Tirzepatide vs. semaglutide cost

In this article:

• What’s the difference between tirzepatide and semaglutide?
• How much does tirzepatide cost without insurance?
• How much does semaglutide cost without insurance?
• Compare tirzepatide vs. semaglutide cost and coverage
• Cost of compounded tirzepatide vs. the cost of compounded semaglutide
• Does insurance cover tirzepatide?
• Does insurance cover semaglutide?

In this article

• What’s the difference between tirzepatide and semaglutide?
• How much does tirzepatide cost without insurance?
• How much does semaglutide cost without insurance?
• Compare tirzepatide vs. semaglutide cost and coverage
• Cost of compounded tirzepatide vs. the cost of compounded semaglutide
• Does insurance cover tirzepatide?
• Does insurance cover semaglutide?

Tirzepatide and semaglutide have become household names, mostly thanks to their effectiveness in body weight reduction. Tirzepatide is the active ingredient in the brand-name drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound, while semaglutide is the active ingredient in brand-name drugs Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus. There are also compounded versions of tirzepatide and semaglutide, but they are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In fact, the FDA has directed American compounding pharmacies to stop producing these products. 

These drugs have similar side effects, risk factors, and mechanisms of action, so people may wonder which is cheaper. Below, find out more about how much they cost, whether they tend to be covered by insurance, and more.

What’s the difference between tirzepatide and semaglutide?

The main difference between tirzepatide and semaglutide is that they are the key ingredients in different weight-loss medications. Tirzepatide is available under the brand names Mounjaro and Zepbound, whereas semaglutide is available under the brand names Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus. But they have different drug classifications, indications, and dosages.

Drug classification

Tirzepatide and semaglutide also belong to slightly different drug classes. Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. Tirzepatide, on the other hand, is a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor and GLP-1 receptor agonist—sometimes called a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist.

FDA-approved indications

In a head-to-head comparison, tirzepatide and semaglutide work the same way: They mimic naturally occurring hormones to stimulate insulin production, thus regulating blood sugar and suppressing appetite. However, each brand-name drug has a slightly different FDA-approved purpose:

Tirzepatide indications:

• Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is an FDA-approved treatment for glycemic control (blood sugar management) in people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. 
• Zepbound (tirzepatide) is FDA approved for weight loss and chronic weight management in adults with obesity, as well as adults who are overweight with at least one weight-related medical condition, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure. It is also approved for obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity. 

Semaglutide indications:

• Ozempic is FDA approved for treating adults with Type 2 diabetes. It is also approved to reduce cardiovascular risk in adults diagnosed with both Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The FDA recently approved it to reduce kidney failure risk and cardiovascular death in adults diagnosed with both Type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. 
• Wegovy is approved for weight loss and chronic weight maintenance in adults and adolescents 12 years and older with obesity, as well as adults who are overweight and have at least one weight-related health condition. It is also approved to reduce cardiovascular risk in adults with heart disease who have obesity or are overweight.
• Rybelsus is approved for treating adults with Type 2 diabetes. 

Forms and dosage

Other tirzepatide versus semaglutide differences include forms and standard dosages. Both tirzepatide and semaglutide are available as once-weekly subcutaneous injections. Only semaglutide is available as an oral medication (under the brand name Rybelsus). 

Weekly doses of tirzepatide tend to be higher than weekly doses of semaglutide. For instance, the maximum dosages for Zepbound and Mounjaro are 15 milligrams (mg) compared to 2 mg for Ozempic, 2.5 mg for Wegovy, and 14 mg for Rybelsus (in oral form). 

How much does tirzepatide cost without insurance?

Remember, tirzepatide is the active ingredient in two brand-name drugs: Mounjaro and Zepbund. The best way to determine the cost without insurance is to look at the prices of these brand-name drugs. Even then, each patient’s out-of-pocket cost may vary by pharmacy, insurance coverage, and pharmacy location: 

• The average retail price for a one-month supply of Mounjaro is $1,493. This adds up to $18,204 per year without insurance, coupons, or financial assistance.
• The current list price for a one-month supply of Zepbound is $1,519. This amounts to about $18,228 annually without insurance, coupons, or financial assistance.

Cash payers can use a free SingleCare discount card or coupon to save hundreds per month on these brand-name tirzepatide prescriptions. 

How much does semaglutide cost without insurance?

Semaglutide is the active ingredient in the brand-name drugs Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus. The best way to determine the cost of semaglutide without insurance is to compare the prices of these brand-name drugs: 

• The average retail price of a one-month supply of Ozempic is $1,384. This adds up to $16,608 per year without insurance, coupons, or financial assistance.
• The average retail price of a one-month supply of Wegovy is $1,820. This adds up to about $21,840 per year without insurance, coupons, or financial assistance.
• The average retail price of a one-month supply of Rybelsus is $1,390. This adds up to $16680 per year without insurance, coupons, or financial assistance.

You can use a free SingleCare discount card or coupon to save hundreds per month on brand-name semaglutide prescriptions. 

Compare tirzepatide vs. semaglutide cost and coverage
	Mounjaro (tirzepatide)	Zepbound (tirzepatide)	Ozempic (semaglutide)	Rybelsus (semaglutide)	Wegovy (semaglutide)
Typically covered by insurance?	Coverage varies by plan	Coverage varies by plan	Coverage varies by plan	Coverage varies by plan	Coverage varies by plan
Typically covered by Medicare Part D?	Coverage varies by plan	Coverage varies by plan	Coverage varies by plan	Coverage varies by plan	Coverage varies by plan
Quantity	4 syringes of 5 mg injections (one-month supply)	4 syringes of 2.5 mg injections (one-month supply)	1 pen containing a one-month supply of 2 mg injections	30, 7 mg tablets	1 pen containing a one-month supply of 2.4 mg injections
SingleCare cost*	$872	$950	$825	$874	$1,225
How to save	Get coupon	Get coupon	Get coupon	Get coupon	Get coupon

*Cost at time of publication. Drug prices fluctuate and vary by pharmacy.  

Cost of compounded tirzepatide vs. the cost of compounded semaglutide

Before the FDA declared an end to the shortages of brand-name semaglutide and tirzepatide injection products, compounded semaglutide costs typically fell between $200 and $500 monthly. Compounded tirzepatide fell into a similar price range. That said, compounded tirzepatide and compounded semaglutide are not approved by the FDA and are technically no longer available in the U.S. Compounding pharmacies were told to stop producing compounded tirzepatide by March 2025 and compounded semaglutide by April 22, 2025. It’s important to be aware of safety concerns with compounded GLP-1s that may still be sold online or by international distributors.

People taking compounded medication to save money should consider switching to a safer and potentially more effective medication approved by the FDA. “The person would need to get the dosage of the compounded medication converted into the same dosage as liquid semaglutide,” says Troy Alexander-EL, MD, board-certified internal medicine physician and founder of Higher Level Healthcare. She also says patients could consider alternative GLP-1 agonists such as Victoza (liraglutide) or Trulicity (dulaglutide), which may have lower out-of-pocket monthly costs.

Does insurance cover tirzepatide?

Insurance coverage for prescription drugs varies by policy. However, most insurance plans will only cover tirzepatide medications prescribed for their FDA-approved indication. For instance, Mounjaro may be covered by Medicare and Medicaid when prescribed for Type 2 diabetes. These federal health plans may cover Zepbound for OSA but are less likely to cover it for weight loss.

Does insurance cover semaglutide?

Insurance coverage for FDA-approved semaglutide products varies by policy. Many health plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, are more likely to cover semaglutide medications prescribed for diabetes management than for weight loss. 

Compounded semaglutide is not covered by insurance because it is not approved by the FDA. “I would recommend transitioning to an FDA-approved medication like Ozempic, which often has better coverage with insurance,” says Vandana Sheth, RDN, CDCES, FAND, registered dietitian nutritionist, certified diabetes specialist, and author of My Indian Table: Quick & Tasty Vegetarian Recipes.

Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic and Wegovy, has an online tool you can use to check your cost and coverage. However, talking to your insurance provider is the only way to know whether you’re covered and, if so, how much of a copay or coinsurance you’ll be expected to pay out of pocket.

Bottom line

Ultimately, the cost-effectiveness of tirzepatide versus semaglutide is not the only thing that matters when seeking treatment for a medical condition. Only a healthcare provider who knows your medical history, current health condition(s), and other medications you’re taking can determine the best treatment for your medical needs. Once you have a prescription in hand, remember that a SingleCare prescription discount card can help you save on the cash price or prescription refills.