How Much is Victoza Without Insurance?
Key takeaways:
Victoza (liraglutide) is an injectable medication that’s FDA approved to treat Type 2 diabetes. It’s also prescribed off-label to help with chronic weight management.
Three prefilled pens of 18 mg/3 mL brand-name Victoza cost about $1101.62 without insurance or a discount. But you might pay around $795.66 for the same quantity and dose with a GoodRx coupon.
Many insurance plans cover Victoza, but some require prior authorization or step therapy. Medicaid covers the medication for nearly all enrollees, while Medicare offers the least coverage.
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Table of contents
Victoza (liraglutide) is a once-daily injectable medication that’s FDA approved to treat Type 2 diabetes in adults and children ages 10 and older. It’s a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist that helps your body manage blood glucose (sugar) levels by increasing insulin production, reducing the amount of glucose your liver releases, and slowing digestion. Victoza can also help lower the risk of heart-related problems in adults living with Type 2 diabetes. And it’s sometimes prescribed off-label for chronic weight management.
The recommended Victoza dosage starts at 0.6 mg once a day, and it comes in a prefilled injection pen. Your prescriber may gradually increase the dose up to a maximum of 1.8 mg daily. Dose increases typically happen at least 1 week apart.
As of 2024, a lower-cost authorized generic and a typical generic version of Victoza are available. What you’ll pay for the medication can vary based on several factors. But there are options to save on both brand-name and generic Victoza, including using a GoodRx coupon.
How much does Victoza cost?
Without insurance or a discount, three prefilled pens of 18 mg/3 mL brand-name Victoza (a 1-month supply) cost about $1101.62. But the average retail price for the generic version in the same quantity, form, and dose is around $835.12. If you’re taking the maximum dose of 1.8 mg per day, three pens will last 30 days. Factors like the dose, location, and version of the medication will determine your actual costs.
Here’s a table showing the average cash price for different quantities of brand-name and generic Victoza at some pharmacies:
Victoza (liraglutide) version | Quantity and dose | Average retail price |
|---|---|---|
Brand | Two prefilled pens of 18 mg/3 mL | |
Brand | Three prefilled pens of 18 mg/3 mL | |
Generic | Two prefilled pens of 18 mg/3 mL | |
Generic | Three prefilled pens of 18 mg/3 mL |
What factors affect the cost of Victoza?
How much you’ll pay for Victoza depends on several factors, including:
Where you live: GoodRx research shows that people in cities like Denver and Houston often pay less for prescriptions than those in New Orleans or Milwaukee.
Pharmacy: Pharmacies in the same area can charge different prices for the same medication.
Insurance: If your insurance plan covers Victoza, you might still have out-of-pocket expenses, such as deductibles, copays, or coinsurance.
Dosage: Your dose affects how long a pen lasts. If your dosage is 1.2 mg of Victoza per day, a three-pen pack will last longer than if you’re using the maximum dose of 1.8 mg daily.
Generic vs. brand name: The generic version of Victoza typically costs less than the brand name.
Discount: Prescription discount programs like GoodRx can help lower the cost of both brand-name and generic Victoza.
Does insurance cover Victoza?
Insurance coverage for Victoza depends on your plan type and whether you use the brand-name or generic version.
For brand-name Victoza, about two-thirds of people with Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace and commercial plans have coverage. But there’s a good chance you’ll need prior authorization. Step therapy, which involves trying a lower-cost medication first, may be required.
Medicare provides the least coverage for brand-name Victoza, with only 1 in 8 enrollees having access and most requiring prior authorization. Nearly all Medicaid enrollees have coverage for the brand-name version, but almost half need prior authorization and step therapy.
Got Medicare? Here are some of the diabetes medications, services, and supplies covered under Medicare.
Victoza vs. Mounjaro: Here are some important differences between these Type 2 diabetes medications.
Looking for ways to save? From manufacturer copay cards to GoodRx coupons, here are some ways to get help paying for your medications.
Coverage for liraglutide (the generic version) is slightly better with most plans. ACA plans cover it for about two-thirds of enrollees, while commercial plans provide coverage for about 3 in 4 enrollees. Fewer people in ACA and commercial plans require prior authorization or step therapy for liraglutide compared with the brand-name version.
Medicare enrollees have a better chance of getting coverage for liraglutide. Medicaid covers generic Victoza for all enrollees, but most need prior authorization.
To understand your coverage and costs for the medication, check your health plan’s formulary or contact your insurer directly.
How different insurance plans cover Victoza
The following tables show the likelihood of coverage and prior authorization and step therapy requirements for brand-name and generic Victoza based on the type of insurance plan.
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for Victoza 2-Pak 0.6 mg/0.1 mL | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
76.3% | 48.6% | 25.5% | |
Commercial plans (excluding ACA plans) | 62.9% | 49.4% | 32.6% |
Medicare (original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans) | 17.1% | 15.0% | 1.2% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 99.9% | 44.1% | 42.2% |
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for Victoza 3-Pak 0.6 mg/0.1 mL | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
ACA plans | 67.9% | 47.9% | 24.6% |
Commercial plans (excluding ACA plans) | 61.7% | 49.3% | 32.2% |
Medicare (original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans) | 12.2% | 12% | 0.3% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 99.9% | 45.7% | 41.4% |
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for liraglutide | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
ACA plans | 67.5% | 20% | 12.2% |
Commercial plans (excluding ACA plans) | 74.6% | 38.9% | 6.4% |
Medicare (original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans) | 25.1% | 25.1% | 0.5% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 100% | 89.6% | 27.8% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of February 11, 2025. (See methodology below.)
If your insurance doesn’t cover Victoza, here are some options to consider:
Ask a healthcare professional about switching to an alternative medication that your insurance might cover or with lower out-of-pocket costs.
Request a formulary exception from your insurer. This is a special request asking them to cover Victoza in your case. If they deny this request, you can file an appeal for coverage.
During open enrollment, look into different insurance plans that include coverage for the medications you regularly take.
Ways to save on Victoza
Whether or not you have insurance, here are four ways to save on brand-name and generic Victoza:
1. Use a GoodRx coupon
GoodRx offers free coupons that can lower the cost of generic and brand-name Victoza at many pharmacies. Get a coupon by visiting www.goodrx.com or downloading the GoodRx app.
Victoza prices can vary between pharmacies, so it helps to shop around. A quick search on www.goodrx.com can show you the best prices in your area, potentially saving you money on your prescription.
Here’s what you might pay for the medication using a GoodRx coupon:
Victoza (liraglutide) version | Quantity and dose | GoodRx price |
|---|---|---|
Brand | Two prefilled pens of 18 mg/3 mL | |
Brand | Three prefilled pens of 18 mg/3 mL | |
Generic | Two prefilled pens of 18 mg/3 mL | |
Generic | Three prefilled pens of 18 mg/3 mL |
2. Ask about a 90-day supply
Consider requesting a 90-day prescription for Victoza from your healthcare professional. Many pharmacies provide discounts on larger quantities, and several insurance plans offer reduced copays for 3-month supplies compared with monthly refills. It’s worth comparing prices. Plus, fewer pharmacy visits can save you time and money.
3. Look into PAN Foundation assistance
The Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation may provide up to $2,000 per year to those who qualify to help cover Victoza costs. To be eligible, you must be receiving treatment for Type 2 diabetes and meet certain insurance and income requirements. Applications are currently closed, but it’s worth checking their website for updates.
4. Use a tax-advantaged healthcare account
If you have a health savings account (HSA) or a flexible spending account (FSA), you can use those funds to pay for prescription medications like Victoza. You can swipe your HSA or FSA card at the pharmacy or submit a claim for reimbursement. Using these accounts to pay for prescription medications can also help ensure that you spend your FSA funds before they expire.
The bottom line
Three prefilled pens of brand-name Victoza (liraglutide) 18 mg/3 mL cost about $1101.62 without insurance or discounts. The same quantity and dose of the generic version run around $835.12.
Your actual costs will depend on factors like your insurance coverage, the pharmacy you choose, and whether you use brand-name or generic Victoza. To save on costs, use a GoodRx coupon, compare prices at different pharmacies, and use tax-advantaged health accounts if you have them.
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 February 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
HealthCare.gov. (n.d.). Appeal a health plan decision. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA. (2025). Liraglutide injection [package insert]. DailyMed.
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Managed care. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Novo Nordisk. (2025). Victoza- liraglutide injection [package insert]. DailyMed.
PAN Foundation. (n.d.). Type 2 diabetes.
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries. (2024). Teva announces launch of authorized generic of Victoza® (liraglutide injection 1.8mg), in the United States.
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