Mounjaro savings guide

In this article:

• How much does Mounjaro cost?
• Does insurance cover Mounjaro?
• Does Medicare cover Mounjaro?
• Does Medicaid cover Mounjaro?
• How to save money on Mounjaro
• Is there a cheaper alternative to Mounjaro?

In this article

• How much does Mounjaro cost?
• Does insurance cover Mounjaro?
• Does Medicare cover Mounjaro?
• Does Medicaid cover Mounjaro?
• How to save money on Mounjaro
• Is there a cheaper alternative to Mounjaro?

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a brand-name prescription medication that’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help control blood sugar in adults with Type 2 diabetes. Mounjaro belongs to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, and it’s available in once-weekly autoinjector pens. Mounjaro can be expensive without insurance or discounts, but there are several ways to save.

How much does Mounjaro cost?

The average retail price of Mounjaro is $1,513 for 4, 5 mg/0.5 mL 0.5 mL autoinjector pens. Because Mounjaro is taken once per week, four pens are a one-month supply. 

Prices fluctuate and vary by pharmacy, but at that price, each Mounjaro pen costs about $378. A one-year supply of Mounjaro would cost about $19,669. 

Does insurance cover Mounjaro?

Insurance coverage varies by plan, but many insurance plans cover Mounjaro when it’s prescribed for its FDA-approved indication, which is Type 2 diabetes. 

Many health insurance companies require prior authorization before they’ll cover Mounjaro. This means your healthcare provider will answer questions about your health and submit documentation to prove that you have Type 2 diabetes. You may be denied Mounjaro coverage if it’s been prescribed for an off-label use, like weight loss or sleep apnea treatment. The FDA has approved another name-brand medication, Zepbound, for these indications. Some insurance companies cover Mounjaro but not Zepbound, or vice versa.

When insurance does cover Mounjaro, it tends to be a mid-tier drug, such as Tier 2 or Tier 3. On most plans, copayments and coinsurance increase according to the tier number. Here’s how to find out how much Mounjaro costs with insurance: 

1. Check your insurance plan’s formulary to find out which Tier has been assigned to Mounjaro.
2. Check your plan’s summary of benefits to see how much you owe for a drug in the appropriate tier.

For example, if the formulary lists Mounjaro as Tier 2 and your summary of benefits says Tier 2 drugs are subject to a $35 copay, you’ll pay $35 at the pharmacy. However, depending on your plan design, this copayment may apply only after you meet your annual prescription drug deductible. Until the deductible is satisfied, you may be responsible for the full allowed amount (or cash or retail cost, depending on your pharmacy and network status) for the first fills. The deductible resets at the start of each plan year.

Does Medicare cover Mounjaro?

Some Medicare Part D plans cover Mounjaro, but not all do. If your Medicare plan offers Mounjaro coverage, you’ll pay copay or coinsurance according to Mounjaro’s assigned tier, just like with commercial insurance. Copay and coinsurance amounts vary by plan.

Federal law limits Medicare Part D out-of-pocket costs to $2,100 for the entire year of 2026. This only applies to prescriptions covered by your plan. If your Medicare Part D plan doesn’t cover Mounjaro, the amount you pay at the pharmacy doesn’t apply toward the $2,100 limit. 

Does Medicaid cover Mounjaro?

Medicaid coverage varies by state. Many Medicaid programs cover Type 2 diabetes treatments like Mounjaro, but coverage isn’t guaranteed.

How to save money on Mounjaro

There are ways to pay less at the pharmacy regardless of whether or not you have insurance coverage. 

1. Free Mounjaro coupons

A SingleCare prescription discount card or coupon can decrease the cost of Mounjaro to $895 for 4, 5 mg/0.5 mL 0.5 mL autoinjector pens. SingleCare prices vary by quantity, strength, and pharmacy, but you may be able to save more than $7,400 per year by using a Mounjaro coupon from SingleCare.

SingleCare coupons are free to use, but they can’t be combined with insurance or other discounts. They’re a good solution for people who don’t have insurance, whose insurance plan doesn’t cover Mounjaro, or who don’t qualify for other savings programs. 

Getting and using a SingleCare coupon is simple. Here’s how to do it:

1. Click or tap the green “Sign up” button to create a free SingleCare account. This ensures you get the lowest possible price for Mounjaro. 
2. Go to the Mounjaro coupon page on the SingleCare app or website.
3. Select your dosage from the drop-down menu.
4. Enter your ZIP code.
5. Compare prices at nearby pharmacies.
6. Click or tap the “Get free coupon” button next to your preferred pharmacy.
7. Text, email, or print your unique savings card to save it for later.
8. If needed, transfer your Mounjaro prescription to your preferred pharmacy.
9. Show the pharmacist your SingleCare coupon when collecting your prescription. 

SingleCare coupons can be used over and over again. Show it to the pharmacist every time you pick up a Mounjaro refill. 

Diabetes Coupons & Discount Diabetic Supplies

2. Mounjaro savings card

Lilly, the manufacturer of Mounjaro, offers a savings card that reduces the cost of Mounjaro for a three-month prescription (up to 12 pens), but you must meet certain eligibility requirements. For example, you must have been prescribed Mounjaro for Type 2 diabetes and have a commercial health insurance plan. It isn’t available to individuals enrolled in a government-funded healthcare program.

If your insurance plan covers Mounjaro, you’re limited to a maximum savings of $1,950 per calendar year.

If you have commercial insurance but it doesn’t cover Mounjaro, you’re limited to a maximum savings of up to $6,019 per calendar year.

3. Medicare Extra Help

If you qualify for Medicare and meet certain income requirements, you may be eligible for a low-income subsidy (LIS) program called Extra Help. 

Extra Help pays your Medicare Part D premiums on your behalf and significantly reduces the amount you pay at the pharmacy. After your out-of-pocket expenses and Extra Help subsidies reach the deductible for the year, which is $2,100 in 2026, all of your prescriptions are free for the rest of the year. 

Is there a cheaper alternative to Mounjaro?

Cheaper alternatives to Mounjaro include the following:

• Liraglutide (generic Victoza) 
• Saxagliptin (generic Onglyza)
• Jardiance
• Invokana
• Januvia
• Metformin

It’s important to talk to your healthcare provider about the best Mounjaro alternative for you. There are several pros and cons to consider besides cost, including efficacy and potential side effects.

Holly Wyatt, MD, a physician and professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, explains that Mounjaro is one of the most effective medications for controlling blood sugar in patients with Type 2 diabetes. “Across multiple clinical trials, Mounjaro has produced average A1C reductions of about 1.9 to 2.3 percentage points, which is greater than what we typically see with 1 mg semaglutide and many older diabetes medications.”

Of all the possible alternatives, semaglutide injections (Ozempic) or tablets (Rybelsus or Wegovy) may be the closest thing to Mounjaro. “Semaglutide-based medications may be more accessible and are a strong alternative for many individuals,” Dr. Wyatt says. These medications tend to cost as much as Mounjaro, but it’s worth checking to see if your insurance company covers one versus another. 

“For people with cost concerns or milder diabetes, older medications such as metformin, SGLT2 inhibitors, or DPP-4 inhibitors can be considered, depending on their medical needs,” Dr. Wyatt says. “Mounjaro is impressive, but it’s not the right answer for everyone.”

The SingleCare prices in this article are the most accurate at the time of publishing in ZIP code 23666 as of Jan.7, 2026. Prices vary by pharmacy. Visit our Mounjaro coupon page for updated Mounjaro prices near you.