How Much Does Tirzepatide Cost in 2026?

Tirzepatide is sold under two brand names at the same list price, and compounded versions cost a fraction of that. The gap between what Eli Lilly charges and what compounding pharmacies charge is large enough to determine whether treatment is financially sustainable for most patients. This page breaks down every price point, the insurance landscape, and annual cost math so you can plan before your first injection.

Brand-Name Tirzepatide Cost

Eli Lilly manufactures tirzepatide under two trade names. Zepbound is approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight plus at least one weight-related condition. Mounjaro is approved for type 2 diabetes only. The active ingredient is identical. The dose options are identical. The price is identical.

Zepbound Pricing

Zepbound carries a list price of approximately $1,499 per month without insurance. That figure applies to all dose strengths from 2.5 mg through 15 mg. The price does not change as your dose increases during escalation. Eli Lilly has offered savings programs periodically, but availability and terms shift. As of 2026, commercially insured patients with coverage for Zepbound may access a copay card that reduces out-of-pocket cost, sometimes to as low as $25 per fill. Those savings cards do not apply to government insurance programs including Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare.

Mounjaro Pricing

Mounjaro also lists at roughly $1,499 per month. Because Mounjaro is indicated for type 2 diabetes rather than weight loss, insurance coverage patterns differ. Commercial plans are more likely to cover Mounjaro for a patient with a T2D diagnosis. Some prescribers write Mounjaro off-label for weight management when Zepbound coverage is denied, though insurers have become more aggressive about auditing those claims. Patients should not assume Mounjaro coverage will transfer to a weight loss indication.

Insurance and Copay Cards

Insurance estimates vary widely. A patient with a generous commercial plan and a T2D diagnosis might pay $50 per month for Mounjaro. A patient seeking Zepbound for weight loss on a plan that excludes anti-obesity medications will pay the full $1,499. The copay card programs require commercial insurance and exclude government plans entirely. If your plan does not cover tirzepatide at all, the copay card will not help.

Compounded Tirzepatide Cost

Compounded tirzepatide is available through telehealth providers at dramatically lower prices. These products are mixed by licensed 503A compounding pharmacies from bulk tirzepatide and dispensed under individual prescriptions. They are not FDA-approved, have not been tested in clinical trials, and do not carry the same regulatory assurances as Zepbound or Mounjaro.

BiltRx charges $129 per month for compounded tirzepatide at all dose levels. That flat rate does not increase with dose escalation. The subscription includes an online medical consultation. Arc-1 prices its compounded tirzepatide with added glycine and B12 on a tiered structure: $199.99 at 2.5 mg, $249.99 at 5 mg, and $399.99 at 7.5 mg. Arc-1 includes free shipping, a free consultation, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Arc-1 is not available in CA, AR, IN, MN, or SC.

For context, BiltRx also offers compounded semaglutide at $81 per month and brand-name Ozempic at $1,449 per month. Brand-name Wegovy runs $1,849 per month. The compounded-versus-brand price gap exists across both molecules. More detail on compounded pricing is on our compounded tirzepatide cost page.

Annual Cost Math

Monthly numbers are easier to process. Annual numbers are what actually matter for budgeting a treatment that most patients stay on for at least a year.

At $129 per month, a full year on BiltRx compounded tirzepatide costs $1,548. A full year on brand-name Zepbound or Mounjaro at list price costs $17,988. The difference is $16,440 per year. Even Arc-1 at the highest 7.5 mg tier ($399.99/month) totals $4,799.88 annually, which is still 73% less than the brand-name list price.

These figures assume 12 months of continuous treatment with no interruptions, no dose changes at Arc-1 (which would alter cost), and no insurance coverage on the brand-name side. Patients with commercial insurance coverage will pay less than list price for brand-name products. Patients on compounded versions pay cash regardless.

What Affects Your Out-of-Pocket Cost

Insurance Coverage

This is the single largest variable. A patient whose plan covers Zepbound at a preferred tier might pay $50 to $150 per month after deductible. A patient whose plan excludes all anti-obesity medications will pay $1,499. Medicare Part D does not cover anti-obesity medications as of 2026. Medicaid coverage varies by state. Step therapy requirements, prior authorization, and formulary placement all influence the final number. Call your insurer's pharmacy benefit line before assuming coverage.

Dose Tier

At BiltRx, dose does not affect price. $129 covers any dose. At Arc-1, dose matters significantly. A patient starting at 2.5 mg ($199.99) who escalates to 7.5 mg ($399.99) will see their monthly cost double. Brand-name products do not vary by dose either. The pen containing 2.5 mg costs the same as the pen containing 15 mg. Dose tier only matters for Arc-1 among the options tracked here.

Provider Fees

Both BiltRx and Arc-1 include consultations in their pricing. Not all telehealth platforms do. Some charge $75 to $150 for an initial evaluation and $50 or more for follow-up appointments. Shipping is another variable. Arc-1 ships free. BiltRx does not guarantee free shipping. Cold-chain shipping for injectable medications can add $15 to $30 per delivery, which adds $180 to $360 annually if you pay per shipment. Factor these in before committing.