Tirzepatide cost depends on the brand and how you pay. List prices are $1,112.16 a month for Mounjaro and $1,086.37 for a Zepbound single-dose pen.[1][2] Paying cash through LillyDirect, Zepbound vials or KwikPens cost $299 to $449 a month and Mounjaro starts at $499.[3][4] With commercial insurance that covers it, either brand can cost as little as $25 with a savings card.[5][6]
Prices and program terms checked October 2026. They change often; confirm with the manufacturer or your plan.
Tirzepatide is one drug sold under two names. Mounjaro is approved for type 2 diabetes, and Zepbound for weight management and obstructive sleep apnea.[11][12] See our tirzepatide profile and Zepbound vs Mounjaro for the differences.
Tirzepatide cost comparison table
| How you pay | Mounjaro (per 28 days) | Zepbound (per 28 days) |
|---|---|---|
| List price | $1,112.16[1] | $1,086.37 single-dose pen[2] |
| LillyDirect self-pay | From $499, all doses[4] | $299 (2.5 mg), $399 (5 mg), $449 (7.5 to 15 mg, on-time refill)[3] |
| Savings card, plan covers it | As little as $25[5] | As little as $25 (single-dose pen)[6] |
| Savings card, commercial plan does not cover it | As low as $499[5] | As low as $499 (single-dose pen); $299 to $449 (KwikPen)[6] |
| Medicare | Part D plans for type 2 diabetes; plan copay applies[5] | $50 a month for the KwikPen through the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, if eligible[7] |
Tirzepatide cost with insurance
With commercial insurance, what you pay is set by your plan’s formulary (its list of covered drugs), tier and deductible. Lilly’s savings cards then reduce your share:
- Mounjaro, plan covers it: as little as $25 for a 1-, 2- or 3-month fill, with Lilly paying up to $150 a month and $1,950 a year.[5]
- Zepbound single-dose pen, plan covers it: as little as $25 for a 1-, 2- or 3-month fill, with Lilly paying up to $100 a month and $1,300 a year.[6]
If your copay is above those caps, you pay the difference. Both cards exclude Medicare, Medicaid and other government plans, and both expire December 31, 2026.[5][6]
Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes is widely covered, usually with prior authorization. Zepbound for weight loss is a different story: KFF’s 2025 survey found that only 19% of employers with 200 or more workers cover GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, rising to 43% of firms with 5,000 or more workers.[10] Our Zepbound insurance coverage guide explains how plans handle each use.
Tirzepatide cost without insurance
For people with no coverage, LillyDirect is Lilly’s direct-to-patient pharmacy. Its self-pay prices are well below list:
- Zepbound vial or KwikPen: $299 at 2.5 mg, $399 at 5 mg, and $449 at 7.5 to 15 mg if you refill within 45 days. Late refills cost $499 at 7.5 mg and $699 at 10 to 15 mg.[3]
- Mounjaro pen: from $499 a month at every dose.[4]
Vials are sold only through LillyDirect, which offers delivery or retail pickup. The KwikPen holds four weekly doses, so one pen covers a month.[3]
Full details: Zepbound cost without insurance and Mounjaro cost without insurance.
Tirzepatide cost with Medicare
- Type 2 diabetes: Mounjaro is covered on many Part D plans. Lilly reports that about 8 in 10 Part D patients pay $0 to $50 for a 28-day supply.[5]
- Weight management: Part D normally excludes weight-loss drugs, but the temporary Medicare GLP-1 Bridge covers the Zepbound KwikPen for $50 a month for eligible members from July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027. Vials and single-dose pens are not included.[7]
- Sleep apnea: Zepbound prescribed for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea goes through your regular Part D plan, not the Bridge.[7]
See does Medicare cover Zepbound? for eligibility rules.
Tirzepatide cost per year
Lilly prices both brands by 28-day fill, so a full year is 13 fills.[1][2] Rough yearly totals before taxes and fees:
- Mounjaro at list price: about $14,458. At the LillyDirect self-pay price of $499, about $6,487.[1][4]
- Zepbound single-dose pens at list price: about $14,123.[2]
- Zepbound vials or KwikPen, self-pay: about $5,637 for a typical first year that starts at 2.5 mg, moves to 5 mg, and then stays at 7.5 mg or higher with on-time refills. Late refills at 10 mg or above would push that toward $9,000.[3]
- With a covered plan and savings card: as little as $25 a fill, but once Lilly’s yearly cap is used ($1,950 for Mounjaro, $1,300 for Zepbound), you pay your plan’s full share for the rest of the year.[5][6]
Because tirzepatide is usually taken long term, small monthly differences add up. A $50 gap per fill is $650 a year.
Cheapest legitimate routes, ranked
- Commercial plan covers it + savings card: as little as $25 a month.[5][6]
- Medicare GLP-1 Bridge (if eligible): $50 a month for the Zepbound KwikPen.[7]
- Zepbound vial or KwikPen through LillyDirect: $299 to $449 a month.[3]
- Mounjaro through LillyDirect, or the savings card when a commercial plan does not cover it: about $499 a month.[4][5]
The right product depends on your diagnosis. A clinician decides which brand fits the approved use. Our tirzepatide coupon guide compares every Lilly program.
What about compounded tirzepatide?
During the 2022 to 2024 shortage, the FDA allowed pharmacies to compound copies of tirzepatide. The FDA declared the shortage resolved on December 19, 2024. Its enforcement flexibility for state-licensed pharmacies ended in March 2025, and for outsourcing facilities on March 19, 2025.[8]
As of April 2026, the FDA says tirzepatide is not on its drug shortage list. Pharmacies generally may not make “essentially copies” of an approved drug regularly or in large amounts, unless a prescriber documents a significant difference for a specific patient.[8] On April 30, 2026, the FDA also proposed barring outsourcing facilities from compounding tirzepatide from bulk ingredients. That proposal was not final as of our check.[9]
Is there a generic tirzepatide?
No. As of October 2026, the only tirzepatide products sold in the U.S. are Lilly’s Mounjaro and Zepbound, and no generic version is available. Our generic tirzepatide guide tracks the patent outlook.
