The U.S. has a lot upper checklist costs for a number of weight reduction medicine when in comparison to different peer nations, a brand new KFF file discovered.

KFF’s research compares checklist costs from web site searches for a month’s provide of Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy and Mounjaro, which can be all authorized for diabetes or weight reduction within the U.S. In some nations, those medicine aren’t to be had.

Ozempic, which is authorized for diabetes within the U.S., prices $936 for a month’s provide within the U.S., as opposed to $169 in Japan, $147 in Canada and $144 in Switzerland. Rybelsus, additionally authorized within the U.S. for diabetes, prices $936 for a month’s provide within the U.S., whilst it prices $203 within the Netherlands, $158 in Canada and $147 in Switzerland.

Wegovy has been authorized for weight reduction and prices $1,349 for a month’s provide within the U.S., as opposed to $328 in Germany and $296 within the Netherlands. Mounjaro, authorized for diabetes, prices $1,023 for a month’s provide within the U.S., in comparison to $444 within the Netherlands and $319 in Japan.

KFF famous that “checklist costs aren’t essentially web costs paid as producers supply insurer rebates and affected person coupons. As an example, privately insured sufferers within the U.S. can get Wegovy coupons of $225 in keeping with 28-day provide for as much as 1 yr if their plan covers Wegovy, or $500 in keeping with 28-day provide if their non-public well being plan does no longer quilt it. Non-public insurers and employers within the U.S. could possibly negotiate decrease costs with drug producers or get better rebates.”

Additionally contributing to nations’ general well being prices is the selection of other folks the use of the medication, the file said. The U.S. has the easiest charge of weight problems in comparison to peer countries: 33.5% of adults have weight problems within the U.S., as opposed to 25.9% in the UK, 21.6% in Canada and 19.5% in Australia. The common amongst peer nations is 17.1%.

“Upper costs of gear for weight reduction and better charges of weight problems within the U.S. may imply a extra important affect of those medicine on total well being spending within the U.S. than in peer nations,” KFF stated.

Analysis is continuous to come back out concerning the unwanted side effects of those medicine and the way they’ll have an effect on long-term well being. Protection of weight reduction medicine additionally range through well being plan.

“Within the U.S., non-public insurers and employers are working out whether or not and the best way to quilt those weight-loss medicine—protection and cost-sharing will most likely range through well being plan,” KFF stated. “Medicare isn’t allowed to hide weight-loss medicine beneath present regulation and Medicaid protection varies through state. Peer countries have in a similar way variable insurance policy for those medicine for weight reduction. It continues to be observed what percentage of the prices of weight-loss medicine might be borne through sufferers or payers.”

Picture: puhimec, Getty Pictures