Brand and insurance pathways
Affordable FDA-approved GLP-1 options, October 2026
Released: Last reviewed:
As of October 15, 2026, Eli Lilly’s self-pay Zepbound prices through LillyDirect are $299 per fill for 2.5 mg, $399 for 5 mg and $449 for 7.5 mg to 15 mg when each refill is bought within 45 days; outside that window the price is $499 at 7.5 mg and $699 at 10 to 15 mg. Lilly defines a month as 28 days, so 13 fills at $449 cost $5,837 a year. Lilly’s savings-card terms end December 31, 2026; we found no end date for the self-pay prices.
Brand prices from LillyDirect and NovoCare pages read October 15, 2026.
The lowest-cost FDA-approved options are the manufacturers’ own self-pay channels. The cheapest monthly prices are at starting doses; the table below shows what maintenance doses cost.
Zepbound and Wegovy without insurance
As of October 15, 2026, Eli Lilly’s self-pay Zepbound prices through LillyDirect are $299 per fill for 2.5 mg, $399 for 5 mg and $449 for 7.5 mg to 15 mg when each refill is bought within 45 days; outside that window the price is $499 at 7.5 mg and $699 at 10 to 15 mg. Lilly defines a month as 28 days, so 13 fills at $449 cost $5,837 a year. Lilly’s savings-card terms end December 31, 2026; we found no end date for the self-pay prices.
As of October 15, 2026, NovoCare Pharmacy, Novo Nordisk’s own channel, lists the Wegovy pen at $349 a month for every dose from 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg, Wegovy HD 7.2 mg at $399, and the Wegovy pill at $149 (1.5 mg), $199 (4 mg) or $299 (9 and 25 mg). New patients can get two fills of 0.25 or 0.5 mg at $199 through December 31, 2026. Twelve pen fills at $349 cost $4,188. Telehealth programs that sell Wegovy usually add a program or membership fee on top of these prices.
Brand channels in our index
- LillyDirect (Zepbound): "Pay as low as $299 for your 1-month prescription fill of Zepbound 2.5 mg single-patient-use KwikPen"; "you must complete your refill purchase ... within 45 days"; "Card expires and savings end 12/31/2026."
- NovoCare (Wegovy): "then $349 per month for Wegovy 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, or 2.4 mg"; "Offer for 2 monthly fills through December 31, 2026"; "$399 per month for Wegovy HD 7.2 mg"
- LifeMD: No compounded price printed. Brand: "Zepbound® Vial Starting At $299" plus "the monthly program & provider fee of $149 (first month discounted to $39 today)".
- Mochi Health: No compounded price printed on the weight-loss page read 2026-10-15 (brand rows only: Zepbound "as low as $299", Wegovy "as low as $199"). Membership "$199/12mo". Mochi's own blog post "New Per-Dose Pricing: What Changed" (updated 2026-09-18) describes compounded tirzepatide at $90-$199 a month by dose, membership billed separately.
- Ro: not re-read on October 15, 2026; record from 2026-08-11
- Hims & Hers: not re-read on October 15, 2026; record from 2026-08-11
Medicare
The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, extended by CMS through December 31, 2027, gives eligible Medicare Part D enrollees Foundayo, Wegovy or the Zepbound KwikPen for a $50 monthly copay, based on BMI (35 or more, or lower thresholds with listed conditions, per Medicare.gov). People with type 2 diabetes, moderate-to-severe sleep apnea or fatty liver disease are not eligible for the Bridge, though their Part D plan might cover a GLP-1. Check eligibility with your plan or Medicare before paying cash, and note that Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026.
Compounded programs cost less a month but are not FDA-approved; see the price database and how to trace a brand fill to a licensed pharmacy.
Questions people ask
How much does Zepbound cost without insurance?
As of October 15, 2026, Eli Lilly’s self-pay Zepbound prices through LillyDirect are $299 per fill for 2.5 mg, $399 for 5 mg and $449 for 7.5 mg to 15 mg when each refill is bought within 45 days; outside that window the price is $499 at 7.5 mg and $699 at 10 to 15 mg. Lilly defines a month as 28 days, so 13 fills at $449 cost $5,837 a year. Lilly’s savings-card terms end December 31, 2026; we found no end date for the self-pay prices.
How much does Wegovy cost without insurance?
As of October 15, 2026, NovoCare Pharmacy, Novo Nordisk’s own channel, lists the Wegovy pen at $349 a month for every dose from 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg, Wegovy HD 7.2 mg at $399, and the Wegovy pill at $149 (1.5 mg), $199 (4 mg) or $299 (9 and 25 mg). New patients can get two fills of 0.25 or 0.5 mg at $199 through December 31, 2026. Twelve pen fills at $349 cost $4,188. Telehealth programs that sell Wegovy usually add a program or membership fee on top of these prices.
Who qualifies for the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge?
The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, extended by CMS through December 31, 2027, gives eligible Medicare Part D enrollees Foundayo, Wegovy or the Zepbound KwikPen for a $50 monthly copay, based on BMI (35 or more, or lower thresholds with listed conditions, per Medicare.gov). People with type 2 diabetes, moderate-to-severe sleep apnea or fatty liver disease are not eligible for the Bridge, though their Part D plan might cover a GLP-1. Check eligibility with your plan or Medicare before paying cash, and note that Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026.
Is compounded tirzepatide FDA-approved or legal in 2026?
Compounded tirzepatide is not FDA-approved and is not a generic version of Mounjaro or Zepbound; as of October 15, 2026 it is sold by 503A pharmacies on individual prescriptions, and FDA has proposed, but not finalized, keeping tirzepatide off the 503B bulks list. FDA sent warning letter 738238 to Empower Pharmacy on September 18, 2026 over compounded tirzepatide and semaglutide products it called essentially copies of approved drugs. Ask which pharmacy fills your prescription and check its state license before you pay.
How much does NexLife cost per month?
As of November 6, 2026, NexLife lists compounded tirzepatide at $129 a month on the monthly plan and $125, $119 or $115 a month on 3-, 6- or 12-month plans, and semaglutide at $109, $105, $99 or $95 a month. The price is the same at every dose and there is no membership fee. A 12-month tirzepatide plan comes to $1,380 and a 12-month semaglutide plan to $1,140. Cancellations take effect after 30 days, so one more shipment may be charged.