Does Blue Cross Blue Shield cover Zepbound?

In this article:

• Does Blue Cross Blue Shield cover Zepbound?
• Does Blue Cross Blue Shield cover tirzepatide?
• How much does Zepbound cost?
• How much does Zepbound cost with Blue Cross Blue Shield?
• How to check whether your Blue Cross Blue Shield plan covers Zepbound
• How to save on Zepbound

In this article

• Does Blue Cross Blue Shield cover Zepbound?
• Does Blue Cross Blue Shield cover tirzepatide?
• How much does Zepbound cost?
• How much does Zepbound cost with Blue Cross Blue Shield?
• How to check whether your Blue Cross Blue Shield plan covers Zepbound
• How to save on Zepbound

Zepbound (tirzepatide) is a once-weekly injectable GIP/glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that’s been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to promote weight loss in adults with obesity or who are overweight with a weight-related health condition. It was later approved to treat sleep apnea in adults with obesity. While health insurance plans do not always provide coverage of Zepbound for weight loss, coverage may be more likely if the drug is prescribed for sleep apnea. 

Does Blue Cross Blue Shield cover Zepbound?

Drug coverage varies by plan, but Blue Cross Blue Shield doesn’t typically cover Zepbound and other drugs for weight loss. We spot-checked the drug lists of eight BCBS affiliates around the country, and only a couple of the Blue Cross Blue Shield plans we looked at have Zepbound on their formularies, and certain criteria must be met in order to receive and maintain insurance coverage. 

When Zepbound is covered, prior authorization is usually required, and the patient may need to meet clinical requirements such as a BMI of 30 or more or a BMI of 27 or more with a comorbid condition like hypertension or Type 2 diabetes, and documented weight management efforts like a low-calorie diet and increased physical activity. In order to continue receiving Zepbound coverage, you may also need to prove you’ve lost a certain amount of weight while using the drug. 

“Many insurance plans often do not cover weight loss medications in general,” says Luis Vinas, a board-certified plastic surgeon at Palm Beach Gynecomastia Center. “Reasons for denial can include the medication not being listed on the formulary, lack of perceived medical necessity, or requirements to try other weight loss methods first.”

Blue Cross Blue Shield health plans may begin to cover Zepbound for obstructive sleep apnea, however. Call the customer service number on the back of your insurance card to learn more, or ask your healthcare provider for assistance. 

BCBS Medicaid and Medicare coverage of Zepbound

Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicaid plans may cover Zepbound, but coverage varies by state. Some BCBS Medicaid plans may cover Zepbound for sleep apnea but not for weight loss. According to Lilly, Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid program) covers Zepbound with no prior authorization required.

BCBS Medicare plans aren’t likely to cover medications for weight loss, but Lilly says that some might. Call your Medicare customer service number for specific coverage details. 

Does Blue Cross Blue Shield cover tirzepatide?

Typically, no. Because there’s no generic version of Zepbound, the only other way tirzepatide can be purchased is if it’s compounded by a specialty pharmacy. This means the ingredients have been mixed on-site for you alone. Health insurance companies don’t usually cover compounded drugs because they’re not FDA approved. Exceptions may be made for people who are allergic to the inactive ingredients in Zepbound. 

Compounded tirzepatide may cost less than name-brand Zepbound, but there are some concerns about the quality and safety of compounded tirzepatide. “It’s critical to ensure that these pharmacies are reputable and accredited, because compounded tirzepatide is not FDA approved, and the FDA has raised potential concerns about the safety and quality of those versions,” Dr. Vinas says. 

Additionally, as of March 2025, the FDA has prohibited compounding pharmacies from dispensing and distributing compounded tirzepatide now that the Zepbound shortage is over. 

How much does Zepbound cost?

Without insurance, Zepbound costs an average of $1,530 for 4, 0.5 mL of 2.5 mg/0.5 mL pens (typically a one-month supply). You may need more or less than that based on your prescribed dosage. With a SingleCare prescription discount card, you could pay as low as $950 for the same dosage, depending on your choice of pharmacy and location.  

How much does Zepbound cost with Blue Cross Blue Shield?

The cost of Zepbound with Blue Cross Blue Shield will vary by plan. Brand-name medications like Zepbound tend to have a higher copay or coinsurance percentage than generic drugs. 

You should have received a summary of benefits document either online or through the mail. This outlines your out-of-pocket expenses. You can also find this information on your insurance card. If you see several prices on the card (e.g., $10/$25/$35), it means you pay a different amount for different drug tiers. Generic prescriptions typically cost the lowest amount, while name-brand prescriptions like Zepbound fall into the higher tiers. 

How to check whether your Blue Cross Blue Shield plan covers Zepbound 

You can check whether your Blue Cross Blue Shield plan covers Zepbound by calling the customer service number on the back of your insurance card. Your healthcare provider or pharmacist should also be able to help.

Or, log into your health insurance portal and look at your documents. The formulary (also called a prescription drug list or pharmacy benefits document) contains a list of all the medications that are covered by the plan. It may also mention medications that aren’t covered. Sometimes these are called “non-preferred drugs.” 

Zepbound is covered if it’s considered a preferred drug. It may also be assigned a tier number. Check the glossary near the beginning of the document to see what the tier number means. Usually, lower tier numbers indicate a lower out-of-pocket cost. Sometimes the highest number means a drug isn’t covered.  

RELATED: Does Aetna cover Zepbound?

How to save on Zepbound

You can save close to $580 on Zepbound each month by showing your pharmacist your free SingleCare coupon. Get your coupon by creating a SingleCare account and choosing your preferred pharmacy. You’ll get a unique discount card that you can print, email, text, or save in the SingleCare app. 

Other ways to save money on Zepbound include using a manufacturer’s coupon and purchasing a three-month supply. You may also save money by switching to a Zepbound alternative like Qsymia (phentermine/topiramate). Ask your healthcare provider about the best weight loss treatment for your specific health needs. 

The SingleCare prices in this article are the most accurate at the time of publishing in ZIP code 23666 as of Nov. 4, 2025. Prices vary by pharmacy. Visit our Zepbound coupon page for updated Zepbound prices near you.