Key takeaways
Aetna typically covers Trulicity, but coverage and cost vary by plan.
Aetna usually requires prior authorization for Trulicity coverage.
If your Aetna plan doesn’t cover Trulicity, a SingleCare discount card can help you get it at a reduced price.
Trulicity (dulaglutide) is a brand-name prescription medication that belongs to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. Trulicity is approved by the Food and Drug Administration to help control blood sugar levels in people 10 years and older with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart-related death in adults with Type 2 diabetes who also have cardiovascular disease or multiple risk factors. If you have insurance through Aetna, Trulicity is often covered, but coverage varies by specific plan, and additional limitations like prior authorization may apply.
Does Aetna cover Trulicity?
Drug coverage varies by plan, and some Aetna health insurance plans do not have prescription drug benefits. When Aetna does cover prescriptions, it often covers Trulicity.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Commercial plans: Aetna often covers all four dosages of Trulicity as a preferred brand.
- Medicare prescription plans: Aetna often covers Trulicity as a Tier 3 drug, but coverage varies by plan and may include requirements such as prior authorization.
- Medicaid plans: Prescription coverage varies by state, but many cover Trulicity.
Pamela Tambini, MD, a double board-certified physician in internal medicine and addiction medicine and Medical Director at Engage Wellness in Acton, Massachusetts, says, “In my experience, Aetna often does cover Trulicity, especially for people with Type 2 diabetes who have not had enough success with first-line treatments like metformin. That said, it is usually not automatic. Most Aetna plans require prior authorization, which means we must justify why Trulicity is medically necessary.”
Under Aetna’s coverage criteria, you must have a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes and may not have received a maintenance dose of any other GLP-1 receptor agonist (such as Ozempic or Victoza) for at least three months in order to be approved for a Trulicity prescription. In addition, at least one of the following statements must be true:
- You’re unable to take metformin, or you’ve tried metformin, and it didn’t work or caused unwanted side effects.
- Your blood sugar needs to be managed by more than one medication, and your A1C is 7.5% or higher.
- You’ve been diagnosed with advanced chronic kidney disease.
- You’ve been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease or have multiple risk factors for it.
Although GLP-1 treatments have become popular for weight loss, Aetna doesn’t cover Trulicity for this purpose because it is not FDA-approved for weight loss.
If your Aetna plan doesn’t cover Trulicity or the company denies your prior authorization request, your healthcare provider can submit an exception request on your behalf.
“I have had patients whose Trulicity prescriptions were initially denied,” Dr. Tambini says. “This usually occurs when the documentation doesn’t indicate that the patient has tried other medications, such as metformin, or if the diagnosis isn’t detailed enough. The good news is that if there is a strong clinical reason and we provide the proper paperwork, those denials are often reversed.”
Does Aetna cover generic Trulicity?
Dulaglutide, the active ingredient in Trulicity, isn’t currently available as a generic. Lilly holds exclusive manufacturer rights for Trulicity until 2027, when its U.S. patent will expire. This means generic Trulicity won’t be manufactured for at least another few years.
That said, insurance companies like Aetna typically cover generic medications when available, because they cost less and are just as safe and effective as their brand-name counterparts.
How much does Trulicity cost?
Without insurance, Trulicity costs about $1,396 per 4, 0.5 mL of 1.5 mg/0.5 mL injection pens, amounting to a one-month supply. This is similar to the retail price of other GLP-1 receptor agonists.
Save up to 80% on Trulicity with SingleCare Different pharmacies offer different prices for the same medication. SingleCare helps find the best price for you.
How much does Trulicity cost with Aetna?
Since there are different Aetna plans, details of specific plans may vary. What one Aetna member pays for Trulicity may not be the same amount that another pays. To find out more about Trulicity cost and coverage on your Aetna plan, you can contact your plan directly or check the most recent formulary.
If you have prescription coverage through an Aetna Medicare plan, your total out-of-pocket expenses for all of your covered medications will be no more than your out-of-pocket maximum for the year, which is $2,100 for 2026. After you reach that amount, your prescriptions will be covered in full for the rest of the year.
How to check whether your Aetna plan covers Trulicity
The easiest way to check whether your Aetna plan covers Trulicity is to call the customer care number located on the back of your health insurance card. Have your member number ready so the member services representative can look up the details of your plan.
If you have an online Aetna account, you can log in and check your documents. The drug list, or formulary, will say whether or not Trulicity is covered. Press the CTRL and F keys simultaneously to search this long document, or look for Trulicity in the alphabetical index.
You can also have your healthcare provider send a prescription to your preferred pharmacy. The pharmacy staff will process the claim, and can tell you if your prescription is covered or will need a prior authorization, and they can assist you with the next steps.
What to do if insurance won’t cover Trulicity
If your Aetna plan does not initially cover Trulicity, check with your healthcare provider and ask if they can submit a prior authorization (PA). They can submit additional documentation to your plan to explain why the medicine is necessary for you. If the PA is denied, ask if your doctor can appeal the decision.
If, despite these measures, your Trulicity prescription is still denied by your insurance plan, consult your healthcare provider. They may be able to help you with Trulicity savings or suggest a Trulicity alternative that may be covered on your plan. There are many diabetes medications, so if Trulicity is not affordable, your healthcare provider can help you find another drug that meets your needs.
Related: Diabetes resources
How to get Trulicity without insurance
There are ways to save money on Trulicity, whether or not Aetna covers it. For example, you can use a SingleCare prescription discount card to save over $600 a month, depending on your choice of pharmacy and location. You can use SingleCare to compare prices at participating pharmacies. Once you find the pharmacy with the lowest coupon price, save your coupon to your free SingleCare account, print it, or send a copy to yourself via text or email. When you pick up your Trulicity prescription, show the SingleCare card to the pharmacist for your instant discount.
You can also talk to your healthcare provider about more affordable alternatives. Two GLP-1 receptor agonists that are FDA approved for Type 2 diabetes, Victoza (liraglutide) and Byetta (exenatide), are available in generic versions that cost a fraction of the brand-name price. Your healthcare provider can weigh the potential risks and benefits of different medications to find one that meets your individual needs.
The SingleCare prices in this article are the most accurate at the time of publishing in ZIP code 23666 as of Jun. 15, 2026. Prices vary by pharmacy. Visit our coupon page for updated drug prices at pharmacies near you.
- Trulicity, DailyMed (2026)
- 2026 Aetna pharmacy drug guide — Aetna standard plan, Aetna (2026)
- 2026 formulary — Medicare plans, Aetna (2026)
- Pharmacy clinical policy bulletins — Aetna non-Medicare prescription drug plan, subject: GLP-1 agonist Trulicity PA with limit policy, Aetna (2024)
- Top 10 drugs with patents due to expire in the next five years, Proclinical (2024)
- Final CY 2026 Part D redesign program instructions, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (2025)
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