GLP-1s for veterans: what the VA asks for, TRICARE, and the cash price
VA's April 2026 criteria let a VA clinician prescribe Wegovy or Zepbound for weight management at a BMI of 27 or more with a weight-related condition, plus a record of a lifestyle program such as MOVE! in the past year. Waiting, or not eligible? The lowest cash price on our chart is $59 a month at Collective, drug price.
Start here: Does the VA cover Wegovy or Zepbound? Every VA criterion, from the April 2026 documents.
Two cash programs to check.
No insurance needed.
Prices checked Nov 2, 2026.
The VA criteria and the cash fallback
VA terms from its April 2026 criteria documents. Cash prices are the lowest on our chart, read November 4, 2026.
| Route | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| VA BMI threshold | 27 or more | With a weight-related condition |
| VA lifestyle program record | One visit in the past year | MOVE! is VA's own example |
| Drugs in the VA criteria | Wegovy and Zepbound | For weight management |
| Compounded semaglutide while you wait | $59 a month, drug price | Lowest on our chart |
| Zepbound vials bought direct | $299 to $699 a month | By dose |
How to start at the VA
Ask your VA primary care team about weight management and MOVE!. One documented visit in the past year counts toward the criteria, and your clinician records your BMI and the conditions that qualify you, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or sleep apnea.
TRICARE runs on its own rules
TRICARE is a separate plan from VA health care, with its own drug list and prior authorization. Our TRICARE page has its current rules for Wegovy and Zepbound.
If you pay cash for a few months
Some veterans pay cash while the VA paperwork moves. A month of compounded semaglutide or the maker's direct price keeps you on the drug until the VA prescription starts.
Every guide for this reader
- TRICARE GLP-1 cover
- GLP-1 without insurance
- Patient assistance programs
- Paying cash for a GLP-1
- Open enrollment 2027
Questions
Does the VA cover Wegovy or Zepbound for weight loss?
Yes, for veterans who meet VA's April 2026 criteria: a BMI of 27 or more with a weight-related condition and a lifestyle program record, such as one MOVE! visit in the past year.
What does a GLP-1 cost a veteran who pays cash?
On our chart the lowest is $59 a month at Collective, drug price, read November 4, 2026.
Sources
- VA criteria for use, Wegovy for weight management (April 2026)
- VA criteria for use, Zepbound for weight management (April 2026)
- VA copay rates
Prices on GLP Chart are read from each program's own pricing page. How: how we check prices. Other readers: guides by reader.