How Much Is Janumet Without Insurance?

Janumet (sitagliptin / metformin) is an FDA-approved prescription medication used together with a nutritious diet and routine exercise to help manage blood glucose (blood sugar) in adults with Type 2 diabetes. It conveniently combines two diabetes medications — sitagliptin and metformin — into one tablet.

There isn’t a generic version of Janumet available. It comes as immediate-release tablets (Janumet) and extended-release tablets (Janumet XR). Common starting dosages are 50 mg/500 mg twice daily for Janumet and 100 mg/1,000 mg once daily for Janumet XR. You may be prescribed a different dosage if you were already taking metformin before starting treatment.

Janumet can cost hundreds of dollars for a month’s supply, but there are ways to save. You may be able to lower the cost with a GoodRx coupon or get the medication for free through a manufacturer savings program, if you qualify. 

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Janumet

Avg retail price

$471.13(Save 28.70%)

GoodRx discount

$335.92

See all discounts

How it works

Use GoodRx to find medications, pharmacies, and discounts.

GoodRx discounts can help you pay less for your prescription.

Bring your free coupon or savings card to the pharmacy.

How much does Janumet cost?

Without insurance, 60 tablets of 50 mg/500 mg Janumet cost an average of $472.36. The average cost for 30 tablets of 100 mg/1,000 mg Janumet XR is  $234.49. What you’ll actually pay for your prescription depends on several factors, including your dose, the pharmacy, and whether you use a discount. 

Here’s a look at the average retail price for different quantities and doses of Janumet and Janumet XR.

What factors affect the cost of Janumet?

The cost of Janumet depends on several factors, such as:

• Location: Prescription medication prices can vary by city. According to GoodRx research, you may pay more for prescription medications in places like New Orleans and New York, while cities like Houston and Denver often have lower prices.

• Pharmacy: Pharmacies in the same area may charge different prices for the same medication.

• Insurance: If you have insurance, your plan’s deductibles, copays, and coinsurance determine what you’ll pay.

• Dose and form: Your prescribed dose and formulation (i.e., Janumet or Janumet XR) can affect your overall cost.

• Discounts: Using the manufacturer’s copay savings card, a patient assistance program, or a discount from services like GoodRx can lower the price of Janumet.

Does insurance cover Janumet?

Most people with Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans have coverage for Janumet XR. About 4 out of 10 enrollees must try other medications, or do step therapy, before accessing Janumet XR. But few plans require enrollees to get prior authorization.

Commercial insurance plans cover Janumet XR for a large majority of enrollees, with about one-third of covered members required to do step therapy. 

Medicare covers Janumet XR for most of its members, typically without requiring prior authorization or step therapy. Nearly all Medicaid enrollees have coverage for Janumet XR, but a significant portion will need to do step therapy, and a smaller group will need to get prior authorization.

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• Using your tax-free dollars to pay for Janumet (sitagliptin / metformin): See how your health savings account (HSA) funds can help cover the cost of Janumet and other eligible health expenses.

• Looking to reduce your prescription medication costs? Here are a few strategies to help you save money on Janumet and other medications you need.

• Janumet side effects to watch for: Diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infections, and headaches are common. Pharmacists explain these and other Janumet side effects and how to manage them.

To understand how your insurance covers Janumet, check your health plan’s formulary or contact your insurer.

How different insurance plans cover Janumet XR

The following table shows the likelihood of having coverage — and prior authorization and step therapy requirements — for Janumet XR across various types of insurance plans.

Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of April 14, 2025. (See methodology below.)

If your insurance doesn’t cover Janumet or Janumet XR, consider these options:

• See if you qualify for financial assistance through the Merck Patient Assistance Program or the manufacturer’s savings coupon. (Find details below.)

• Ask your prescriber about other metformin combination medications that may be appropriate and covered by your insurance or have lower out-of-pocket costs.

• Request a formulary exception to get Janumet covered. To do this, your prescriber may need to submit supporting documentation and a letter of medical necessity explaining why this medication is needed. You can file an appeal if the exception request is denied.

• During the next open enrollment period, compare insurance plans and consider switching to one that covers the medications you need.

Ways to save on Janumet

Paying for Janumet or Janumet XR out of pocket can mean spending hundreds of dollars each month. But you may be able to reduce your costs. Here are eight possible savings options.

1. Use a free GoodRx coupon

A free GoodRx coupon could help lower the cost of your Janumet prescription. The table below shows what you may pay for different quantities and doses of Janumet and Janumet XR with a GoodRx coupon at select pharmacies.

To get your coupon: 

• Visit www.goodrx.com or download the app.

• Search for “Janumet” or “Janumet XR” and click “Find the lowest prices.”

• Select your prescribed dose and quantity.

• Print your coupon or choose to receive it via text or email. 

• Show the coupon when dropping off your prescription to get the savings and avoid delays at the pharmacy.

2. See if you’re eligible for the Merck Patient Assistance Program 

If you qualify for a patient assistance program, you may be able to get your medication for free. Merck, the manufacturer of Janumet, offers a program that helps eligible individuals who don’t have insurance coverage for the medication and can’t afford to pay out of pocket. 

To qualify, you must:

• Be a U.S. resident with a valid prescription

• Be uninsured or not have coverage for your prescription

• Meet income requirements based on your household size

If approved, you can receive up to 1 year of free Janumet or Janumet XR, and you can reapply as needed.

3. Check if you qualify for the manufacturer’s savings coupon

If you’re eligible, Merck’s savings coupon for Janumet and Janumet XR could reduce your costs to as little as $5 per month, with savings of up to $150 per prescription fill.

To qualify, you must:

• Have private insurance 

• Have a copay for your prescription (or make a full cash payment if privately insured without coverage for Janumet)

• Be 18 years or older

This offer is not available to people enrolled in a government health insurance program, such as Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, or other federal or state medical or pharmaceutical benefit programs.

The coupon can be used once every 30 days and can’t be combined with other offers or discounts.

4. Consider financial assistance through the PAN Foundation

The Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation provides qualified applicants up to $2,000 yearly to help cover Type 2 diabetes medications. This funding can help pay for Janumet and Janumet XR prescriptions. You’ll need to meet income and insurance requirements. 

Funding opens at different times throughout the year. Check the PAN Foundation’s website regularly for availability updates.

5. Look into the Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief Program 

You may qualify for up to $1,500 in financial aid through the Patient Advocate Foundation’s Co-Pay Relief Program. This assistance covers copays, deductibles, and coinsurance for medications and medical care.

Like similar programs, funding isn’t always available, so keep an eye on the program’s website for updates.

6. Shop around for the best pharmacy prices

Even pharmacies in the same neighborhood may charge different prices for the same medications. So it’s worth checking multiple options. A quick search on www.goodrx.com can help you find the best Janumet price in your area.

7. Ask for a 90-day supply

Ask your healthcare professional about prescribing you a 90-day supply of Janumet or Janumet XR. Many pharmacies offer discounts for larger supplies. And some insurance plans reduce copays when you fill a 90-day supply instead of monthly refills. While savings aren’t always guaranteed, it’s a good idea to compare prices and see if this could lower your costs.

If Janumet is covered by your plan, find out if your insurer’s mail-order pharmacy offers discounts for a 90-day supply. If so, ask your healthcare professional to write you a prescription for the larger quantity to take advantage of those savings.

8. Tap into your HSA or FSA funds

Take advantage of the tax-free dollars in your health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) to cover your Janumet or Janumet XR prescription costs. 

Use your HSA or FSA card at the pharmacy counter, or save your receipts for reimbursement. You must use your FSA funds by the end of the plan year, or you’ll lose them. But HSA funds roll over annually and are available for use anytime.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Maggie Aime, MSN, RN

Maggie's writing brings health topics to life for readers at any stage of life. With over 25 years in healthcare and a passion for education, she creates content that informs, inspires, and empowers.

Edited by:

Charlene Rhinehart, CPA

Charlene Rhinehart, CPA, is a personal finance editor at GoodRx. She has been a certified public accountant for over a decade.

Reviewed by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

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Methodology

We obtained national prescription coverage data for each medication from Managed Markets Insight & Technology (MMIT). The data reflects health insurance coverage as of April 2025. 

We calculated the percentage of enrollees in plans that cover each medication by dividing the number of enrollees covered for the medication within a specific insurance channel (e.g., ACA, Medicare, Medicaid) by the total number of enrollees in all plans within that channel. 

We determined the percentage of enrollees in plans with a prior authorization requirement by calculating the proportion of enrollees in plans that required prior authorization for the medication within each channel.

Finally, we measured the percentage of enrollees in plans with a step therapy requirement by calculating the proportion of enrollees in plans that imposed step therapy requirements for the medication in each channel. 

These estimates, derived from national MMIT coverage data, provide insight into health insurance coverage for each medication. They take into account restrictions such as prior authorization, step therapy, and quantity limits. The percentages are expressed relative to the total number of enrollees covered by various insurance channels, including ACA plans, commercial (excluding ACA) plans, Medicare, and Medicaid (both state-run and managed care plans).