CVS Is Dropping Zepbound. Here Is What You Can Do Right Now

If you are on Zepbound and CVS Caremark manages your pharmacy benefits, this is urgent. Starting July 1, 2025, Zepbound will be removed from their standard formularies. CVS has made Wegovy the preferred GLP-1 medication for weight loss. For millions of people, that means losing access to a treatment that finally worked, just because of a deal made behind closed doors.

This change is not about outcomes. It is about contracts and rebates. And it is going to disrupt care for patients who were doing everything right.

Here is what is happening and what you need to do now to stay on Zepbound if it is working for you.

Zepbound Is Not the Same as Wegovy

Wegovy and Zepbound are both GLP-1 medications, but they are not interchangeable. Zepbound is a dual receptor agonist that targets both GLP-1 and GIP. Wegovy works only on GLP-1. In clinical trials, higher doses of Zepbound delivered more weight loss than Wegovy, and some patients have found the difference to be life changing.

When comparing weight management efficacy per the clinical trials, Wegovy does not offer a version that compares to Zepbound’s 7.5 through the 15 milligram doses. For people who respond best at those levels, there is simply no substitute, until Wegovy is released in higher doses (which have been successfully tested, but not yet submitted for approval).

What Happens on July 1

All prior authorizations for Zepbound through CVS Caremark will expire on June 30. CVS has said it will automatically begin new prior authorizations for Wegovy in those cases, but you will still need your provider to send in a new prescription. If they do not, you could lose coverage completely and get caught in the middle of an insurance tangle with no refill and no clear path forward.

That is why now is the time to act.

Here Is What You Can Do Right Now:

1. File a Continuation of Care Request If you are already on Zepbound and it is working, your doctor can file a continuation of care request. This lets you make the case that switching medications could interrupt progress or cause harm. Your provider will need to include notes that describe your clinical response and explain why changing treatments would be unsafe or inappropriate.

2. Request a Formulary Exception Because Zepbound and Wegovy are not the same, your provider can submit a formulary exception based on medical necessity. If you have tried Wegovy before and it did not work, or if your body needs the dual agonist approach, your provider should document that clearly. Include trial data if possible. If Wegovy’s top dose is not equivalent to the dose of Zepbound you are on, that should be noted too.

3. Talk to Your Employer or HR Department Employers can request to opt out of CVS Caremark’s standard formulary and cover Zepbound anyway. This does not happen often, but it can. If your workplace is large enough or if employee health is a priority, this may be a lever worth pulling. Start the conversation now. Your voice could be the one that moves the needle.

4. Understand Your Out of Pocket Options Wegovy is being offered by CVS for 499 dollars per month cash. Zepbound’s pricing is listed at 349 dollars for the starter dose of 2.5mg and 499 dollars for 5mg-10mg (Please #ReleaseAllTheVials Lilly). That is a straight cash pay working around insurance all together, so there are no additional discounts or savings cards. If you are considering compounded tirzepatide, tread carefully. That market is a bit unstable and not all products are created equal.

This Is Bigger Than One Medication

This decision is a clear example of how pharmacy benefit managers make choices that impact care. It is not about what your doctor recommends. It is about rebate deals. CVS Caremark’s decision to remove Zepbound was not based on patient outcomes. It was a financial move. And it shows how broken this system has become.

GLP-1 medications are transforming lives. But when one company decides you can only have the version they got a better deal on, that is not healthcare. That is a sales contract dressed up as a treatment plan.

You Still Have Power

If you are being told to switch, push back. File the paperwork. Talk to your doctor. Talk to your employer. Tell your story. The more pressure we apply as a patient community, the more likely it is that someone listens.

This is not just about Zepbound. This is about making sure the treatment that works best for you stays within reach.

Tell Us Your Story

Are you being forced to switch? Have you used both Wegovy and Zepbound? What worked for you? Add your experience in the comments. Sharing your story helps others know what to expect and how to respond.

And if this article helped you feel more informed, please share it. Your voice matters now more than ever.