Key takeaways:
The list price for Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is $1,079.77 per fill. Without insurance, you can expect to pay between $1,000 and $1,200 or more per month, which can add up to over $12,000 annually if you’re paying entirely out of pocket.
Some insurance plans will cover Mounjaro if you are taking it to treat Type 2 diabetes. Another brand-name version of tirzepatide, Zepbound, is FDA approved for chronic weight management and covered by some insurance plans for this purpose.
If you qualify for the Mounjaro Savings Card, you could pay as little as $25 for a 1-month or 3-month prescription. You may also be able to save money by downloading a free GoodRx coupon.
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) has grown in popularity since it was FDA approved to treat Type 2 diabetes in 2022. The medication can cost over $1,000 per month out of pocket. But some insurance plans cover it if it’s prescribed for Type 2 diabetes.
Taking tirzepatide has also been linked to significant weight loss. If you’re prescribed Mounjaro for this reason, you may have to pay out of pocket for the medication. Another brand-name version of tirzepatide, Zepbound, was created by the manufacturer of Mounjaro, Eli Lilly, for weight-loss purposes. It was approved by the FDA for chronic weight management in November 2023.
Below, learn about ways to save money on your Mounjaro prescription with or without insurance.
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The list price of Mounjaro is $1,079.77 per fill. So, without insurance, you could pay a retail price anywhere from $1,000 to $1,200 or more per month. Each fill includes up to 4 prefilled pens, amounting to a 28-day supply.
The exact price you’ll pay for Mounjaro depends on various factors, including:
Where you live
The pharmacy you choose
The reason your healthcare professional prescribed you the medication
Whether you have insurance
Your costs for Mounjaro will likely be ongoing since the medication is intended for long-term use.
Mounjaro is only available as a brand-name medication, so there aren’t any lower-cost generic versions available. But there are still ways to save money on your prescription. Here are eight options to consider.
GoodRx offers coupons for a wide range of medications, including Mounjaro. Even if you have insurance, you may be able to get a better deal on the medication by using a GoodRs coupon.
You can download your free coupon by doing the following:
Download the GoodRx app or visit www.goodrx.com.
Type “Mounjaro” in the search field, and then enter your location.
Choose to receive your coupon via email or text, or print it out.
Some health insurance plans may cover Mounjaro for Type 2 diabetes, since it was FDA approved for that purpose. Your plan may not cover Mounjaro for an off-label use such as weight loss. Your plan may, however, cover Zepbound for that purpose.
Insurance coverage for weight-loss medications: While details vary among plans, here are some general things to know about how insurance covers medications like Wegovy (semaglutide).
Got Medicare? Medicare, by law, is prohibited from covering weight-loss medications unless you meet these requirements.
Ways to save on prescription medications: From using a GoodRx coupon to making the most of your health savings account, here are some ways to save on prescription medications.
It’s important to review your insurance plan to see if Mounjaro is covered and if there are any rules that can limit your coverage.
Here’s how to determine if your health insurance plan covers Mounjaro:
Check your formulary. Your health plan’s medication formulary lists what brand-name and generic medications are covered. Medications are categorized into tiers, and those in higher tiers tend to cost more. You can see if Mounjaro is included in your formulary by going to your health insurer’s website or contacting a plan representative directly.
Review any restrictions. For some medications, including Mounjaro, you may be required to do step therapy or get a prior authorization before you can receive coverage.
Understand how your specific health plan works. If you have employer-sponsored health insurance, your plan may cover Mounjaro for Type 2 diabetes, depending on your employer. If you have Medicare, your plan won’t cover Mounjaro or Zepbound if they’re prescribed for weight loss, because the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act prohibits it.
With insurance, your out-of-pocket costs for Mounjaro will depend on your type of coverage, formulary, deductible, and copay.
If your insurance plan doesn’t cover Mounjaro, you can ask your insurer to make an exception and cover it even though it’s not listed on the formulary.
Here are a few steps to start the process:
Contact your insurance provider. Ask your insurer about your plan’s process for requesting a formulary exception. They can guide you through the steps to get started.
Gather required documentation. Your healthcare professional may need to submit a statement, such as a letter of medical necessity, that describes why you need Mounjaro for your specific condition.
Submit the request. Your insurance company may require you to fill out a request form, in addition to providing supporting documentation.
If your request is approved, your insurance plan will cover Mounjaro. If not, you can consider writing an appeal letter to your health insurance provider.
If your insurance company doesn’t cover Mounjaro, you can ask your healthcare professional about similar medications that may be covered. That way, you won’t have to pay for your medication entirely out of pocket, and you can still get the treatment you need.
If you’re looking for medications that are similar to Mounjaro, check out the following alternative treatments for Type 2 diabetes or weight loss, along with what copay savings cards are available. Note: Copay savings cards are typically subject to monthly limits and an annual maximum savings benefit.
Medication name | FDA-approved use | Copay savings card |
---|---|---|
Ozempic (semaglutide) | Type 2 diabetes | Pay as little as $25 for a 1-, 2-, or 3-month prescription with an Ozempic Savings Card, if you qualify. Savings card benefits last up to 48 months from enrollment. |
Trulicity (dulaglutide) | Type 2 diabetes | Pay as little as $25 for 12 pens with the Trulicity Savings Card, which can be used for up to 13 prescription fills per year. |
Saxenda (liraglutide) | Chronic weight management | Not available |
Victoza (liraglutide) | Type 2 diabetes | There’s not a savings card available, but some insurance plans cover Victoza. |
Wegovy (semaglutide) | Chronic weight management | Pay as little as $0 for your prescription with the Wegovy savings offer if you have commercial insurance that covers Wegovy and your out-of-pocket cost is $849 or less per 28-day supply. Or pay $650 per month if your out-of-pocket cost is above $849 and you are using the offer outside of insurance. |
Zepbound (tirzepatide) | Chronic weight management | Pay as little as $25 for a 1-month or 3-month prescription, if eligible, with the Zepbound Savings Card. |
If you're eligible for the Mounjaro Savings Card, you could pay as little as $25 for a 1-month or 3-month prescription. You must have commercial insurance and a prescription consistent with Mounjaro’s FDA-approved labeling, but your plan doesn’t necessarily have to cover the medication.
To qualify, you must also:
Be a resident of the U.S. or Puerto Rico
Be at least 18 years old
Not be enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, or another government-funded healthcare program
The requirements for the Mounjaro Savings Card can change at any time. It’s important to review the website for the latest information. But if you qualify, here are the expected amounts you could save if you have insurance that covers Mounjaro.
Type of prescription | Maximum savings on Mounjaro |
---|---|
1-month supply | $150 per prescription |
2-month supply | $300 per prescription |
3-month supply | $450 per prescription |
Savings with the card are capped at $1,950 per calendar year. The card may be used for up to 13 prescription fills per calendar year if you have commercial medication insurance that covers Mounjaro.
If your insurance doesn’t cover Mounjaro, you can still benefit from the Mounjaro Savings Card. You can receive savings of up to $463 for a 1-month prescription in this case. There’s a separate limit of $3,241 in savings per calendar year. And the card may be used for up to seven prescription fills per calendar year, but savings will end when the card expires on June 30, 2025.
Medication prices vary among pharmacies. Shop around for the best price, like you would with any other item on your shopping list.
With the help of GoodRx, you can compare prices at different pharmacies in your area. If you type “Mounjaro” into the search bar on the GoodRx website or app, you’ll see different prices for different pharmacy locations. Even if you’ve gone to the same pharmacy for years, you may find another pharmacy in your region is a better option because it offers the medication for a lower price.
Pharmaceutical companies often provide samples of their medications to healthcare professionals. During your visit, ask your prescriber about free samples of Mounjaro. Trying the medication this way will give you a better idea of how it may affect you before you purchase it.
If your prescriber doesn’t have any samples on hand, they may be able to request some from Eli Lilly. The manufacturer provides a request form for samples on its website. Only prescribing healthcare professionals may request samples.
Some pharmacies may offer special pricing or discounts when you buy a 90-day supply instead of a 30-day supply of medication. You may also be able to save on copays.
While getting a larger quantity of Mounjaro may help you save money if you have insurance, make sure your plan covers the supply first. In addition, verify whether you’re subject to prescription refill rules related to your location and/or the type of medication.
The Mounjaro Savings Card can be used for up to 13 prescription refills per calendar year if you have commercial insurance that covers the medication. In this case, the savings expire on December 31, 2025. If you have commercial insurance that does not cover Mounjaro, the card can be used for up to seven prescription fills per calendar year. These savings expire on June 30, 2025. However, the manufacturer reserves the right to amend the card’s terms and conditions at any time.
To qualify for a Mounjaro Savings Card, you must confirm that you have a Mounjaro prescription to treat Type 2 diabetes. If you do not have diabetes, it is unlikely that you would qualify for a Mounjaro Savings Card through standard eligibility criteria. However, it’s best to discuss your specific situation with the manufacturer or your healthcare professional.
To get a Mounjaro prescription online, you can use a telehealth platform to consult with a healthcare professional. If you are eligible, the healthcare professional can prescribe Mounjaro for you. Keep in mind that there may be costs associated with using a telehealth platform, including subscription and consultation fees, in addition to the price of the medication itself.
If you don’t have health insurance, Mounjaro (tirzepatide) could cost you around $1,000 to $1,200 or more every month. If you have commercial insurance, you can apply for the Mounjaro Savings Card and potentially pay as little as $25 for a prescription. Other ways to save money on your prescription include using a free GoodRx coupon, comparing prices at local pharmacies, and asking your healthcare professional for free samples.
Eli Lilly and Company. (n.d.). How much should I expect to pay for Mounjaro (tirzepatide)?
Eli Lilly and Company. (2023). Tirzepatide demonstrated significant and superior weight loss compared to placebo in two pivotal studies.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2023). FDA approves new medication for chronic weight management.
Vafiadis, D. (2024). Obesity treatment and medicare: A guide to understanding coverage. National Council on Aging.
Ward, A. S., et al. (2023). Benefits of Medicare coverage for weight loss drugs. University of Southern California Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics.
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