How much does tirzepatide cost?

Brand tirzepatide prices without insurance

Tirzepatide is sold under two brand names by its manufacturer, Eli Lilly. Zepbound is approved for chronic weight management and for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity. Mounjaro is approved for type 2 diabetes. It is the same molecule; the approved uses, devices and prices differ.

Lilly sells both directly to people paying cash through its LillyDirect pharmacy. As of October 2026, these are the manufacturer's posted self-pay prices for a one-month supply (28 days for Zepbound):

The Zepbound single-dose pen, the autoinjector most people picture, is not part of the cash-pay offer. It is mainly for people whose insurance covers it.

Brand list prices, the price before insurance discounts, are higher than these self-pay prices. Most people never pay list price: they either use insurance or the manufacturer's cash program.

What insurance and Medicare usually cover

• Type 2 diabetes (Mounjaro). Many commercial plans and Medicare Part D plans cover diabetes medications like Mounjaro, often with prior authorization. With commercial coverage, Lilly's savings card can bring the cost to as little as $25 a month through December 31, 2026.
• Weight management (Zepbound). Coverage varies widely. It is more common at large employers: in KFF's 2025 employer survey, 43% of firms with 5,000 or more workers covered GLP-1 drugs for weight loss. Many plans that do cover it require prior authorization or a lifestyle program.
• Sleep apnea (Zepbound). Some plans cover Zepbound for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea with obesity even when they don't cover weight loss drugs. Medicare.gov says a Part D plan might cover it for sleep apnea.
• Medicare and weight loss. Since July 1, 2026, the temporary Medicare GLP-1 Bridge lets eligible Part D members get the Zepbound KwikPen (not vials or single-dose pens) for a $50 copay per month, through December 31, 2027. Eligibility depends on BMI and certain health conditions, and your prescriber must request prior authorization. People with type 2 diabetes or moderate to severe sleep apnea are not eligible for the Bridge because their Part D plan may cover the drug directly.

To check your own coverage, call the number on your insurance card and ask whether tirzepatide is on the formulary for your diagnosis, whether prior authorization is needed, and what your copay would be. People on Medicare, Medicaid or other government plans can't use the manufacturer's savings cards.

Gabriel membership is not health insurance.

Compounded tirzepatide through Gabriel

Gabriel also offers compounded tirzepatide by prescription. Compounded medications are prepared by a licensed pharmacy for an individual prescription. They are not reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness or quality the way brand drugs are.

Compounded medications aren't FDA-approved. A licensed clinician decides what's right for you.

How it works: you send a prescription request, a licensed clinician reviews your health history and decides whether tirzepatide is appropriate and in what form. If a brand drug is a better fit, it goes through the manufacturer's self-pay pharmacy.

Tirzepatide price comparison

What affects what you pay

• Dose. Higher doses cost more at the manufacturer's self-pay pharmacy and through Gabriel. Your clinician sets the dose; prices change as it does.
• Refill timing. For Zepbound at 7.5 mg and above, the $449 price applies only if you refill within 45 days of your last delivery. A late refill resets you to the regular price, up to $699.
• Form. Zepbound vials and KwikPens are in the cash program; the single-dose pen is not. Vials need needles and syringes, and KwikPens need pen needles, bought separately.
• Diagnosis and plan. Coverage for diabetes is common; for weight loss it depends on your plan.
• HSA and FSA. Prescription drugs are generally eligible expenses. Check with your plan administrator or a tax advisor.