GLP-1 Savings Programs: How to Cut Your Out-of-Pocket Costs

The Real Cost of GLP-1 Medications

Without insurance or savings programs, GLP-1 medications are among the most expensive drugs on the American market. Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4mg) carries a retail list price of approximately $1,349 per month. Zepbound (tirzepatide) lists at roughly $1,059–$1,086 per month depending on dose. Ozempic runs approximately $935–$1,029 per month, and Mounjaro is priced similarly at around $1,023 per month. These figures represent the cash price before any discounts, insurance adjustments, or savings programs are applied.

The gap between list price and actual patient cost can be enormous when the right savings mechanisms are in place. Patients with commercial insurance and a manufacturer copay card may pay as little as $25 per month. Uninsured patients who qualify for patient assistance programs may pay nothing at all. Even patients who do not qualify for the lowest tiers of assistance can often reduce their costs by 50–80% by combining pharmacy discount cards, telehealth providers that offer direct pricing, and mail-order pharmacy programs. This guide walks through every major option available as of 2024.

It is important to note that the savings landscape for GLP-1 medications changes frequently. Manufacturer programs are updated, eligibility thresholds are adjusted, and new discount programs emerge. The information below reflects what was publicly available at the time of writing. Always verify current program details directly with the manufacturer's website or by calling their patient support line before making decisions based on specific dollar figures or eligibility criteria.

Novo Nordisk Savings Programs

Novo Nordisk manufactures several GLP-1 medications, including Ozempic (semaglutide for diabetes), Wegovy (semaglutide for weight management), Rybelsus (oral semaglutide for diabetes), Saxenda (liraglutide for weight management), and Victoza (liraglutide for diabetes). The company offers separate savings programs for each medication, and eligibility criteria and benefit amounts differ between them.

Wegovy Savings Card

The Wegovy Savings Card program is available to commercially insured patients who have a valid prescription and meet certain eligibility requirements. Under this program, eligible patients may pay as little as $0 for their first month and $25 per month for subsequent fills, with a maximum savings cap (which has varied over time, so always verify the current terms at wegovy.com/savings). The card cannot be used by patients enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, or other federal or state healthcare programs. Income-based eligibility restrictions also apply in some cases.

Ozempic Savings Offer

Novo Nordisk's Ozempic savings program similarly targets commercially insured patients, offering copay assistance that may reduce monthly costs significantly. Patients who are prescribed Ozempic for type 2 diabetes may be able to pay as little as $25 per month, subject to eligibility and a yearly maximum benefit. The program is not available to Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries. Visit ozempic.com/savings for current terms and to enroll.

NovoCare Patient Assistance Program

For patients who are uninsured or underinsured and meet income eligibility requirements, Novo Nordisk offers the NovoCare Patient Assistance Program. This program provides eligible patients with free medication directly from the manufacturer. Income thresholds are set as a percentage of the federal poverty level and are updated periodically. Applications are processed through novocare.com and typically require income documentation and a physician signature. Processing times can range from a few days to several weeks, so apply early and ask your doctor's office to prioritize the application paperwork.

Eli Lilly Savings Programs

Eli Lilly manufactures Mounjaro (tirzepatide for diabetes) and Zepbound (tirzepatide for weight management), as well as the older GLP-1 agent Trulicity (dulaglutide for diabetes). Lilly has been notably aggressive in offering savings options, including a direct purchase program that operates outside of traditional insurance.

Zepbound Savings Card

The Zepbound Savings Card offers commercially insured eligible patients the opportunity to pay as little as $25 per month, with a capped annual savings benefit. As with Novo Nordisk programs, this is not available to patients with Medicare, Medicaid, or other government insurance. Lilly also periodically offers extended savings promotions, so it is worth checking zepbound.com/savings or calling 1-800-545-5979 for the most current program terms.

Lilly Insulin Value Program and LillyAnswers

For uninsured or underinsured patients, the LillyAnswers program provides Mounjaro, Zepbound, and Trulicity to eligible patients at reduced or no cost, based on income. The program is administered through Lilly's patient assistance infrastructure and requires proof of income, a prescription, and a completed application form. Visit lillyanswers.com or call 1-800-545-5979 for current eligibility criteria and to begin the application process.

Lilly Direct: A New Direct Purchase Model

In 2024, Eli Lilly launched Lilly Direct, a telehealth and direct pharmacy platform that allows eligible patients to obtain Zepbound at a significantly reduced self-pay price, bypassing traditional insurance channels. Under this program, Zepbound vials (not autoinjector pens) are available at prices ranging from approximately $399 to $549 per month depending on dose, compared to the list price of over $1,000. This program represents a meaningful option for patients who lack insurance coverage for weight management medications or whose copays under insurance exceed the direct purchase price. Prescriptions are facilitated through a telehealth consultation on the Lilly Direct platform.

Patient Assistance Programs for Uninsured Patients

If you do not have insurance coverage for your GLP-1 medication and you do not qualify for a manufacturer savings card (which typically requires commercial insurance), patient assistance programs (PAPs) offered directly by the manufacturer may be your best option. These programs provide free or heavily subsidized medication to patients who meet income eligibility criteria and who are without adequate prescription drug coverage.

Both Novo Nordisk (NovoCare) and Eli Lilly (LillyAnswers) operate PAPs for their GLP-1 medications. Income thresholds are generally expressed as a multiple of the federal poverty level, ranging from 200% to 400% or higher depending on the specific program and the year. A household of two with an income up to approximately $62,000 (based on 400% of the 2024 FPL) may qualify for some programs. These thresholds are updated annually and vary by program, so it is essential to check directly with the manufacturer.

NeedyMeds (needymeds.org) and RxAssist (rxassist.org) are two free, independent databases that compile information on patient assistance programs across many manufacturers. These databases allow you to search by drug name and can help you identify PAPs you may not be aware of. Your doctor's office social worker or nurse navigator, if available, can also be an invaluable resource for identifying and completing PAP applications on your behalf. Note that PAP applications often require your doctor's signature and may need to be renewed every 3–12 months to maintain eligibility.

State pharmaceutical assistance programs (SPAPs) provide an additional layer of assistance for some residents, particularly seniors on Medicare who cannot access manufacturer savings cards. These programs are state-funded and vary significantly in scope and eligibility. Your state health department or aging services agency can tell you whether an SPAP exists in your state and whether you are eligible.

Pharmacy Discount Programs

Pharmacy discount programs like GoodRx, RxSaver, SingleCare, and Blink Health aggregate negotiated pricing from pharmacy chains and pass discounts on to consumers. For some medications, these programs provide substantial savings compared to retail price. For GLP-1 medications specifically, the results are more mixed— discounts exist but the absolute prices remain high. GoodRx, for example, may show Wegovy at $900–$1,100 at select pharmacies, a discount of roughly 20–30% from list price but still far out of reach for many patients without additional assistance.

Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drugs (costplusdrugs.com) has attracted significant attention for its transparent, low-markup pricing on many medications. As of early 2024, Cost Plus Drugs has begun listing some GLP-1 medications and related drugs, though the availability of brand-name GLP-1s at dramatically reduced prices has been limited. The platform is worth checking periodically, as their formulary expands regularly and their pricing model can produce significant savings when a drug becomes available.

Costco and Sam's Club pharmacies consistently offer some of the lowest retail prices on prescription medications for their members, and their GLP-1 prices are worth comparing. Mark Cuban's platform aside, independent and regional pharmacy chains sometimes offer lower cash prices than major chains. Using a discount card comparison website like GoodRx allows you to enter your zip code and compare prices at multiple pharmacies near you with a single search, which is a practical first step before filling any GLP-1 prescription at cash price.

Mail-order and 90-day supply programs offered by large pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) such as Express Scripts, OptumRx, and CVS Caremark can also reduce effective per-dose costs when combined with insurance coverage. If your plan uses one of these PBMs, switching to mail-order delivery for a 90-day supply often reduces your copay compared to 30-day retail fills. Ask your insurer or HR department whether mail-order pharmacy is available under your plan and whether it applies to specialty medications like GLP-1s.

Compounding Pharmacies: Pros, Cons, and Risks

During periods of shortage for brand-name GLP-1 medications, the FDA has permitted FDA-registered compounding pharmacies to produce compounded versions of semaglutide and tirzepatide. Compounded GLP-1 medications are significantly less expensive than their brand-name counterparts, often priced at $200–$500 per month, and many telehealth platforms have emerged to facilitate access to compounded versions via online prescription services.

There are important limitations and risks associated with compounded GLP-1 medications. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved and have not undergone the same rigorous safety, efficacy, and manufacturing quality testing as brand-name drugs. Potency, purity, and sterility can vary between compounding pharmacies. The FDA has issued warnings about adverse events associated with compounded semaglutide, including dosing errors attributable to differences in concentration between compounded and brand-name products. Some compounded products have been found to contain incorrect active ingredients or subtherapeutic doses.

The regulatory status of compounded GLP-1 medications is also subject to change. The FDA classifies drugs as compoundable during shortage periods, but once the shortage is resolved, the legal basis for compounding may be withdrawn. In late 2024, the FDA announced that the Wegovy shortage had been resolved and signaled that compounded semaglutide would need to be phased out, though the exact timeline has been contested. If you are currently using a compounded GLP-1, it is important to stay informed about the regulatory environment and to discuss transitioning to the brand-name medication with your prescriber.

If you choose to pursue a compounded GLP-1, use only an FDA- registered 503A or 503B compounding pharmacy, obtain a legitimate prescription from a licensed prescriber (not through a platform that prescribes and dispenses without a proper clinical relationship), and discuss the decision openly with your doctor. Never purchase compounded or “research grade” GLP-1 peptides from unregulated online marketplaces, as these products carry serious safety risks and are not intended for human use.

Stacking Savings: Combining Multiple Programs

The most significant cost reductions come from combining multiple savings mechanisms strategically. However, not all programs can be combined, and using programs together in ways that violate their terms of service can constitute insurance fraud. Understanding what can and cannot be stacked is essential before attempting to combine programs.

The most straightforward and legitimate combination is using a manufacturer copay savings card on top of commercial insurance coverage. In this scenario, your insurance pays most of the drug cost, and the copay card covers some or all of the remaining patient responsibility. This is the intended use of manufacturer copay cards and is the combination that produces the lowest possible patient cost—often $25 or less per month. You cannot use a manufacturer savings card on top of Medicare or Medicaid, as federal anti-kickback laws prohibit this.

If you are uninsured or your insurance does not cover your GLP-1, you may be able to combine a pharmacy discount card (such as GoodRx) with a cash-pay telehealth service that offers bundled pricing. Some telehealth platforms negotiate directly with compounding pharmacies or specific retail pharmacies to provide all-inclusive pricing that covers the consultation, prescription, and medication. Comparing the all-in cost of these bundled offerings against the cost of the brand-name drug with a GoodRx discount is a practical exercise that can surface meaningful differences.

If you have Medicare Part D and cannot use manufacturer savings cards, the Inflation Reduction Act's redesigned Part D benefit (fully effective in 2025) caps out-of-pocket drug spending for Medicare beneficiaries at $2,000 per year and eliminates the coverage gap. While GLP-1 medications for weight loss are currently excluded from Medicare Part D coverage by federal statute (a restriction that may change legislatively), those who use GLP-1s for covered diabetes indications under Part D may benefit significantly from the new cost cap. Discuss your Medicare plan options with a SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) counselor during open enrollment to ensure you are in the plan that offers the best coverage for your specific GLP-1 medication.