Key takeaways:
Tradjenta (linagliptin) is a brand-name-only medication. The average cost of 30 tablets of Tradjenta 5 mg is $639.61 without insurance.
Many insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover Tradjenta. But it’s common for insurance providers to require a prior authorization or the completion of step therapy before they’ll cover it.
With GoodRx, you can access a 30-day supply of Tradjenta for an exclusive cash price of $277.80, regardless of insurance status. A patient assistance program is also available.
Save on related medications
Managing Type 2 diabetes comes with many costs. Between appointments, testing supplies, and medications, expenses quickly add up. If you’re looking to save money, you’re not alone.
Tradjenta (linagliptin) is one of many oral diabetes medications. Healthcare professionals may prescribe it if you’re taking other diabetes medications and you’re almost at your goal blood glucose (blood sugar) levels.
Tradjenta is available as a brand-name-only medication. And with an average retail cost of over $600 per month without insurance, it may seem unaffordable at first glance. But there are many ways to save on Tradjenta — with or without insurance.
How much does Tradjenta cost?
Tradjenta comes as a 5 mg tablet that you take once daily. The average retail cost of a 30-day supply of Tradjenta without insurance is $639.61. A 2-month supply costs about $1268.12. And a 3-month supply may cost around $1896.63.
Tradjenta has no generic version available.
Which factors affect the cost of Tradjenta?
Several factors can affect the cost of Tradjenta, including:
Location: Where you fill your prescription matters when it comes to prescription medications. For example, people in Denver pay less overall for prescriptions than people in Milwaukee.
Pharmacy: Every pharmacy charges slightly different amounts for prescription medications (even those in the same neighborhood). Consider using GoodRx to compare costs when choosing where to fill your Tradjenta prescription.
Fill quantity: The number of tablets you fill at a time also affects how much you’ll pay.
Insurance and discounts: Using insurance (if you have it) or applying discounts can help lower the cost of Tradjenta.
Does insurance cover Tradjenta?
Many insurance plans cover Tradjenta. In fact, nearly all Medicare and Medicaid plans cover it. But about 1 in 5 Medicaid plans require a prior authorization before they’ll cover Tradjenta. And about 1 in 3 plans will ask you to complete step therapy (trying other medications first).
About 3 out of 4 insurance plans purchased through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace cover Tradjenta. But many plans may ask you to get a prior authorization or complete step therapy first.
Slightly more than half of commercial insurance plans cover Tradjenta. Some of these plans may also ask for a prior authorization or require you to complete step therapy.
It’s a good idea to check your plan’s formulary (list of covered medications) and summary of benefits and coverage. These can help you determine if they cover Tradjenta. You can also call the member services number on your prescription insurance card for more details.
How different insurance plans cover Tradjenta
The table below details how likely it is that different insurance plans will cover Tradjenta. It also shows the likelihood of different plans requiring prior authorization or the completion of step therapy.
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for Tradjenta 5 mg | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
78% | 40.5% | 43.9% | |
Commercial plans (excluding ACA plans) | 56.3% | 16.1% | 23.8% |
Medicare (Medicare Advantage and Part D plans) | 94.8% | 0% | 0.2% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 99.6% | 21.9% | 30.3% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of December 6, 2025 (See methodology below.)
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.
Compare your options: Tradjenta (linagliptin) is one of many oral diabetes medications. Experts review each type and how they work.
Medicare coverage: Learn how Medicare covers diabetes medications, devices, and testing supplies.
If your insurance doesn’t cover Tradjenta, try these options:
Access an exclusive GoodRx discount for Tradjenta to help lower your costs, regardless of insurance status.
See if you qualify for Tradjenta’s patient assistance program, which provides the medication free of cost.
Request a formulary exception from your insurance company. If your request is denied, you have the right to appeal the decision to seek coverage.
Ask your prescriber about alternatives. There are medications in the same class as Tradjenta that your insurance may offer better coverage for or that have lower-cost generics.
When it’s time for open enrollment, compare different health insurance plans to find one that provides better coverage for what you need.
Ways to save on Tradjenta
Here are four ways you can save on your Tradjenta prescription with or without insurance.
1. Use a GoodRx coupon
Anyone with a valid prescription, regardless of insurance status, can use GoodRx to buy a 30-day supply of Tradjenta at an exclusive cash price of $277.80. That’s over 55% off the medication’s average retail cost.
GoodRx provides free coupons that you can use at many pharmacies to save money on Tradjenta and other medications. You can also use it to compare costs at different pharmacies. To get a coupon, visit the GoodRx website or download the GoodRx app.
2. Check if you’re eligible for a patient assistance program
People who are uninsured and meet certain financial requirements may be able to access Tradjenta for free through the BI Cares patient assistance program. By going to the program’s website, you can download and complete an application online.
You can also print out the form from a computer. Both you and your prescriber will need to fill out portions of the forms before you can submit to the BI Cares program.
You may be eligible for Tradjenta’s patient assistance program if:
You are uninsured or have Medicare Part D coverage
You live in the U.S. (including U.S. territories)
You are being prescribed Tradjenta by a U.S.-licensed healthcare professional
Your total household income before taxes and deductions is at or below 250% of the federal poverty level
You are willing to show proof of income
For details or questions about eligibility, call 1-800-556-8317. Representatives are available Monday to Friday from 8:30AM to 6PM (ET).
3. Ask about 90-day supplies
Some pharmacies and insurance providers offer discounts when you fill 90-day supplies of medications. In this case, you may pay less per month for Tradjenta over time. This can also save you trips to the pharmacy.
In addition, some insurance plans charge lower copays or coinsurances if you use their preferred mail-order pharmacies to fill 90-day supplies of your prescriptions.
Check with your pharmacy and insurance provider to see if they offer these savings opportunities.
4. Tap into your HSA, FSA, or HRA
You can also save on Tradjenta by using a health savings account (HSA), a flexible spending account (FSA), or a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA). These let you use pretax dollars to pay for qualifying medical expenses, such as prescription costs. This helps you save money through tax savings.
FSAs have expiration dates. So you’ll need to use these funds before that date passes. But HSA dollars roll over, so you can save these funds for later. HRAs may or may not roll over, depending on your plan.
The bottom line
The average cost of 30 tablets of Tradjenta (linagliptin) 5 mg is $639.61 without insurance. It is available as a brand-name-only medication.
Nearly all Medicare and Medicaid plans cover Tradjenta. And many commercial plans, as well as plans purchased through the Affordable Care Act marketplace, cover it. But it’s common for insurance providers to require a prior authorization or the completion of step therapy before they’ll pay for it.
With GoodRx, you can access a 30-day supply of Tradjenta for an exclusive cash price of $277.80, regardless of insurance status. Check to see if you’re eligible for the medication’s patient assistance program. People who meet certain financial requirements may be able to get Tradjenta for free through this program.
Why trust our experts?
Methodology
We obtained national prescription coverage data for each medication from Managed Markets Insight & Technology (MMIT). The data reflects health insurance coverage as of December 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).
References
Boehringer Ingelheim. (n.d.). Boehringer Cares patient assistance program.
Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation. (2025). Patient assistance program.
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals. (2025). Tradjenta- linagliptin tablet, film coated [package insert].
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Managed care. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
