Mounjaro cost: How much will you pay without insurance?

For those considering a medication like Mounjaro® (tirzepatide) for weight loss, a key question is: How much does Mounjaro cost without insurance?

Even if your health insurance company does cover this brand-name prescription medication, it's helpful to know your potential monthly out-of-pocket costs and what you might need to pay to fill your Mounjaro prescription. Let's look at some of the factors involved with cost, along with a Mounjaro coupon program that might help.

What is Mounjaro?

Available as an injection, Mounjaro is a brand-name medication that mimics two hormones that help with controlling blood sugar: glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). It's considered the first prescription drug of its kind to act on two receptors that prompt feelings of satiety and delay gastric emptying. GLP-1 and GIP slow digestion helping you feel full for longer, which tamps down appetite.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Mounjaro to lower blood sugar levels in those with type 2 diabetes, but it can also reduce food cravings and assist with weight-loss when used off-label.

As part of Found's program, a Mounjaro prescription may be recommended by your health care provider—either as a first step toward weight loss or as a replacement for a medication that hasn't worked well for you. While the ultimate decision as to whether a patient is qualified for a medication rests with the provider, insurance coverage and Mounjaro pricing may factor into decisions about adding Mounjaro to your weight-loss treatment plan. 

Mounjaro cost without insurance

According to Mounjaro manufacturer Eli Lilly, the drug's list price is $1,069.08 per four-pen fill, which is considered a one-month supply. The retail price charged at a pharmacy may differ due to geography and supply and demand. 

Because Mounjaro is still new compared to many other medications—the FDA approved the drug in May 2022—average health insurance plan pricing isn't yet available.

For those with private insurance that covers Mounjaro, Eli Lilly offers a Mounjaro Savings Card or coupon, and if you're eligible, you may pay as little as $25 for a one-month or three-month prescription. If you qualify, you may use the card for a maximum of 13 prescription fills per calendar year. This savings program is scheduled to end on December 31, 2024. 

If your insurance plan doesn’t cover Mounjaro, you may still be able to save money with the savings card—up to $573 off a one-month fill for a maximum of six fills per calendar year. 

Eli Lilly also has a patient assistance program, Lilly Cares, that offers additional assistance to help uninsured people with low incomes who meet other eligibility requirements pay for some of their drugs. But Mounjaro is not currently on its medication list.  

There are also other ways to save. Most notably, drug discount cards and pharmacy coupon codes, like those from Drugs.com and GoodRx, can help cut drug costs at the pharmacy. However, these may have limitations: You can’t pair some of these discounts with private insurance or government-provided plans like Medicare and Medicaid.

Keep in mind, too, that the medication may be less expensive depending on where the prescription is filled. For example, you can comparison shop at different pharmacies to determine if pricing differs from one to the next. In some locations, high  demand may be driving up costs.

Alternatives to Mounjaro

Obesity specialists addressing a person’s unique biological needs have many medications to choose from today. So, if cost is an issue with Mounjaro, another medication may be a better choice for you. 

Mounjaro, as mentioned, is a GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist medication. It contains the active ingredient tirzepatide, and so does Zepbound®, which is FDA-approved specifically for weight loss. Eli Lilly manufactures both drugs. 

There’s also an entire class of GLP-1 drugs, including Ozempic®, Wegovy®, and Rybelsus® (semaglutide); Saxenda® and Victoza® (liraglutide); and Trulicity® (dulaglutide). 

Health care professionals can also prescribe other medications for weight management that may be more cost-effective, particularly since your health insurance provider may cover one or more of these drugs. These include non-GLP-1 oral medications such as metformin, topiramate, phentermine, and zonisamide.

Cost is just one variable to consider. Paying less for a medication is helpful only if that med actually works for you, after all. And it may take time to find the right fit for your needs. That’s why Found clinicians use a metabolic health assessment, called MetabolicPrint™, to uncover the root causes of weight challenges to build a foundation for a personalized treatment plan.

All GLP-1 and GLP-1/GIP medications have some known potential side effects. The most common are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and acid reflux. More serious but less common side effects include pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, and worsening of diabetic eye disease. 

Tell your health care provider if, while taking these medications, you experience severe stomach problems that won’t go away, including abdominal bloating or pain, acid reflux, a feeling of fullness after eating just a few bites of food, nausea, and vomiting (including vomiting undigested food eaten a few hours earlier). These may be symptoms of gastroparesis (stomach paralysis). 

And those with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasias should not use these drugs. Find detailed side effect and risk information for specific medications by name on our dedicated medication page.

When you’re ready, a Found-affiliated obesity-trained health care provider can help you determine which, if any, medication is right for you. See if you’re eligible for medication and get started today by taking our quiz.

About Found

Found is among the largest medically-supported telehealth weight care clinics in the country, having served more than 250,000 members to date. To discover your MetabolicPrint™ and start your journey with Found, take our quiz.‍

About GLP-1 and GLP-1/GIP prescriptions ‍

GLP-1 and tirzepatide prescriptions, filled through your local pharmacy, are now available as part of Found's weight-loss toolkit. While these medications can be effective for weight loss, like all medicines, they are not clinically appropriate for everyone. Eligibility for these drugs is based on a thorough evaluation of your medical history and lab work. If GLP-1s or tirzepatide are not appropriate for you, our providers will work with you to determine an effective medication for your health profile. GLP-1 medicines are not included in the cost of the Found subscription.