Mounjaro

Introduction

Written by Patricia Weiser, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Victor Nguyen, PharmD, MBA
Updated on December 20, 2023

Mounjaro is a brand-name medication that’s prescribed for managing blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes, along with a balanced diet and exercise. Mounjaro is not available in a generic version. The cost of Mounjaro, with or without insurance, can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon. 

Read on to learn about Mounjaro and cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about Mounjaro, including its uses, refer to this overview article.

Cost of Mounjaro

Like other medications, the cost of Mounjaro can vary. Certain factors may affect its price, such as:

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use
• the cost to purchase needles and syringes to use with Mounjaro (vial form only) 

To find out how much Mounjaro costs, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. They may be able to suggest ways to save money on your prescription, including those described in this article. To find out what you’d pay using savings coupons, read the “Coupons for Mounjaro” section.

Coupons for Mounjaro

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of Mounjaro. The Optum Perks coupons above can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.

Available app for coupons

To make finding and using these coupons easier, you can download the Optum Perks app. To learn more about this prescription discount app, see this article.

Insurance and other considerations for Mounjaro

Here’s a list of things to consider about the cost of prescription drugs:

• Prior authorization. If you have prescription drug insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers the cost of Mounjaro. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for Mounjaro. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin using it without this, you may have to pay the full price of the drug.
• A 3-month supply. If you’re using Mounjaro long term, your doctor may suggest a 90-day supply of the medication. This will have to be approved by your insurance company. Getting a 90-day supply could help lower the drug’s cost. It could also save you time having to make trips to your pharmacy.

If you have questions about any of these considerations, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Or contact your insurance company and talk with a representative.

If you don’t have a health insurance plan, let your doctor or pharmacist know. They may suggest online pharmacy options you could use. You can also ask them about ways to obtain health insurance coverage.

Brand-names vs. generics

Mounjaro is a brand-name medication. It’s not available in a generic version.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.) 

Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name version(s).

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.) Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name version.

Common questions about Mounjaro and cost

Here are some common questions about Mounjaro and their answers.  

How much does Mounjaro cost without insurance?

According to Lilly, the drugmaker of Mounjaro, a one-month supply of Mounjaro has a list price of around $1,023. The list price, also known as wholesale cost, is the price Lilly charges wholesalers for the drug. It may not reflect the actual price you’ll pay at the pharmacy without insurance.

Talk with your pharmacist to find out how much Mounjaro costs without insurance. They may recommend ways to reduce your cost, such as using a coupon or looking into any patient assistance programs from the drugmaker.

Does Mounjaro cost less than Ozempic?

Probably not, but it depends on several factors. These include your insurance coverage (if you have insurance), your location, and the pharmacy you use.

Without insurance, Mounjaro may cost more than Ozempic. This is based on the current list price of each drug, which is around $1,023 for Mounjaro and $936 for Ozempic. However, people with health insurance typically pay an amount that is lower than the list price for a drug.

To find out how much you would have to pay for Mounjaro or Ozempic, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. If you have health insurance, you may be able to find this information on your plan’s website or by calling member services.

Why are costs different for brand-name drugs vs. generic drugs?

Brand-name drugs can be expensive because of the studies needed to test how safe and effective they are.

Makers of a brand-name drug can sell their drug for up to 20 years. When the patent for a brand-name drug expires, other drugmakers can make and sell generic versions. A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.)

This competition may help keep costs of generic medications lower. Also, generic medications contain the same active drugs as brand-name medications. So they don’t require the same testing, which can be costly.

If you’d like to know more about the cost differences between brand-name and generic drugs, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

What to ask about Mounjaro

This article provides cost information related to Mounjaro. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescription. Above on this page, you’ll find coupons for Mounjaro.

If you have more questions about paying for this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also contact your insurance company.

Here’s a list of questions you may want to ask regarding the cost of your medication:

• What are my options if I can’t afford Mounjaro?
• Would the cost of Mounjaro increase, decrease, or stay the same over time?
• Will I have to pay more for Mounjaro if you prescribe the drug off label for weight loss?

Resources

• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm   
• Lilly. (2023). How much should I expect to pay for Mounjaro? https://www.lillypricinginfo.com/mounjaro
• Mounjaro (tirzepatide) Injection, for subcutaneous use. (2023). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/215866Orig1s002s006lbl.pdf
• Novocare. (2023.) Find out the cost for Ozempic. https://www.novocare.com/diabetes/products/ozempic/explaining-list-price.html

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.