Mounjaro cost: how to save money on Mounjaro for weight loss 

If you’ve heard about Mounjaro (tirzepatide) for weight loss, you’ve probably also heard that the drug costs a lot. As a new drug — released in spring 2022 — there is no generic version available, and the brand name can be expensive. This is also the case with other GLP1 medications, such as Ozempic and Wegovy. 

Fortunately, Mounjaro coupons can help you save on the cost of Mounjaro. Read on as we review the typical cost of Mounjaro with and without insurance, and how you can save on this weight-loss drug.

How much does Mounjaro cost?

Mounjaro is injected on a weekly basis, with each pen containing that week’s dose of the medication. The list price for Mounjaro is $1,023.04 per fill, according to Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Mounjaro. That breaks down to $255.76 per week, or $13,299.52 per year. Each fill contains four pre-filled pens of Mounjaro, or a 28-day supply. 

The list price represents the cost at which Eli Lilly sells Mounjaro to pharmacies and retailers. It does not represent the actual retail price of the drug, or factor in any insurance copays or Mounjaro coupons. According to GoodRx, the average retail prices for Mounjaro range from $1,071 to $1,351, without coupons or insurance.

How much you will end up paying for Mounjaro will depend on your insurance coverage, the pharmacy you use, and whether you have been prescribed Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes or for weight loss.

How to get Mounjaro coupons

Insurance coverage can help you save on the cost of Mounjaro. You can also find Mounjaro savings through the Mounjaro Savings Card and pharmacy-specific coupons.

The Mounjaro Savings Card is available through Eli Lilly. This Mounjaro coupon limits the cost of Mounjaro to $150 per month and $1,800 per year, a savings of around 85%. Depending on your eligibility, you may pay as little as $25 for a 1-month or 3-month supply of Mounjaro. To use the Mounjaro Savings Card, you must be a resident of the United States or Puerto Rico, with a Mounjaro prescription for type 2 diabetes, and no prescription drug coverage through federal or state-funded insurance. The Mounjaro Savings Card is only available to people with commercial health insurance. To find out if you are eligible, you can answer a quick 3-question online quiz and download the Mounjaro Savings Card right after.

Individual pharmacies and retailers may offer their own coupons for Mounjaro. According to GoodRx, pharmacies like CVS, Vons, and Rite Aid offer coupons that can bring down the price of Mounjaro by up to 23%. 

Does insurance cover Mounjaro?

As a new drug, not all insurance plans cover Mounjaro. Some insurance plans may cover it for FDA-approved conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, but not for off-label conditions such as weight loss. In some cases, you may need to get prior authorization from your healthcare provider for Mounjaro to be covered. To see if your insurance offers coverage for Mounjaro, review your plan’s prescription drug coverage or call your insurance to ask.

Does Medicaid cover Mounjaro?

While some Medicaid programs cover weight loss drugs, others may require prior authorization or other treatments to be tried first. As a newer drug, Mounjaro may not be covered by Medicaid. The best way to find out if Mounjaro is covered is to contact your state Medicaid agency and review your plan’s drug formulary. 

Does Medicare cover Mounjaro?

Generally, Medicare prescription drug plans like Medicare Part D do not cover weight loss drugs. To see if Mounjaro is covered, review your plan’s formulary. If Mounjaro is not listed, you may be able to work with your healthcare provider to request an exception.

How to get Mounjaro for weight loss

Mounjaro is a prescription medication. To receive a prescription for Mounjaro, you’ll need to make an appointment with your healthcare provider. If you have type 2 diabetes, they may prescribe Mounjaro as a diabetes medication. If you want to get Mounjaro for weight loss, they may prescribe it to you off-label. Off-label may sound sketchy, but is actually quite common and enables licensed clinicians to use their professional judgment to determine the best treatment option and prescribe it to their patients.

You may find it more convenient to get Mounjaro through an online pharmacy like Ro. Online pharmacies use telehealth services to connect you with a licensed healthcare professional, who will review your medical history and recommend treatment during an online visit. If they determine Mounjaro is right for you, you’ll be given a prescription and can order it directly through the platform, with free delivery.

Currently, Mounjaro is only FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes. It is not approved to treat obesity, but it may be in the near future. A recent clinical trial of over 2,500 adults with a BMI of 27 or higher found that over the course of 72 weeks (less than a year and a half), participants lost between 15% and nearly 21% of their body weight. The weight loss effects were dose-dependent, meaning that participants who took a higher dose lost more weight.

Alternatives to Mounjaro

Recent years have seen the rise of several GLP-1 medications for type 2 diabetes and weight loss. These medications control blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. They also tend to result in weight loss, leading many to be FDA-approved for (or prescribed off-label) for weight management specifically.

Mounjaro stands out among these medications for being the only dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, which may make it more effective at both glycemic control and weight loss. Depending on your personal health situation and insurance coverage, another GLP-1 medication may be a better option for you. Here’s a quick look at the most common alternatives to Mounjaro.

• Ozempic (semaglutide): Similar to Mounjaro, Ozempic is an injectable GLP-1 agonist that treats type 2 diabetes, in combination with diet and exercise. It can also be prescribed off-label for weight loss. Comparing Mounjaro vs. Ozempic, people taking 1 mg of Ozempic lost an average of up to 7% of their body weight, while those taking the highest dose of Mounjaro (15mg) lost over 20%.

• Wegovy (semaglutide): Wegovy shares the same active ingredient with Ozempic, semaglutide. However, it is FDA-approved specifically for weight management, in combination with diet and exercise, for people with a BMI of 30 and above or a BMI of 27 and above who also have a weight-related medical condition. A weekly dose of the maximum dose of Wegovy (2.4mg) has been shown to help people lose an average of 15% of body weight

• Saxenda (liraglutide): Saxenda is also FDA-approved for chronic weight management, in combination with diet and exercise. Within one year of starting Saxenda, the majority of participants lost 5–10% of their body weight, according to clinical studies.

• Trulicity (dulaglutide): Trulicity is a GLP-1 agonist for type 2 diabetes that can also lead to weight loss, with decreased appetite being a common side effect. In clinical trials, people taking Trulicity lost between 1% to 2% of their body weight by six months, depending on their dose. When used in higher doses, and in combination with metformin, another diabetes medication, people lost up to 4.6% of their body weight.

• Bydureon (exenatide): Bydureon also treats type 2 diabetes, and can result in weight loss. Some studies indicate it promotes weight loss, along with lower BMIs and waist circumferences, among people who are obese or overweight but don’t have diabetes. However, other studies have found that, over the long term, the weight loss achieved with Bydureon is comparable to that achieved with a reduced-calorie diet.

What’s considered a healthy body weight can vary from person to person. For one-on-one support and a personalized treatment plan for weight loss, consider the Ro Body program. 

Felix Gussone, MD

Felix Gussone is a physician, health journalist and a Manager, Medical Content & Education at Ro.