Costco Now Offering Low-Cost Weight Loss Program With Prescription Access

Costco has launched what is being called "the most affordable weight loss program in the United States" with an expansion of its partnership with the New York-based telehealth company, Sesame.

For as low at $179, members can buy into a renewable three-month subscription that provides clinician access to help them with diet, exercise, and lifestyle recommendations. But you don't need a Costco membership to enjoy the benefits, as the program is also available to non-members starting at $195.

The program begins by Sesame clinicians collecting a detailed medical history from each patient and then forming an individualized plan with a nutritional guide and lifestyle modifications. Clinicians will even be able to prescribe GLP-1 weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy, depending on patient eligibility. The company says patients could lose 5 percent of their body weight within three months, 10 percent in six months, and 15 percent in a year if they stick with the program.

“We are witnessing important innovations in medically-supervised weight loss," Sesame‘s co-founder and CEO David Goldhill said in a statement. “Sesame’s unique model allows us not only to make high-quality specialty care like weight loss much more accessible and affordable, but also to empower clinicians to create care plans that are specific to—and appropriate for—each individual patient.”

The big box retailer began offering customers primary care visits with Sesame last year for as low as $29, but soon realized that it was fielding about one in five patent inquiries about weight loss. The program was then developed to meet those customer needs.

"It wasn’t what we initially thought would make sense to offer for Costco members who were coming to Sesame," Sesame co-founder and president Michael Botta told CNN. "But we realized pretty quickly, just by looking at what people were curious about, that there was a clear unmet need here."

However, while the program itself is affordable, the cost of any medication or lab work is not included. The company warns that semaglutide-based medications can cost anywhere between $950 and $1,600 per month without insurance.