Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Getting Into the GLP-1 Space, Finally
- Jennifer Hardy
- Jun 19
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 16
In many discussions I've had about the need for affordable GLP-1 pricing, I've long wondered, "When is Mark Cuban going to get into this fight?" His Cost Plus company is essentially using his "F-You" money to send Big Pharma straight to consumer jail without passing Go or collecting (another) $200 bazillion.
In fact, I've also waited for this moment so I can share my story about how Mark Cuban's Cost Plus saved my life, or at least added to my life.
Let's get into it.
What's New with Mark Cuban's Cost Plus & GLP-1s?
On June 17, 2025, the announcement of a partnership between 9amHealth and Mark Cuban's Cost Plus crossed the news wires.
The news release reads, in part, "This collaboration brings together Cost Plus Drugs' groundbreaking transparent pricing model and 9amHealth's high-touch, at a time where patient demand and rising medical costs have come to a head."
In the TL;DR summary, this means that Cost Plus is teaming up with 9amHealth to bring cheaper obesity meds and real, expert-led care to employer health plans.
This means if you get insurance through work, your employer soon gets the option to offer affordable GLP-1 drugs (like Ozempic) alongside access to doctors, dietitians, and at-home lab tests.
The focus? Treating obesity and related conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure without outrageous costs or long waits. It’s a win for employers and employees, especially as demand for these meds explodes.
What Is Cost Plus Drugs?
Let's back up quickly to catch up anyone on what Cost Plus Drugs is in case they've missed this revolution.
Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs is a pharmacy built to flip the script on how prescriptions are priced in America. Instead of hiking up costs behind the scenes, they sell medications at a transparent price: cost plus a small, fixed markup. No coupons, no games, just what it really costs to make and ship the drug.
Cuban launched it as a way to cut out the middlemen and bring fairness to people who’ve been priced out of the care they need.
That said, Cost Plus Drugs doesn’t yet stock every medication under the sun. It started with just a few generics and now offers over 2,300, but many brand-name or specialty drugs.
My Experience with Cost Plus and How It Changed My Life
When I entered the freelance world, I was paying out the wazoo for marketplace health insurance. At the same time, I battled Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), Stage 4.
When I switched from my COBRA plan to the marketplace, the Farxiga I used for CKD was not on the formulary. It would've cost me $500 a month out of pocket to get the med. That wasn't affordable.
My nephrologist was clear; without Farxiga, I would only have another 10 years (at best) to live.
On my next doctor visit, I was introduced to Cost Plus and the medication Brenzavy. Instead of a $6,000 annual pricetag that came with Farxiga, I would get Brenzavy for $600. That's a 90% savings for a medication that does the same thing.
I can proudly say I'm not in early Stage 2 CKD, a level that even left my nephrologist speechless. Between Brenzavy and Zepbound, I'm no longer living like my kidneys are killing me.
What is 9amHealth?
9amHealth offers virtual care for chronic conditions like diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. While they do work directly with individuals, the part that matters here is how they team up with employers and health plans.
In this setup, companies can add 9amHealth as a benefit, giving employees access to expert care, meds delivered to their door, at-home lab tests, and real support from doctors and specialists.
It’s a smarter, more flexible way for employers to help people manage their health without the usual appointment delays, pharmacy lines, or insurance red tape.
The GLP-1 Partnership Details with Mark Cuban's Cost Plus & 9amHealth
Let’s take a closer look at how the partnership between Cost Plus and 9amHealth works. Unlike the direct-to-consumer meds you can order from Cost Plus, this program isn’t something you sign up for on your own. It’s a benefit that employers have to opt into.
Think of it as an add-on to a company’s existing insurance or wellness offerings, not a replacement for full medical coverage. If your employer chooses to offer it, you’d get access to GLP-1 medications and expert-led obesity care through 9amHealth, powered in part by Cost Plus’s low-cost pricing.
It’s a targeted, scalable solution for weight and metabolic health, built to plug into what your company already provides.
Paul Geevarghese, COO and Co-Founder of 9amHealth, stated in the news release announcing the partnernship, "We're not only lowering the cost of medications, we're also connecting members to real, human care: specialists in obesity and diabetes, clinical pharmacists, and ongoing nutritional support with registered dietitians–all from the comfort of home."
Adding to that thought, Alex Oshmyansky, CEO of Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company, said, "At Cost Plus Drugs, our commitment to transparent drug pricing has always been unwavering, and with clinical leaders in obesity like 9amHealth, we are dedicated to providing affordable and accessible healthcare solutions for patients with cardiometabolic conditions."
What We Don't Know... Yet
While the announcement touted "low-cost" access to meds like Ozempic and Zepbound, the price range wasn't announced. Given that these meds can be $1000+ out of pocket a month, a "low-cost" option could still be in the hundreds of dollars a month.
Since compounded drugs are no longer allowed, we do know this will be the name-brand versions of GLP-1s, though the exact list of names hasn't been announced. It would seem to make sense that tirzepatide and semaglutide would be included.
Given the vibe of Cost Plus and Mark Cuban's goal to get affordable medication, we can expect a literal affordable option for many more people than those who get shut out now. In addition, this could pave the way for those who want GLP-1s for weight loss to stop being shut out of the insurance plan anthem: "We don't cover weight loss meds."
If you're interested in sharing this with your benefits team at work, or if you own a company and want to consider including this as an offering to employees, here's the link to the 9amHealth website.
