{"id":628580,"date":"2024-06-12T10:52:17","date_gmt":"2024-06-12T14:52:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=628580"},"modified":"2026-08-06T13:14:57","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T17:14:57","slug":"zepbound-without-insurance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/zepbound-without-insurance\/","title":{"rendered":"How much is Zepbound without insurance?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Zepbound<\/a> (tirzepatide) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1<\/a>) receptor agonist that\u2019s been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for chronic weight management and sleep apnea. It\u2019s not the most expensive GLP-1 weight loss medication on the market, but it can still cost thousands of dollars per year without insurance or discounts. Fortunately, you don\u2019t have to pay the full cash price for Zepbound without insurance.<\/p>\n

How much does Zepbound cost without insurance?<\/h2>\n

Zepbound\u2019s typical cash price is about $659 per 1, 2.4 mL of 2.5 mg\/0.6 mL Kwikpen, which is about a month\u2019s supply of the starting dose<\/a>. That\u2019s $164.75 per week.<\/p>\n

Over the course of a year, you could spend more than $9,000 on Zepbound without insurance or discounts.<\/p>\n

The price of Zepbound varies based on dose, quantity, form, and pharmacy. Expect to pay more at the pharmacy each time your healthcare provider increases the dose.<\/p>\n\t\t\t

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Save up to 80% on Zepbound with SingleCare<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

Different pharmacies offer different prices for the same medication. SingleCare helps find the best price for you.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tZepbound 5 mg\/0.5mL (4 Pens)\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t23666 - Hampton, VA\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\"Kroger\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t$942.15\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\ti<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\tPrice with signup<\/a>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tGet free coupon<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\"Harris\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t$942.15\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\ti<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\tPrice with signup<\/a>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tGet free coupon<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tSee Zepbound prices at all pharmacies<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n

How much does Zepbound cost per month?<\/h3>\n

Without insurance or discounts, the monthly cost of Zepbound<\/a> starts at $659 for the 2.5 mg dose. Your healthcare provider may slowly increase the dose of Zepbound in 2.5 mg increments until you reach the recommended therapeutic dose (15 mg maximum). Each dose gets progressively more expensive.<\/p>\n

Read more: <\/b>Why increase Zepbound dose?<\/b><\/a>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Does insurance cover Zepbound?<\/h2>\n

Coverage for Zepbound varies significantly by plan. Some commercial health insurance plans cover it, but others exclude it and all other weight loss medications<\/a>. There\u2019s also a middle ground where plans cover some weight loss drugs, but not Zepbound.<\/p>\n

When health insurance plans do cover Zepbound, they typically require prior authorization<\/a>. This means your healthcare provider must answer questions and submit evidence to prove why you need Zepbound.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a strict checklist. They want your exact starting body mass index (BMI), and they check for health issues like high blood pressure or sleep apnea,\u201d says Wiljon Beltre, MD, a board-certified and fellowship-trained bariatric and metabolic surgeon at Beltre Bariatrics<\/a> in Orlando, Florida.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey also require proof that you spent six months on a supervised diet, and many need to see that you\u2019ve tried older, more conventional weight loss methods before they\u2019ll approve Zepbound.\u201d<\/p>\n

What to do if insurance doesn\u2019t cover Zepbound<\/h3>\n

If insurance denies your prior authorization request, your healthcare provider can appeal the decision. Your healthcare provider may also be able to help you get coverage for Zepbound even if your plan usually doesn\u2019t cover it. This is called an exception request.<\/p>\n

However, approval can be tough to get because your healthcare provider has to convince the insurance company that Zepbound is medically necessary and that no alternatives will provide the same results.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe encounter [appeals] a lot and win around half the time on the first try,\u201d Dr. Beltre says. \u201cIf I have a patient with terrible nausea on Wegovy, we document that to prove they need to change drugs. And if we can show that their health improved during a sample period on Zepbound, the insurance companies are usually more willing to approve.\u201d<\/p>\n

Note that if you have Type 2 diabetes, your healthcare provider may write a prescription for Mounjaro<\/a> instead. Mounjaro and Zepbound share the same active ingredient (tirzepatide) but have different FDA-approved indications. Because Mounjaro is FDA approved for Type 2 diabetes, it\u2019s more likely to be covered by insurance.<\/p>\n

To find out if your health insurance plan covers Zepbound, call the customer care number on your insurance card or view the plan\u2019s formulary (drug list) online.<\/p>\n

Do Medicare and Medicaid cover Zepbound?<\/h3>\n

Medicare never covered weight loss drugs until this year. As of July 1, 2026, Medicare beneficiaries can pay $50 per Zepbound prescription. Two other weight loss medications (Wegovy<\/a> and Foundayo<\/a>) are also available for the same price.<\/p>\n

This coverage is available through a temporary program called Medicare GLP-1 Bridge<\/a>. It lasts until Dec. 31, 2027.<\/p>\n

To qualify, you must have a standalone Medicare Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage with prescription drug coverage. You must also have a valid prescription for Zepbound, and at least one of the following must be true:<\/p>\n