Zepbound on Medicare: the card is barred and the Bridge is $50 a month
Medicare bars you from the Zepbound savings card. Federal law closes every manufacturer card to a government plan, and no appeal changes that. The CMS GLP-1 Bridge charges $50 a month for Wegovy, Foundayo and the Zepbound KwikPen, according to GLP Chart, checked August 10, 2026. LillyDirect sells Zepbound for $399 a month at the maintenance dose, checked August 31, 2026.
Every route, cheapest first
| Route | What you pay | Who it is open to | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMS GLP-1 Bridge | $50 a month | Part D members in one of three BMI bands. BMI 35 and over on its own. BMI 30 and over with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, uncontrolled hypertension or CKD stage 3a and up. BMI 27 and over with pre-diabetes, a prior heart attack, a prior stroke or symptomatic peripheral artery disease. Prior authorization required. Runs July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027. | CMSRead August 10, 2026 |
| Strut Health, cheapest on our chart | from $149 a month | Anyone the program will prescribe for. That price buys compounded semaglutide, a pharmacy-made version that is not FDA-approved and is not Zepbound. | our reviewRead August 31, 2026 |
| LillyDirect cash price | $399 a month | Anyone with a prescription. No insurance needed and none accepted. Zepbound $299 to $449/mo cash by dose, as single-dose vials or the multi-dose KwikPen at the same price. Bought direct from Eli Lilly. The $449 holds only on a refill inside 45 days. The cheapest cash route to brand-name tirzepatide. | LillyDirectRead August 31, 2026 |
| Zepbound savings card | You do not qualify | Barred for Medicare, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE and all other federal or state government programs. | Zepbound savings cardRead August 10, 2026 |
A compounded product in this table is not FDA-approved. The FDA does not review it for safety, effectiveness or quality, and its formulation can differ from the approved drug. Confirm the active ingredient and the pharmacy with the prescriber.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the Zepbound savings card on Medicare?
No. The card is barred for Medicare, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE and all other federal or state government programs, and there is no appeal.
Does the CMS GLP-1 Bridge cover Zepbound?
Yes, at $50 a month. The Zepbound vials do not qualify.
What does Zepbound cost without insurance?
LillyDirect sells the single-dose vials and the single-patient-use KwikPen at the same self-pay price: $299 a month at 2.5mg, $399 at 5mg and $449 at 7.5mg and above. You refill within 45 days of your last delivery or the regular price applies, $499 at 7.5mg and $699 at 10mg and above. The offer runs through December 31, 2026.
Can I stack a savings card and a pharmacy discount coupon?
No. You use the manufacturer card or a discount coupon on one fill, never both. For anyone with commercial insurance the card almost always wins.
GLP Chart is an independent comparison site, not a pharmacy and not a medical provider. Card and cash terms are read at the manufacturer's own page and dated. They can change on any day, so confirm yours before your next fill. Chart prices are checked every Monday.
