Key Takeaways
- The 2025 Zepbound Savings Card reduced commercial-insurance copays to as little as $25 per fill, up to 13 fills per calendar year (Eli Lilly Zepbound Savings Card 2025 terms).
- Patients with commercial insurance that didn't cover Zepbound paid $550 per month in 2025; that price increased to $650 in 2026.
- The 2025 program excluded Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, VA, and Massachusetts residents, the same exclusions as 2026.
- The 2025 maximum benefit per fill was approximately $475 toward the copay; the 2026 cap dropped slightly to about $469.
- Eli Lilly launched LillyDirect single-dose vials in 2024 and expanded the offering through 2025 as a separate self-pay path for patients without commercial insurance.
Direct answer (40-60 words)
The 2025 Zepbound Savings Card reduced commercial-insurance copays to as little as $25 per fill, with maximum per-fill savings of about $475 and a 13-fill annual limit. Patients with commercial insurance that didn't cover Zepbound paid $550 per month. In 2026 the uncovered price increased to $650 per month and the per-fill cap shifted to ~$469.
Table of contents
- The 30-second answer
- What the 2025 Zepbound Savings Card paid
- 2024 vs 2025 vs 2026: what changed each year
- Eligibility rules in 2025 (and what carried into 2026)
- How to use a 2025-issued card today
- The LillyDirect self-pay program in 2025
- Why the program changes year to year
- What to do if you used all 13 fills in 2025
- Compounded tirzepatide for patients who never qualified
- FAQ
- Sources
- Footer disclaimers
What the 2025 Zepbound Savings Card paid
The 2025 program had two paths.
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Try the Cost Calculator →With Zepbound coverage on a commercial plan:
- Pay as little as $25 per fill
- Maximum benefit of approximately $475 per fill toward the copay
- Up to 13 fills per calendar year
- Card valid January 1 to December 31, 2025
With commercial insurance but no Zepbound coverage:
- Pay $550 per month flat (Tier 2, sometimes called "self-pay through the card")
- Same 13-fill annual limit
- Same calendar-year validity
- Designed for patients whose plan denied prior auth or excluded Zepbound from formulary
For comparison, the 2025 unassisted cash price at retail pharmacies was about $1,060 per month for any Zepbound dose. The savings card produced a $35 to $510 monthly out-of-pocket reduction for most patients depending on which tier applied.
2024 vs 2025 vs 2026: what changed each year
The card's terms have shifted each calendar year. A side-by-side:
| Term | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 minimum copay (insurance covers) | $25 | $25 | $25 |
| Tier 1 maximum savings per fill | $475 | $475 | ~$469 |
| Tier 2 self-pay price (insurance doesn't cover) | $550 | $550 | $650 |
| Annual fill limit | 13 fills | 13 fills | 13 fills |
| Massachusetts excluded | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Medicare/Medicaid excluded | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| LillyDirect 2.5 mg vial price | $399 | $349 | $349 |
| LillyDirect 5+ mg vial price | $549 | $499 | $499 |
| Cash list price (approx) | $1,060/month | $1,060/month | $1,086/month |
The biggest 2026 change was the Tier 2 price hike from $550 to $650 per month for patients with commercial insurance whose plans don't cover Zepbound. Eli Lilly hasn't published a public reason for the increase. Industry analysts (Wall Street Journal coverage, January 2026) attributed it to general list price increases and tightening of patient assistance budgets.
The Tier 1 ($25 minimum copay) has held stable across all three years.
Eligibility rules in 2025 (and what carried into 2026)
The eligibility rules from 2025 remained nearly unchanged for 2026.
You qualified in 2025 if:
- U.S. resident
- Age 18 or older
- Commercial (private) insurance, including employer plans, marketplace plans, and short-term plans
- Valid Zepbound prescription from a licensed U.S. provider
- Not enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, VA, IHS, or any state-funded program
- Not a Massachusetts resident
You did not qualify in 2025 if:
- Enrolled in Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage with drug coverage
- Enrolled in Medicaid (any state)
- Enrolled in TRICARE, VA, or IHS
- Massachusetts resident (state law restricts manufacturer coupons)
- Cash-paying patient with no insurance (use LillyDirect instead)
- Receiving Zepbound through a 340B program
These rules carry over to 2026 with no changes.
For most patients, the question is simple: do you have commercial insurance, and is Medicare or Medicaid your primary coverage? If commercial only, you qualify. If government, you don't. The exception is patients with both Medicare and a separate commercial plan; in those cases, the card can sometimes be used if the commercial plan is primary, but the rules get complicated and require pharmacy-level verification.
How to use a 2025-issued card today
If you registered for the Zepbound Savings Card in 2025 and still have the card details, here's what to know about using it now.
The 2025 card no longer works. The program ran January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025. The card details (Member ID, BIN, PCN, Group) became invalid on January 1, 2026.
You don't need to do anything special to renew. The 2026 program reuses the same enrollment data. If you registered in 2025 and use Zepbound in 2026, the pharmacy's claim will route through the active 2026 card automatically. You don't have to fill out the form again unless you've moved or your information changed.
To verify your active 2026 card, visit zepbound.lilly.com, log in with the email you used to register, and confirm your card details show "valid through 12/31/2026."
If your 2025 card stopped working in early 2026, the most common cause is the auto-renewal didn't process because of an email change or expired payment information. Re-register on the Lilly site and the new card activates within 24 hours.
The 2026 card produces the same $25 Tier 1 outcome as the 2025 card. The Tier 2 price is the change you'll notice if your insurance doesn't cover Zepbound.
The LillyDirect self-pay program in 2025
Eli Lilly launched LillyDirect in early 2024 as a separate self-pay path. By 2025 the program had expanded to cover all available Zepbound doses.
2025 LillyDirect pricing:
| Dose | 2024 price | 2025 price | 2026 price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 mg single-dose vial | $399 | $349 | $349 |
| 5 mg single-dose vial | $549 | $499 | $499 |
| 7.5 mg single-dose vial | $549 | $499 | $499 |
| 10 mg single-dose vial | $549 | $499 | $499 |
| 12.5 mg single-dose vial | Not yet available | $499 | $499 |
| 15 mg single-dose vial | Not yet available | $499 | $499 |
LillyDirect prices are flat per dose. The product is a single-dose vial (you draw the dose with a syringe) rather than a pre-filled pen. The cost is roughly half the unassisted cash price for branded Zepbound pens.
Who LillyDirect is for:
- Patients with no insurance (the savings card requires commercial insurance)
- Patients on Medicare or Medicaid (excluded from the card)
- Massachusetts residents (excluded from the card)
- Anyone who prefers the simplicity of a flat monthly price without insurance paperwork
LillyDirect doesn't combine with the Zepbound Savings Card. It's an either/or choice.
For more on Zepbound costs across programs, see our Zepbound cost comparison.
Why the program changes year to year
Manufacturer copay programs are not permanent legal entitlements. They're marketing programs run by the drug company under specific business assumptions. Three things drive year-over-year changes.
List price changes. Eli Lilly raised the Zepbound list price from approximately $1,060 to $1,086 per month between 2024 and 2026. When the list price rises, manufacturer assistance programs typically adjust their savings caps and Tier 2 pricing to maintain the company's net revenue per fill.
PBM and insurer pressure. Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) sometimes pressure manufacturers to reduce or eliminate copay coupons because the coupons can incentivize patients to choose brand-name drugs over cheaper alternatives. When that pressure intensifies, manufacturers tighten program terms.
Demand patterns. Zepbound prescriptions grew rapidly through 2024 and 2025. As demand grew, the cost of running a $25 copay program increased materially for Eli Lilly. Adjusting the cap or the Tier 2 price is one way to manage program costs.
The pattern across many drug manufacturer copay programs (insulins, biologics, specialty drugs) is that terms tighten over time. Patients who depend on the savings card should plan for the possibility that the 2027 program could be less generous than 2026.
What to do if you used all 13 fills in 2025
Hitting the annual fill limit is common for patients on monthly Zepbound. A few options.
Wait until January 1. The 13-fill counter resets each calendar year. If you ran out in November 2025, you paid full price for December and got a fresh 13 fills starting January 2026.
Switch to LillyDirect for the remainder of the year. If your insurance doesn't fully cover Zepbound and the savings card was your main discount, LillyDirect can bridge you for the months between hitting the limit and January 1.
Look at compounded alternatives. Compounded tirzepatide can be a cost bridge while waiting for the savings card to reset. The medication is different (compounded vs FDA-approved), so this isn't a casual switch and should be discussed with a provider.
Stretch your existing supply. Some patients work with their provider to extend dosing intervals (e.g., from weekly to every 8 to 10 days) for the last few weeks of the year. This is off-label and should only be done under provider guidance.
The simplest approach for most patients is to plan around the 13-fill limit by tracking fills monthly. A typical year has 13 monthly fills if you start in January, so most patients on weekly Zepbound for the full year just barely fit within the cap.
Compounded tirzepatide for patients who never qualified
For 2025 patients who were never eligible for the Zepbound Savings Card (Medicare, Medicaid, no insurance), compounded tirzepatide was a common alternative path.
2025 typical pricing for compounded tirzepatide:
- FormBlends: $279 to $449 per month (no insurance)
- Other 503A compounding pharmacies: $250 to $500 per month
Why patients chose compounded:
- Excluded from manufacturer programs by Medicare/Medicaid enrollment
- Couldn't afford the $1,060 cash price even with LillyDirect
- Wanted dose flexibility (compounded prescriptions can be written at any milligram dose, including off-protocol intermediate doses)
Why patients chose brand-name Zepbound:
- Eligible for $25 Tier 1 pricing through commercial insurance
- Wanted FDA-approved medication
- Preferred pen format over vial-and-syringe
The choice between compounded and brand-name depends on insurance status, cost tolerance, and preference for FDA approval. For more, see our compounded vs brand-name guide.
FAQ
What was the Zepbound Savings Card in 2025? A manufacturer copay program from Eli Lilly. It reduced commercial-insurance copays to as little as $25 per fill, with maximum per-fill savings of about $475 and a 13-fill annual limit. Commercial-insured patients without Zepbound coverage paid $550 per month with the card.
How much did Zepbound cost with the savings card in 2025? $25 per month if your commercial insurance covered Zepbound. $550 per month if you had commercial insurance but Zepbound wasn't covered. Without the card, the cash price was about $1,060 per month.
Is the 2025 Zepbound Savings Card still active? No. The 2025 program ended December 31, 2025. The 2026 program replaced it on January 1. Most terms carried over, but the Tier 2 price increased from $550 to $650 per month.
Did Medicare patients qualify for the 2025 savings card? No. Federal anti-kickback laws prohibit manufacturer copay programs for Medicare and other government-program enrollees. The same exclusion applied in 2024 and continues in 2026. Medicare patients can use LillyDirect at $349 to $499 per month instead.
What changed between the 2025 and 2026 Zepbound Savings Card? The Tier 2 price increased from $550 to $650 per month for patients whose commercial insurance doesn't cover Zepbound. The Tier 1 ($25) minimum copay stayed the same. The maximum per-fill savings dropped slightly from $475 to about $469.
Did the savings card cover Zepbound for weight loss in 2025? Yes. The card applied to FDA-approved indications, including chronic weight management. Some commercial plans covered Zepbound only for sleep apnea or excluded weight-loss indications, in which case the Tier 2 path applied.
How many fills did the 2025 card cover? Up to 13 fills per calendar year. The same limit applies in 2026. The fill counter reset each January 1.
Could I use the 2025 card with GoodRx? No. The savings card and discount cards like GoodRx couldn't stack in the same transaction. Patients chose one or the other, and the savings card almost always produced a lower out-of-pocket for commercial-insured patients.
What happened if my insurance changed mid-2025? If you switched from commercial to Medicare or Medicaid mid-year, the card stopped working at the next fill. If you switched between two commercial plans, the card kept working under the new plan as long as Zepbound was covered.
Did Eli Lilly send savings cards in 2025 automatically? No. Patients had to register at zepbound.lilly.com to receive the card. Some prescribers handed out physical cards from a starter pack, but most patients enrolled online. The 2026 enrollment is the same process.
What if I'm in Massachusetts? Massachusetts residents have been excluded from the savings card every year since launch because of state law restricting manufacturer copay coupons. Massachusetts patients can use LillyDirect, compounded alternatives, or full insurance copays.
Did the 2025 LillyDirect program accept Medicare patients? Yes. LillyDirect is a self-pay cash program with no insurance involvement. Medicare patients pay the flat LillyDirect price ($349 to $499 per dose in 2025) directly. The program doesn't bill insurance and isn't subject to the manufacturer-coupon exclusion.
Sources
- Jastreboff AM, Aronne LJ, Ahmad NN, et al. Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity (SURMOUNT-1). N Engl J Med. 2022;387:205-216.
- Zepbound (tirzepatide) prescribing information. Eli Lilly and Company. Revised 2024.
- Eli Lilly Zepbound Savings Card 2025 terms and conditions. zepbound.lilly.com (archived).
- Eli Lilly Zepbound Savings Card 2026 terms and conditions. zepbound.lilly.com. Accessed Q1 2026.
- Eli Lilly LillyDirect program announcement. Eli Lilly press release, January 2024.
- CMS Office of Inspector General. Special advisory bulletin: pharmaceutical manufacturer copayment coupons. 2014.
- Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 175H, Section 3 (manufacturer coupon restrictions). 2012.
- Garvey WT, Frias JP, Jastreboff AM, et al. Tirzepatide once weekly for chronic weight management (SURMOUNT-2). Lancet. 2023;402:613-626.
Footer disclaimers
Platform Disclaimer. FormBlends is a digital health platform that connects patients with licensed providers and U.S.-based pharmacies. We do not manufacture, prescribe, or dispense medication directly. All clinical decisions are made by independent licensed providers.
Compounded Medication Notice. Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide are not FDA-approved. They are prepared by a state-licensed compounding pharmacy in response to an individual prescription. Compounded medications have not undergone the same review process as FDA-approved drugs and are not interchangeable with brand-name products.
Results Disclaimer. Individual results vary. Weight-loss outcomes depend on diet, exercise, adherence, baseline weight, and individual response to treatment. Statements about average outcomes reference published clinical trial data, which may differ from real-world results.
Trademark Notice. Zepbound and Mounjaro are registered trademarks of Eli Lilly and Company. LillyDirect is a service of Eli Lilly. GoodRx is a trademark of GoodRx Holdings. FormBlends is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any of these companies.
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