Your GLP-1 Savings Card Expires 12/31/2026: What to Do Before January
Lilly's Zepbound and Mounjaro savings cards both say "Card expires and savings end on 12/31/2026," and Novo Nordisk's limited-time self-pay prices for Wegovy and Ozempic end the same day. Neither company has published 2027 terms as of October 19, 2026, so the safe move is to use the savings you are entitled to this year, file any reimbursement claims, and plan for January before your deductible and annual caps reset.
Key takeaways
- Zepbound and Mounjaro savings cards print an expiration date of 12/31/2026. Lilly says you "may be required to obtain a new Card."
- Annual savings caps run by calendar year: $1,300 on the covered Zepbound pen card and $1,950 on the covered Mounjaro card. They reset in January.
- Zepbound self-pay reimbursement claims must be submitted in the portal or postmarked by March 31, 2027. Novo's offers require claims within 180 days of the fill.
- Novo's commercial $25 offers for Wegovy and Ozempic show no fixed end date, but Novo says Wegovy pricing will "be updated after December 31, 2026."
- If you are moving to Medicare in 2027, these cards stop applying. Medicare has its own GLP-1 routes.
Terms checked October 19, 2026 on Lilly and Novo Nordisk savings pages linked below. Manufacturers can change or end offers without notice, so verify your card's current terms before each fill.
What each card says right now
| Offer | Pay as little as | Savings limits | Printed end date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zepbound card, commercial plan covers it (single-dose pen) | $25 | Up to $100 per 1-month fill; $1,300 per calendar year; 13 fills a year | 12/31/2026 |
| Zepbound card, commercial plan does not cover it (KwikPen) | $299 (2.5 mg), $399 (5 mg), $449 (7.5 to 15 mg) | 11 fills a year; $449 price needs refills within 45 days | 12/31/2026 |
| Zepbound self-pay (KwikPen or 4 vials) | From $299 | Cash patients only; claims by March 31, 2027 | 12/31/2026 |
| Mounjaro card, commercial plan covers it | $25 (up to a 3-month fill) | Up to $150 per 1-month fill; $1,950 per calendar year | 12/31/2026 |
| Mounjaro card, commercial plan does not cover it | $499 per month | Up to $647 a month; $8,411 per calendar year | 12/31/2026 |
| Wegovy commercial offer | $25 | Up to $100 per 1-month prescription | None stated; may change any time |
| Ozempic commercial offer | $25 | Up to $100 per 1-month prescription; valid up to 48 months from enrollment | None stated; may change any time |
Sources: Lilly Zepbound savings; Lilly Mounjaro savings; NovoCare Wegovy terms; NovoCare Ozempic terms. Checked October 19, 2026.
Lilly: a hard end date
Every Zepbound offer on Lilly's savings page carries the line "Card expires and savings end on 12/31/2026" (Lilly). The Mounjaro page uses the same wording (Lilly Mounjaro). Lilly's full Zepbound terms do not describe automatic renewal. They say you "may be required to obtain a new Card," and that Lilly can end or amend the terms "at any time without notice" (Zepbound terms).
Without published 2027 terms, assume nothing. The 2027 card could keep the same limits, change them, or require a new card number. Check the page again in late December and before your first January fill.
Novo Nordisk: dated self-pay prices, open-ended copay offers
Novo's commercial copay offers for Wegovy and Ozempic do not print a calendar end date. The Ozempic offer says activation "is valid for up to 48 months from date of enrollment" (NovoCare). Both reserve the right to change or cancel at any time.
The dated pieces are self-pay. The $199 new-patient price for Wegovy pens covers two monthly fills "through December 31, 2026," and Novo states, "Pricing to be updated after December 31, 2026" (NovoCare Wegovy). The Ozempic introductory self-pay price likewise requires the prescription to be filled by 12/31/2026 (Ozempic savings). For how list prices are expected to move next year, see our 2027 Novo price cut explainer.
What resets on January 1
Two things happen at once in January for most people with commercial insurance, and together they can make the first fill of 2027 the most expensive of the year.
- Card caps reset. Lilly's caps are per calendar year, so a new year restores the $1,300 Zepbound and $1,950 Mounjaro annual maximums, if the 2027 card keeps them.
- Your deductible resets. On calendar-year plans, you may owe the full plan price for your GLP-1 until the deductible is met. A card that caps savings per month covers only part of that.
A hypothetical example: suppose your plan covers Zepbound but your January pharmacy charge is $1,000 because you have not met your deductible. The covered Zepbound card caps savings at $100 for a one-month fill (Lilly), so you would pay about $900. With Mounjaro's $150 monthly cap, you would pay about $850. The $1,000 figure is illustrative; ask your plan for your real deductible-phase price. We walk through the full-year math in the savings card annual cap guide.
Planning for January?
If your 2027 card terms or coverage leave you paying more, see what self-pay programs currently list for the same drugs.
Paid links. We may earn a commission; it never changes what we write. See all options. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved.
Your December checklist
- Find your card's terms page and save a copy. Note the printed end date, monthly and yearly limits, and fills allowed.
- Refill on your normal schedule, within plan rules. If a refill is due in late December, fill it when your plan allows. Do not try to stockpile; plans have refill timing limits and cards cap fills per year (13 for the covered Zepbound and Mounjaro cards, 11 for the Zepbound KwikPen).
- Protect the Zepbound $449 KwikPen price. Lilly says refills must be completed "within 45 days" of your previous fill or that offer does not apply (Lilly). A gap over the holidays could reset you to the regular $499 or $699 price.
- File reimbursement claims. For Zepbound self-pay fills that were timely but not verified at the pharmacy, submit in Lilly's patient portal or postmark by March 31, 2027. Novo requires claims to be received within 180 days of the fill date (NovoCare Wegovy terms).
- Check your 2027 benefits from open enrollment. If you are changing plans, find out whether the new plan covers your GLP-1. The card you qualify for depends on that answer: Lilly and Novo use different offers for "covered" and "not covered."
- Look for accumulator or maximizer language. Novo's terms say that if your plan uses a copay accumulator or maximizer program, you "will not be eligible for and agree not to use this savings program" (NovoCare).
- Set a reminder for early January to check for a new card, new terms or new self-pay prices before your first 2027 fill.
If you are changing to Medicare or another government plan
Manufacturer savings cards exclude government coverage. Lilly's terms say that if you begin receiving government drug coverage, "you will no longer be eligible" for the Zepbound card (Zepbound terms). Novo's terms exclude anyone "enrolled in any federal or state health care program with prescription drug coverage," including Medicare, Medicaid, VA, DOD and TRICARE (NovoCare). Novo also notes that people with both commercial and government plans count as government-insured (NovoCare Wegovy).
Medicare has two routes instead. Part D can cover GLP-1s for type 2 diabetes and some other conditions. For weight loss alone, the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge covers Foundayo, Wegovy and the Zepbound KwikPen at a $50 monthly copay (Medicare.gov), and CMS says it runs through December 31, 2027 (CMS). Medicare enrollees can still buy at manufacturer self-pay prices, but Novo says those payments do not count toward deductibles or out-of-pocket limits (NovoCare Wegovy).
Questions to ask before January
- Ask your plan: "Is [drug] covered in 2027, and does my deductible apply to it?"
- Ask your plan: "Do you use a copay accumulator, maximizer or alternative funding program?"
- Ask the manufacturer's support line: "Will my current card number work after December 31, or do I need a new card?"
- Ask your pharmacy: "When is the earliest my plan will let me refill in December?"
Write down who you spoke to and when, and ask for anything important in writing.
Compare care options before choosing a program
If your savings card or coverage changes in 2027, compare current self-pay options and their published prices before your next fill.
Paid links. We may earn a commission; it never changes what we write. See all options. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Zepbound savings card expire on December 31, 2026?
Yes. Lilly's savings page says 'Card expires and savings end on 12/31/2026' for each Zepbound offer, and the Mounjaro card uses the same wording. Lilly says you may be required to obtain a new card.
What is the deadline for Zepbound self-pay reimbursement claims?
For timely self-pay fills that were not verified at the pharmacy, Lilly says to submit claims in its patient portal or by mail postmarked no later than March 31, 2027.
Do the Wegovy and Ozempic $25 savings offers expire at the end of 2026?
Novo's commercial copay offers show no fixed end date and can be changed at any time; the Ozempic offer is valid up to 48 months from enrollment. Novo's limited-time self-pay prices end December 31, 2026, and Wegovy pricing will be updated after that date.
Do GLP-1 savings card annual limits reset in January?
Lilly's annual caps are per calendar year, such as $1,300 on the covered Zepbound pen card and $1,950 on the covered Mounjaro card. Whether 2027 cards keep those limits has not been published.
Can I keep using my savings card if I switch to Medicare in 2027?
No. Lilly and Novo exclude people with Medicare or other government drug coverage. Medicare enrollees can use Part D coverage for covered conditions or, for weight loss alone, the $50 Medicare GLP-1 Bridge through December 31, 2027.
Sources
- Zepbound coverage and savings (Eli Lilly)
- Zepbound Savings Card terms and conditions (Eli Lilly)
- Mounjaro savings and resources (Eli Lilly)
- Wegovy savings offer (NovoCare)
- Wegovy savings offer terms (NovoCare)
- Ozempic savings offer terms (NovoCare)
- Save on Ozempic (Novo Nordisk)
- Weight loss drugs: Medicare GLP-1 Bridge (Medicare.gov)
- Medicare GLP-1 Bridge (CMS)
Medical disclaimer: This article is general information, not medical advice, and does not replace a licensed clinician who knows your history. Approvals, labels, coverage and prices change; check the linked sources and talk with your prescriber or pharmacist before making decisions about any medication.