Tirzepatide Patient Assistance 2026: How to Get Zepbound or Mounjaro for Free

The 2026 Lilly Cares Patient Assistance Program (PAP) lets eligible U.S. adults receive a 12-month supply of the brand-name tirzepatide pens - Zepbound for obesity or Mounjaro for diabetes - completely free. To qualify you must 1) be uninsured or insured but denied coverage, 2) fall under the program’s income ceilings (up to $86,560 for a two-person household), and 3) submit a signed application with proof of income and an insurance denial letter. Approved patients get automatic refills every 90 days and may re-apply annually.

• The 2026 income cap for tirzepatide is $63,840 for a single adult and $132,000 for a family of four (400 % of the federal poverty level). (lillycares.com)
• You must show either no insurance or a written coverage denial plus completed appeal to meet Lilly Cares insurance criteria. (lillycares.com)
• Required documents include the four-page Lilly Cares application, last year’s 1040 or SSA-1099, two recent pay stubs, and a pharmacy-generated denial claim. (lillycares.com)
• Average approval time is 10–14 business days once all documents are received; medications ship overnight from the contracted pharmacy. (lillycares.com)
• PAP patients pay $0, compared with $25 using a savings card (with commercial insurance) or about $1,094 cash for a 28-day supply. (pricinginfo.lilly.com)

What the tirzepatide PAP covers

Lilly Cares is a charitable program that ships a 90-day supply of FDA-approved brand medication directly to your home pharmacy at no cost. For tirzepatide, that means the same single-dose pens sold under Zepbound (for weight loss) or Mounjaro (for type 2 diabetes). Each shipment includes four pens-enough for 28 days at any titrated dose-plus alcohol swabs and sharps container instructions.

Medication strength: The program dispenses the exact milligram dose your prescriber selects, from 2.5 mg up to 15 mg weekly. No vial formulations are offered.
Duration: Enrollment lasts 12 months and can be renewed if you still meet criteria.
Shipping charges: Free overnight delivery via FedEx with temperature control.

How much income you can earn in 2026 and still qualify

Lilly Cares tiers its income limits by medication group. Zepbound and Mounjaro fall under Group 2, capped at 400 % of the 2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG). The table below converts those percentages into actual dollar ceilings.

The same ratios apply to larger families; add $22,720 for each additional person. (lillycares.com) The limits trace back to the official 2026 poverty guideline of $15,960 for a single adult. (aspe.hhs.gov)

Insurance rules: You must be either (1) completely uninsured, (2) enrolled in Medicare Part D with demonstrated denial, or (3) commercially insured with a final appeal denial showing “drug not covered” or “plan exclusion.” Medicaid, VA, and full Extra Help enrollees are excluded. (lillycares.com)

Documents you’ll need before you apply

Gather these items first-the number-one reason applications are delayed is missing proof of income.

• Lilly Cares application: Four pages, signed by you and your prescriber.
• Proof of income: Last year’s 1040, W-2, SSA-1099, OR two recent pay stubs.
• Insurance denial: Explanation of Benefits (EOB) and final appeal denial letter dated within 90 days.
• Photo ID: State driver’s license or passport.
• Prescription: A new e-script for 90 days of Zepbound or Mounjaro.

Step-by-step application (average 10 minutes)

1. Download and complete the form. The fillable PDF is on the Lilly Cares site. Electronic signatures are accepted.
2. Have your prescriber sign. Most telehealth physicians can sign digitally and fax directly to 1-844-431-6650.
3. Attach documents. Merge your tax return, pay stubs, and denial letter into one PDF.
4. Submit by upload, fax, or mail. Uploading through the secure portal shortens processing by about three days.
5. Wait for status text. Lilly Cares texts you when the application is complete or requests missing documents.

How long approval and refills really take

Once all paperwork is complete, standard approval takes 10–14 business days. (lillycares.com) The contracted specialty pharmacy then ships your first 90-day supply overnight.

Automatic refills: You may opt into auto-refill every 90 days. Otherwise, call Lilly Cares or the pharmacy within 30 days of running out.
Re-enrollment: At month 11 you’ll receive a renewal packet. Submit updated income proof to avoid a gap.
Missed re-enrollment: If you miss the deadline you must start a new application, adding 2–3 weeks of lead time.

PAP vs savings card vs compounded tirzepatide

The next table shows what an average patient might spend over one year through each path.

The $1,094 list-price figure comes from Drugs.com’s price guide for 2.5 mg pens as of February 2026. (drugs.com) Median compounded pricing is drawn from a 2025 NIH analysis of online GLP-1 compounding ads. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) Savings card limits are published in Lilly’s 08/2026 terms. (pricinginfo.lilly.com)

If you don’t qualify for Lilly Cares

Even if income or insurance status knocks you out, several lower-cost strategies exist:

1. Max out savings cards. Commercial plans that exclude the drug still allow a $25 self-pay offer if you can secure a one-time override-ask your prescriber to code plan exclusion on the prior-auth.
2. Compare cash prices. Use Rx.com’s free discount card; most pharmacies show at least 50 % off the wholesale price for tirzepatide.
3. Evaluate compounded GLP-1s. See our in-depth look at quality and price differences in Zepbound savings vs compounded tirzepatide and the true cost of GLP-1 weight-loss medications.
4. Consider semaglutide. Compounded semaglutide averages $275 per month and can be stepped up quickly; read our 2026 price guide.
5. Lifestyle first. Calorie-deficit plans like our 6-week GLP-1 meal plan can produce 5–7 % weight loss alone.