How Much Does Zepbound (Tirzepatide) Cost Without Insurance?

Among U.S. adults ages 20 and older, about 4 in 10 are considered obese, and 9% are  considered severely obese. Excess weight can lead to a higher risk of many serious health conditions, including hypertension (high blood pressure), Type 2 diabetes, and sleep apnea. That may be why, according to a 2022 Gallup poll from 2017 to 2021, more than half of U.S. adults expressed a desire to lose weight.

Some people find success losing weight through diet and exercise alone. But others turn to medical interventions, such as bariatric surgery and medication. Zepbound (tirzepatide) is a weight-management medication approved by the FDA in 2023.

Interest in medications such as Zepbound has rapidly increased in recent years and is expected to continue. In fact, 15 million adults in the U.S. may be taking weight-loss medication by 2030, according to Goldman Sachs research. But weight-loss medications can be costly, and not all health insurance plans will cover them.

What is Zepbound?

Zepbound is a long-term option for managing body weight that was FDA approved for adult use in 2023. It’s also approved to treat moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea. Zepbound is a once-weekly, injectable medication that has the same active ingredient as the Type 2 diabetes treatment Mounjaro (tirzepatide).

In a 2022 clinical study supported by its manufacturer, Eli Lilly, Zepbound helped participants lose an average of 15% to 21% of their excess body weight (an average of 34 lbs to 48 lbs) within 72 weeks. About a third of people taking the highest dose lost up to 25% of their initial body weight, or more than 58 lbs, according to an Eli Lilly news release about the initial FDA approval.

Is Zepbound similar to Mounjaro?

Both Zepbound and Mounjaro (also produced by Eli Lilly) contain tirzepatide. But Mounjaro was approved by the FDA in 2022 to treat Type 2 diabetes, while Zepbound is approved for weight loss and sleep apnea.

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How much is Zepbound without insurance?

The list price for a 28-day supply of Zepbound is $1,086 as of January 1, 2025. This means that, without insurance or manufacturer discounts, the medication can cost more than $14,000 annually because the 28-day supply means you’ll need 13 fills in a year. In September 2024, Eli Lilly introduced single-use vials of Zepbound for half of the list price or even less.

The cash price of Zepbound depends on whether you’re using the prefilled pens or single-dose vials as well as your dose. Whether you receive the medication at your local pharmacy or Eli Lilly’s online pharmacy will also influence what you pay.

Here’s a chart that explains some self-pay options (paying without insurance) — if you don’t have insurance or choose not to use your prescription plan — including using a GoodRx coupon. A 28-day supply is 4 prefilled pens or 4 single-use vials. Some deals are available online only through the LillyDirect self-pay pharmacy. The 2.5 mg dose is often less costly because it’s a starter dose and the other 5 doses are maintenance doses.

Zepbound self-pay costs without insurance (28-day supply)

*Note: You must refill your 4-vial prescription within 45 days of your previous delivery to continue to get the $499 price. Otherwise, the regular price of 4 vials is $599 for 7.5 mg, $699 for 10 mg, $849 for 12.5 mg, and $1,049 for 15 mg.

It’s important to note that you aren’t eligible for the Zepbound Savings Card unless you have commercial insurance that covers Zepbound. More on that later.

Does insurance cover Zepbound?

Some health insurance plans cover Zepbound, and the landscape for GLP-1 [glucagon-like peptide-1] coverage is rapidly changing. But it’s important to note that your medication could be dropped anytime during the coverage year.

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• How Zepbound works: This weekly injectable weight-loss medication simulates two hormones in the gut that regulate appetite and digestion.

• Zepbound dosages escalate: Zepbound is available in six dosages. You typically begin with the lowest dose and increase gradually to limit side effects.

• Zepbound vs. Mounjaro. Mounjaro is FDA approved for adults with Type 2 diabetes, and Zepbound is FDA approved for chronic weight management in adults. Both are forms of tirzepatide.

For prefilled pens, about two-thirds of commercial plans, Medicaid plans, and plans purchased through an Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace cover this medication. About half of these plans cover Zepbound vials. Prior authorization is common for either type of dosage form.

Medicaid rarely covers Zepbound, though Medi-Cal in California covers this medication without prior authorization. Some Medicaid plans cover Zepbound to treat sleep apnea but not weight management.

If you have insurance, review your plan’s summary of benefits and coverage and formulary (list of covered medications) to determine whether Zepbound is covered. If not, contact your plan provider and ask about your coverage options. You can also discuss alternatives with your prescriber or a pharmacist.

GoodRx is tracking GLP-1 insurance changes and providing updates — such as coverage restrictions — as they happen.

How insurance covers Zepbound

The following charts show the likelihood of having coverage for 2.5 mg/0.5mL prefilled pens and vials (the starting Zepbound dose) with different types of insurance plans. They also show the likelihood of having prior authorization and step therapy requirements.

To get coverage for Zepbound, some people may be required by insurance to get prior authorization; a few Medicaid plans require step therapy. Prior authorization is required for about 1 in 3 people covered by a Medicaid plan.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs pharmacy benefit may cover Zepbound as a nonformulary drug request. Tricare plans may also cover Zepbound. Tricare’s new rules on weight-loss medication coverage take effect August 31, 2025. This will cancel previous prior authorizations for the medication.

Insurance coverage for Zepbound (2.5 mg/0.5 mL prefilled pens)

Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of August 4, 2025. (See methodology below.)

Insurance coverage for Zepbound (2.5 mg/0.5 mL vials)

Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of August 4, 2025. (See methodology below.)

Tips if your medication isn’t covered by insurance

If your insurance doesn’t cover Zepbound, you have options:

• Use a GoodRx coupon to save on your prescription.

• Ask your prescriber about less costly options that meet your needs. This could mean switching to a low-cost, generic medication.

• Ask your insurance plan if there is a preferred alternative to Zepbound in the same class, though this may not provide the same results for you.

• Request a formulary exception from your insurance company. If your request is denied, you have the right to file an appeal with your plan.

• During open enrollment, compare different health insurance plans to find one that provides the coverage you need.

How can I get Zepbound at an affordable price?

If you have commercial insurance, you may qualify for a discount on single-dose pens through the Zepbound Savings Card program:

• If your plan covers Zepbound, you may be able to get the medication for as low as $25 for a 28-day prescription (1 month or 4 pens) or an 84-day prescription (3 months or 12 pens).

• If your plan doesn’t cover Zepbound, you may be eligible to pay as little as $650 per 28-day prescription (4 pens).

People covered by government-sponsored insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid, aren’t eligible for the discount program.

At the time of publication, Zepbound has not been added to the Lilly Cares Foundation Patient Assistance Program, which provides certain medications free of cost to qualifying people.

If you have to pay out of pocket for Zepbound, GoodRx or a GoodRx Gold membership can help you find the pharmacy near you that offers the lowest price.

Compounded medication

Now that the Zepbound and Mounjaro shortage has ended, pharmacies are no longer allowed to regularly compound tirzepatide injections. Also, beware of counterfeit Zepbound or tirzepatide, particularly any of these medications that you can access without a prescription.

How does Zepbound treat chronic obesity?

Zepbound works by stimulating hormones that regulate your appetite and blood glucose. The result is that the body releases more insulin after eating, creates less new sugar, and feels fuller longer.

Eli Lilly recommends that people taking Zepbound start with the lowest dosage and work with their healthcare professionals to gradually increase it if needed. People who take Zepbound may find that, over time, their weight loss stops or plateaus.

And people who stop taking weight-loss medications typically regain much, but not all, of the weight they lost. So long-term use of medications like Zepbound is usually recommended.

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Written by:

Tamara E. Holmes

Tamara E. Holmes is a Washington, DC-based freelance journalist and content strategist who has been writing about personal finance, health, and health insurance for more than a decade. Her work has appeared in various print and online publications, such as USA Today, AARP, Working Mother, and Diversity Woman.

Edited by:

Cindy George, MPH

Cindy George, MPH, is the senior personal finance editor at GoodRx. She is an endlessly curious health journalist and digital storyteller.

Reviewed by:

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.

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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 August 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 the ACA, commercial (excluding ACA) plans, Medicare, and Medicaid (both state-run and managed care plans).