Bottom line
Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly offer manufacturer savings programs that can reduce your monthly GLP-1 copay to as little as $25. These programs are available to commercially insured patients who are not enrolled in any government healthcare program. Enrollment is free, takes minutes, and the cards activate at your pharmacy counter. However, each program has annual caps, eligibility restrictions, and limitations that are important to understand before you assume your costs are covered.
Overview: who offers what
| Manufacturer | Medications covered | Program name | Min copay | Annual cap | Expiration | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | Novo Nordisk | Ozempic, Wegovy | NovoCare Savings Card | $25/month | Varies by plan | Ongoing (re-enroll annually) | | Eli Lilly | Mounjaro | Mounjaro Savings Card | $25/month | $1,950/year | 12/31/2026 | | Eli Lilly | Zepbound | Zepbound Savings Card | $25/month | $1,300/year | 12/31/2026 |
Novo Nordisk savings programs
Wegovy Savings Card
The NovoCare Savings Card for Wegovy is Novo Nordisk's official copay assistance program for patients with commercial insurance.
How it works: If your commercial insurance covers Wegovy, the savings card reduces your out-of-pocket cost to as little as $25 per fill. The card covers up to $100 in savings for a 1-month supply, $200 for a 2-month supply, or $300 for a 3-month supply.
Eligibility requirements:
- You must have commercial (private) health insurance that covers Wegovy
- You must have a valid prescription for Wegovy
- You must live in the United States or its territories
- You must NOT be enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, Medicare Part D, Medicare Advantage, Medigap, DoD, VA, TRICARE, or any other government-funded healthcare program
How to enroll: 1. Visit novocare.com or wegovy.com/savings 2. Complete the eligibility questionnaire (takes approximately 3 minutes) 3. Receive your digital savings card immediately 4. Present the card at your pharmacy alongside your insurance card
The card activates automatically when your pharmacist runs it with your commercial insurance. There is no separate approval process or waiting period.
What the card does NOT cover:
- The full cash price of Wegovy if your insurance does not cover it at all
- Any amount exceeding the monthly savings cap ($100/month for 1-month fills)
- Prescription costs for patients with government insurance
Ozempic Savings Card
The Ozempic savings program works similarly but is specifically for the diabetes indication (Ozempic) rather than the obesity indication (Wegovy).
How it works: Commercially insured patients with coverage for Ozempic may pay as little as $25 per monthly fill, with savings of up to $100 per month for up to 48 months.
Key differences from Wegovy card:
- 48-month duration limit
- Specifically tied to Ozempic (the diabetes-branded product)
- Some patients prescribed semaglutide off-label for weight loss through an Ozempic prescription may qualify
Eligibility: Same as the Wegovy card — commercial insurance required, no government programs.
NovoCare Pharmacy (cash-pay option)
For patients whose commercial insurance does not cover Wegovy or Ozempic, Novo Nordisk offers NovoCare Pharmacy pricing:
- Ozempic 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg: $199/month for new patients (limited fills through June 2026), then $349/month
- Ozempic 1 mg: $349/month
- Ozempic 2 mg: $499/month
- Wegovy: Varies by dose; check novocare.com for current pricing
This is not a savings card — it is a direct-purchase option for patients paying entirely out of pocket. These prices are significantly below the retail price (approximately $900–$1,350/month for Wegovy at retail pharmacies) but still substantial.
Eli Lilly savings programs
Mounjaro Savings Card
The Mounjaro Savings Card from Eli Lilly is one of the most generous manufacturer copay programs in the GLP-1 space.
How it works: Eligible patients with commercial insurance covering Mounjaro pay as little as $25 per fill (1-month, 2-month, or 3-month supply). Savings are capped at $150 per 1-month fill, $300 per 2-month fill, or $450 per 3-month fill, with a separate annual cap of $1,950 per calendar year and a maximum of 13 fills per year.
Eligibility requirements:
- Commercial drug insurance that covers Mounjaro
- A valid prescription from your healthcare provider
- Not enrolled in any government-funded healthcare program (Medicare, Medicaid, DoD, VA, TRICARE)
- U.S. resident
How to enroll: 1. Visit mounjaro.lilly.com/savings-resources 2. Or text "MJ" to 85099 3. Activate instantly — no waiting period 4. Present at pharmacy with your insurance card
Card expiration: December 31, 2026. Must re-enroll for 2027.
Zepbound Savings Card
Zepbound (tirzepatide for obesity) has its own separate savings card from Eli Lilly.
How it works: Commercially insured patients with coverage for Zepbound pay as little as $25 per fill. Savings capped at $100 per 1-month fill, $200 per 2-month fill, or $300 per 3-month fill, with a separate annual cap of $1,300 per calendar year.
Eligibility requirements: Same as Mounjaro — commercial insurance with coverage, no government programs, valid prescription, U.S. resident.
How to enroll: 1. Visit zepbound.lilly.com/savings 2. Instant activation 3. Present at pharmacy
Card expiration: December 31, 2026.
LillyDirect (cash-pay option)
For patients without insurance coverage for Zepbound, Eli Lilly offers LillyDirect pricing for Zepbound vials:
- Dose-dependent pricing: approximately $299–$449 per month depending on dose
- Purchased directly through LillyDirect with delivery to your home
- Requires a prescription from an authorized telehealth provider or your own physician
This is Eli Lilly's response to compounded tirzepatide and represents a significant price reduction from the retail price of approximately $1,060/month.
Comparing the two manufacturers
| Feature | Novo Nordisk (Wegovy/Ozempic) | Eli Lilly (Mounjaro/Zepbound) | |---|---|---| | Minimum copay | $25/month | $25/month | | Monthly savings cap | $100 (1-month fill) | $100–$150 (1-month fill) | | Annual savings cap | Not explicitly stated | $1,300 (Zepbound) / $1,950 (Mounjaro) | | Government insurance eligible | No | No | | Enrollment time | ~3 minutes online | Instant (online or text) | | Cash-pay alternative | NovoCare Pharmacy ($199–$499/mo) | LillyDirect ($299–$449/mo) | | Card expiration | Re-enroll annually | 12/31/2026 |
Who does NOT qualify
The following patients cannot use manufacturer savings cards:
- Medicare beneficiaries (including Medicare Part D, Medicare Advantage, Medigap)
- Medicaid enrollees
- TRICARE, VA, DoD beneficiaries
- Any federal or state government healthcare program enrollees
- Patients without insurance (savings cards supplement insurance, not replace it; use cash-pay programs instead)
- Patients whose insurance does not cover the specific medication (some savings cards require that the medication be on formulary)
This restriction is due to federal Anti-Kickback Statute regulations that prohibit manufacturers from offering financial incentives to patients in government healthcare programs.
What if you have Medicare?
Medicare patients should explore:
- Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) which provide free medication to qualifying patients (see our guide on [guide:glp1-patient-assistance-programs])
- The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program launching mid-2026 through CMS
- The BALANCE Model for Medicaid beneficiaries launching May 2026
- State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAPs) that supplement Part D
How to maximize your savings card
Tip 1: Get a 3-month prescription
Savings caps apply per fill, not per month. A 3-month fill gets $300 in savings (for Wegovy/Zepbound) or $450 (for Mounjaro) rather than $100/$150 for a 1-month fill. If your pharmacy and insurance allow 90-day fills, this maximizes the value of your savings card.
Tip 2: Stack with insurance benefits
The savings card works on top of your insurance. If your plan already covers 80% of the medication cost, the savings card covers most or all of the remaining 20% copay — often bringing your cost to $25 or $0 depending on your plan.
Tip 3: Enroll before your first fill
Have your savings card ready before you arrive at the pharmacy. Some pharmacists may not know about these programs or may need the card information to process your prescription correctly.
Tip 4: Confirm annual renewal
Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly programs may require annual re-enrollment. Set a calendar reminder for late December to re-enroll for the following year.
Tip 5: Use manufacturer pharmacies for cash-pay
If you do not have insurance coverage, NovoCare Pharmacy and LillyDirect typically offer the lowest cash prices. These are lower than retail pharmacy prices and often lower than GoodRx or similar discount programs.
Common problems and solutions
"My pharmacy says the card doesn't work"
- Ensure the card number is entered correctly (digit by digit if needed)
- Confirm that the specific medication and dose are covered by your insurance formulary
- Ask the pharmacist to run the savings card as a secondary claim after insurance processes
- Call the manufacturer's helpline: NovoCare (1-888-668-6444) or Lilly (1-800-545-6962)
"I hit my annual savings cap"
- Switch to a 90-day fill pattern to get more savings per fill
- Ask your prescriber about therapeutic alternatives that may have different savings programs
- Explore patient assistance programs if you qualify based on income
- Check if your insurance plan has a separate copay cap that kicks in
"My insurance denied the medication"
Savings cards cannot help if your insurance denies coverage entirely. In this case:
- Ask your prescriber to submit a prior authorization
- File an appeal with documentation of medical necessity
- Explore cash-pay options (NovoCare Pharmacy, LillyDirect)
- Check eligibility for patient assistance programs
The fine print: what to watch for
- Savings cards do NOT count toward your insurance deductible or out-of-pocket maximum in most plans. This is an important financial consideration — the manufacturer payment does not help you reach your deductible faster.
- Some employers have accumulator or maximizer programs that claw back manufacturer copay assistance. If your employer uses one of these programs, your savings card value may be redirected and may not reduce your actual out-of-pocket cost as expected. Ask your HR or benefits department.
- Card terms can change. Manufacturers adjust caps, eligibility, and terms periodically. Re-check terms each time you re-enroll.
Enrolling: step-by-step summary
For Wegovy or Ozempic:
1. Go to novocare.com 2. Select your medication 3. Answer eligibility questions (insurance type, government program status) 4. Receive digital card 5. Save card to phone wallet or print 6. Present at pharmacy with insurance card
For Mounjaro or Zepbound:
1. Go to mounjaro.lilly.com/savings-resources or zepbound.lilly.com/savings 2. Alternatively, text "MJ" (Mounjaro) to 85099 3. Confirm eligibility 4. Receive instant activation 5. Present at pharmacy with insurance card
Both processes take under 5 minutes and require no documentation, no income verification, and no physician involvement.
[guide:glp1-patient-assistance-programs] · [guide:best-glp1-programs-2026] · [drug:semaglutide] · [drug:tirzepatide]