HMN: How to save on Mounjaro: Costs, coverage, and alternatives in 2025

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a brand-name prescription drug that lowers blood sugar levels in people diagnosed with  Type 2 diabetes. It belongs to a family of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. Mounjaro is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss, however, some healthcare professionals prescribe it off-label for this purpose since it contains the same active ingredient as the prescription weight-loss drug Zepbound. There is no generic version of Mounjaro available, so uninsured patients may need to pay the full retail price for the drug.

Related: Mounjaro side effects

What is the generic for Mounjaro?

Mounjaro can only be purchased as a premium-priced brand-name drug. The active ingredient, tirzepatide, is not currently available as a generic. The earliest a generic version of Mounjaro may be available is 2036.

You may see compounded versions of generic tirzepatide marketed online or with certain prescribers. Compounded drugs do not have the same FDA regulations and oversight as commercially available products. In some cases, they do not contain the exact same active or inactive ingredients. Speak to a pharmacist or health care provider for more information on compounded versions of drugs like Mounjaro.

Is Mounjaro covered by insurance?

Some insurance plans and Medicare Part D drug plans cover Mounjaro for Type 2 diabetes, but some don’t. Before filling a prescription, check with the insurance company. Insurance plans covering Mounjaro tend to place the drug in their highest copay or non-formulary tier. The copay cost could be high. The final out-of-pocket cost could include deductibles, coinsurance, or coverage gap costs.

Medicaid may or may not cover a Mounjaro prescription. It will depend on the state. The VA and Tricare classify Mounjaro as non-formulary, so a prescription will only be covered with prior authorization if certain criteria are met.

If Mounjaro is prescribed for weight loss and not Type 2 diabetes, health insurance providers typically will not cover it.

How much does Mounjaro cost without insurance?

Without insurance coverage, the retail price for a 28-day supply of Mounjaro (4, 0.5 mL of 5 mg/0.5 mL auto-injector pens) is approximately $1,460. That means each weekly dose costs almost $365. A year of Mounjaro treatment will cost nearly $19,000 at the full retail price.

People without insurance should ask the prescriber about other drugs in the GLP-1 agonist class. They, too, are premium-priced brand-name drugs, but may cost less per month than Mounjaro. They include Zepbound (tirzepatide), Ozempic (semaglutide), Wegovy (semaglutide), Trulicity (dulaglutide), Saxenda (liraglutide), and Victoza (liraglutide), all injections similar to Mounjaro. Rybelsus (semaglutide), a once-a-day oral tablet, is another alternative that could save hundreds of dollars per month.

If any of these drugs prove too challenging to afford every month, ask the prescriber for medical advice about other Type 2 diabetes medications you may not have tried yet. Many are available in low-priced generic versions. However, their effectiveness will differ, as will side effects and drug interactions. Most do not dramatically affect body weight as much as the GLP-1 agonists do.

The best alternative may be to use a prescription discount card. People using at a participating pharmacy could pay as little as $945 for a 28-day supply of Mounjaro.

Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing. The listed price without insurance references the price of brand-name drugs (unless otherwise specified). The listed price references the price of generic drugs if available. Click the link under “Savings options” to see the latest drug prices.

How to get Mounjaro without insurance

Brand-name prescription drugs are often challenging to squeeze into a budget. With a monthly price tag of $1,069, Mounjaro is no exception. As with other premium-priced prescription drugs, the manufacturer, Eli Lilly and Co., offers a patient assistance program and a Mounjaro savings card. However, not everyone who applies will qualify. Fortunately, those aren’t the only options to save money. 

1. Use a prescription discount card

With a Mounjaro coupon, uninsured patients can get Mounjaro for as little as $944. Depending on the pharmacy, other Mounjaro discount prices may be higher. Check the current prices on ’s Mounjaro discount card page. 

2. Shop around for the lowest price

Comparing pharmacy prices can net savings of as much as $400. That’s the difference between the lowest pharmacy price for Mounjaro and the average retail price. You can easily compare pharmacy prices on the Mounjaro coupon page. 

3. Ask the prescriber about other GLP-1 agonists

The prescriber may be able to recommend another drug similar to Mounjaro called a GLP-1 receptor agonist. These alternatives may cost hundreds of dollars less per month than the cost of Mounjaro.

4. Ask the prescriber for medical advice about cheaper diabetes drugs

The prescribing healthcare provider may have good medical advice about alternative blood glucose-lowering drugs that haven’t yet been tried. Many are available as generics, so the cost could be dramatically lower than Mounjaro. 

5. Ask the prescriber about other weight loss medications

If Mounjaro is prescribed off-label for weight management, then insurance won’t help. Everyone will pay the full cash price. If that price is too much, consider switching to another weight loss drug such as Xenical (orlistat) and Adipex-P (phentermine).

6. Enroll in Medicaid

If you qualify for Medicaid, there’s still a chance that your state doesn’t cover Mounjaro. However, another drug similar to Mounjaro may be. Start by visiting your state’s Medicaid website for eligibility information. Enrollment can be done online or with the help of a local health department representative.

7. Buy a health insurance policy

One of the most enduring ways to save money on long-term, high-priced medications like Mounjaro is to purchase health insurance with a prescription drug benefit. Not only are many health insurance plans cheaper than a year’s expenditure on Mounjaro, but some plans are also surprisingly affordable. Start by comparing prices on your state’s health insurance marketplace website.