% of Americans across the nation in 2024 didn’t have insurance coverage for these medications.

What this means is that, if you want a second-generation weight loss medication such as Ozempic, then there is a strong possibility that you may have to pay out of pocket. 

How expensive are these medications out-of-pocket? Costs range from $500 to $1,300 per month, or $6,000 to $15,000 per year depending on the dose and delivery mechanism. And, it’s important to note that the weight loss that patients see from these medications only lasts as long as they’re taking the medications. If you stop taking the drugs, then you’ll probably see the scale start to creep back up. Essentially, if you want to use these medications to get down to your ideal weight, you’re signing up to pay $6,000-$15,000 per year for potentially the rest of your life.

While for some this ongoing expense may be feasible, for many others these medications may be cost prohibitive. So are there affordable alternatives to weight loss drugs? The answer to that question is “yes.” Dietary changes and an exercise plan can be very affordable, although the weight loss from these lifestyle modifications can be modest. Bariatric surgery is a very affordable alternative to weight loss drugs that can deliver substantial lasting weight loss, because most insurances see this as an effective long-term weight loss tool and are willing to pay for it.

Diet and Exercise

What lifestyle changes can help with weight loss on a budget? When many people are trying to lose weight on a budget, dietary changes and an exercise plan are often the first weight loss strategy that they consider.

Eating healthier meals can be very affordable. One study found that following the government’s MyPlate Dietary Guidelines (a dietary plan that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, lean meats and other healthy sources of protein, and very little sugar) would cost a family of four about $500-$700 per month more than eating an average all-American diet. Per person, that’s only a couple of hundred dollars extra per month.

Even if that’s not doable, one easy way to become healthier is to simply take unhealthy foods out of your diet. Replace soda with water. Skip desserts, or limit them to one per week. Eating less sugar can save money and make you feel a lot better in your body.

The downside of dietary changes like this is that while they can make you healthier and more energetic, and can take away some of the aches and pains of an unhealthy lifestyle, these dietary changes on their own are unlikely to lead to the lasting weight loss that you want and deserve. Most diets (ex. Paleo, Keto, Mediterranean) help patients lose just 8% of their total body weight on average.

Exercise can similarly be very affordable. Gym memberships typically cost $10-$100 per month. If you don’t want to go to the gym, you can also do a variety of at-home exercises such as running or walking, gardening, or even climbing up and down stairs. But just like with dietary changes, the problem with moving more is that, while exercise is fantastic for improving your physical and mental health, it doesn’t contribute very much to weight loss with most studies indicating only modest weight loss of 1 to 5 pounds. 

Bariatric Surgery

If you want your durable and affordable opportunity to lose weight, keep it off, and get back to the wonderful and radiant life that you deserve, then we highly recommend that you consider bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery can be a very affordable weight loss solution.

Is Bariatric Surgery A Cost-Effective Weight Loss Option In the Long Run?

Most insurances cover the cost of bariatric surgery, because they know that this is a good long-term investment in your health and will end up saving them money. If you don’t have bariatric insurance benefits, bariatric surgery can feel like an expensive option. Nationally, costs range from $17,000 to $26,000 on average. 

At the BMCC, our costs are much lower, and cash pay prices range from $12,250 to just over $20,000. Our costs are some of the lowest in the area, often by thousands of dollars.

That cost can still feel like a lot, but it’s actually far more affordable than the cost of weight loss medications after just 2 years without the need for weekly or daily treatment. For one thing, many insurance plans cover bariatric surgery, which means that you could be paying substantially less depending on your insurance plan. For another, bariatric surgery is a one-time investment. The cost of weight loss medications like Ozempic or Mounjaro is so high because you have to keep paying it year after year. But when you get bariatric surgery, you’re paying for one surgery and reaping the benefits for a lifetime.

Bariatric surgery is the best investment you can make because it can dramatically improve your most precious assets: your health, your quality of life, and your length of life. It also pays for itself by reducing your long-term health care costs. The unfortunate truth is that people who suffer from obesity pay 81 percent more for their healthcare on average. They have more medical bills to treat more conditions related to obesity, take more prescription medications, and have higher health insurance premiums. By helping you lose weight, bariatric surgery doesn’t just offer you a wonderful chance for a new beginning; it can also save you substantial money in the long run. 

If you’re looking for affordable weight loss, bariatric surgery is a powerful solution. Many of our patients report that the decision to undergo bariatric surgery was one of the best decisions they ever made.

“The life changes though have been worth every second. My advice: Stop waiting. Don’t blame yourself. Find a care team you can trust. Play with recipes. Play outside. Find protein you love. Include your friends and loved ones on your journey. Don’t give up.”—Angie Goodger, gastric bypass patient.

At the BMCC, we are now accepting patients from Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming. If you’re suffering, don’t wait. Contact our Denver office today.