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Costco offering members access to weight-loss programs consisting of medication

Costco Wholesale will provide its members access to weightloss programs, consisting of prescription drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, from online health care services provider Sesame, as the business expanded their partnership.

The wholesale seller's members can sign up for Sesame's. weight-loss program for $179 for 3 months, compared to. $ 195 for non-members, Sesame stated in an article on Tuesday.

Under the program, a clinician would assist the patients with. diet plan, exercise and lifestyle modifications, and might subscribe. medications, subject to accessibility, the article stated.

The membership does not cover costs of medication or laboratory. work. The clinicians will deal with qualified patients for. medication on a pre-authorization, which might lower cost. even more, the company told in statement.

Demand for GLP-1 agonists, a class of extremely reliable. diabetes and weight problems drugs, has actually surged in the last couple of years,. with thousands of prescriptions being submitted every week in. the United States.

The membership-only retail chain did not instantly react. to a ask for additional remark. Costco had 130. million members as of Feb. 18, as per the business's website.

Sesame initially partnered with Costco last September to use. outpatient healthcare to its members.

In March, Costco missed out on expectations for second-quarter. profits, hurt by lower gas rates effect and soft. discretionary spend from consumers.

Big-box retailers such as Amazon and Walmart. have been using healthcare services following the. pandemic.

Amazon provides virtual medical care service for Prime members. through One Medical, which it bought in 2022.

Walmart runs primary care centers at its stores and its. membership storage facility club retail chain, Sam's Club, sells GLP-1. drugs through its pharmacies.

(source: Reuters)